New York Islanders Top Five American Born In Franchise History

UNIONDALE, NY - OCTOBER 11: Pregame cermenoies before the St. Louis Blues took on the New York Islanders included youth hockey players holding an American flag during the national anthem on October 11, 2008 at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

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UNIONDALE, NY – APRIL 18: Jason Blake /

Jason Blake

Jason Blake was never drafted. Instead, he signed as a collegiate free agent with the Los Angeles Kings and became a New York Islander in a trade that sent a fifth-round pick in the 2002 draft to the Kings.

The Moorhead, Minnesota native didn’t start his Islanders career as he ended it. In his first 112 games over two season, Blake put up 30 points.

But over the next four seasons with the Islanders, Jason Blake would explode with 228 points in 314 games. His best season being his last as an Islander with 69 points and a 40 goal season before leaving for the Maple Leafs in 2007 as a free agent.

Give Mike Milbury credit for that one. This has to be the best trade the Milbury had his hands in during his entire tenure with the Islanders. He gave up a fifth and it turned into a 40 goal scorer. If only Milbury had the kind of insight when it came to the whole Chara/Spezza and Yashin debacle.

Blake was a bright spot in an otherwise bleak situation on the Island. His departure wouldn’t help things at all. The Isles would finish near the bottom in 2007-08 and rock bottom with 61 points in 2008-09.