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Home , Derek Stepan, Henrik Lundqvist, Jonathan Toews, Patrice Bergeron, Ryan McDonagh, Zach Parise

center A consistent and well-rounded centerman, Derek Stepan serves as one of the team’s alternate captains and a well-spoken leader in the locker room. A second round choice of the Rangers in 2008, Stepan is one of two players in fran- Shoots: Right chise history to record at least 40 points in each of his first seven seasons. He led 21 Height: 6’ 0” the team this in PPP (18) and ranked 2nd in assists (38). Weight: 196 Loose Pucks Born: June 18, 1990 • He and his wife, Stephanie, have a son. Parents are Brad Stepan and Trish Coak- Birthplace: Hastings, ley. Also has a sister, Josie • He and current Ranger teammate Ryan McDonagh also played together at the University of Wisconsin • Attended Shattuck-St. Mary’s Prep School, which has produced other NHL stars such as , and Zach Parise. • Played golf and tennis in high school • His first job was working at “Top Shelf Athletics”, a sporting goods store his father used to own

• Has played in 97 career playoff games, the most of any forward in franchise his- tory and third among all skaters • His 49 career playoff points rank t-6th in franchise history • The recipient of the 2014-15 John Halligan “Good Guy Award” Center of Attention Stepan was one of four NHL centers to post ONE-TIMERS at least 55 points and a plus-19 rating this Dinner guest: Will Ferrell season (Connor McDavid, What he’d be doing if not playing hockey: “I enjoy in- and ). teracting with people, so probably in sales.” Talent he’d most like to have: Ability to play the piano He ranks fourth among NHL centers in plus/ Person he’d trade places with for a day: Dave Matthews minus (+109) since his debut in 2010-11 be- Favorite band: Dave Matthews Band hind Jonathan Toews, and Actor that would play him in a movie: Brad Pitt Sidney Crosby. On his bucket list: Big game hunting in Africa Nickname: Step Meal: Pasta and caesar salad Book: “Lone Survivor” and “The Hunger Games” trilogy TV show: Sons of Anarchy Funniest Ranger: Best thing to do in NYC: See Broadway shows Derek stepan center Stepan Up “It’s Just Hockey Sense...” Since joining the team in 2010-11, Derek Stepan... “With Stepan, it’s just hockey sense...It’s a natural thing that he has that you can never teach, you have it or you don’t. He, of • Leads the Rangers in games played (515), goals (128), as- course, has got good skills on every other area, but it’s his hockey sists (232), points (360), PPP (96) and PPA (68) sense and anticipation, his ability to put others in good situations, • Ranks 2nd in plus/minus (+109) and PPG (28) to get himself in the right spot, that stand out with him.” -Former Rangers d-man

“Extremely smart...” “Extremely smart two-way player. I feel like he makes things look easier than they really are. There’s battles, and he just gets the puck.” -Rangers teammate Henrik Lundqvist Short and Sweet Since 2012-13, Ste- “Very bright, very articulate...” pan ranks 2nd in the NHL in SHA (9) and “He is definitely one of the players in our dressing room that I ask 4th in SHP (16). his opinion on a number of things. Very bright, very articulate, good person, knows what it takes to be successful and wants to be successful. He’s got a great read in our room on who needs help and who he can touch in a positive way. So he’s definitely a Like Father, Like Son guy that I lean on.” -Rangers head coach Derek’s father, Brad Stepan, was a 5th round draft choice of the Rangers in 1985. They are the only fa- ther-son duo to both be drafted by the Rangers, as “Like he’s played in 1000 games...” Derek was a 2nd round choice of New York in 2008. “It seems like he’s played 1,000 games already...One of the most effective players on the ice just because of how smart he is and his senses. Another great team guy in the room, and somebody everybody kind of looks up to.” -Rangers teammate J.T. Miller

A Step Ahead The Rangers have posted a 38-5-7 re- From Russia With Love cord in the last 50 games in which Ste- pan has registered a (.830 pts. %). Derek and his wife, Stephanie, adopted Jake - a rescue dog in Sochi - while Derek was there The Blueshirts have posted a 75-19-7 with Team USA for the Winter Olympics. Boston record in the last 101 games he has tal- Bruins center and U.S. teammate David Back- lied a (.777 pts. %). es helped facilitate Jake’s trip to the U.S, as he landed in St. Louis. Derek and Stephanie then picked him up in the midwest and brought him Elite Company to the couple’s place in New York. Stepan is one of two Rangers in franchise history who recorded 40+ points in each of his first seven NHL seasons (Steve Vickers).