In the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, Sanguinetti was selected by the New York Rangers with the 21st pick in the first round. Sanguinetti, who grew up a Ranger fan, has said he tries to model his game after former Ranger great Brian Leetch, and has worn 22 to honor Leetch, who wore number 2.[citation needed]
Sanguinetti had a breakthrough year during the 2006–07 season, finishing second among all Ontario Hockey League (OHL) defensemen in goals scored (23), and tenth with 53 points. The Owen Sound Attack were eliminated in four games in the playoffs, but Sanguinetti played well, with three goals and three assists in the four games. With his team eliminated Sanguinetti was called up to the Rangers' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack. In seven regular season games for the team, he put up five assists and had one point in the playoffs. Sanguinetti was signed to his first professional contract in April 2007 by the Rangers. During the 2008 Stanley Cup playoffs, Sanguinetti would greet fans outside the arena and sign autographs.[citation needed]
Sanguinetti was promoted to the Rangers for their game on January 10, 2009, but did not play and was returned to Hartford the following day.[3][4] In 2009, Sanguinetti was selected for the AHL's all-star game, playing for PlanetUSA, along with Russian teammate Artem Anisimov. Sanguinetti led PlanetUSA in the hardest shot competition.[citation needed]
In the 2009–10 season, Sanguinetti was again selected to the AHL all-star game, and won the fastest skater competition, setting a new AHL record.[5][6] During the season, he was called up to the Rangers twice, from November 26 to December 1 and from December 16 to December 19.[7] He made his NHL debut on December 27 against the Tampa Bay Lightning, playing 16.14 minutes on 22 shifts.[6][8] He played a total of 5 games for the Rangers, with no points and four penalty minutes.[8] He took five shots and had an even plus/minus rating.[8]
On June 26, 2010, Sanguinetti was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for a second-round draft pick in 2011 and a sixth-round draft pick in 2010.[9]
During the lockout-shortened 2012–13 season, Sanguinetti scored his first NHL goal on February 24, 2013, on the road against the New York Islanders. He played in a career-high 37 games with the Hurricanes recording 6 points.[citation needed]
On July 1, 2014, he signed a one-year free agent contract to return to the NHL with the Vancouver Canucks.[11]
On July 2, 2015, Sanguinetti left the Canucks organization as a free agent and signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Buffalo Sabres.[12] He made 40 appearances for Buffalo's AHL affiliate Rochester Americans in the 2015–16 season, tallying seven goals and eight assists, and did not see any NHL action.[citation needed]
Upon the conclusion of the season, he took up an offer from Switzerland, signing with Kloten of the National League A (NLA) on July 6, 2016.[13] He finished the season with 29 points, including 9 goals in 44 contests, missing a few games with concussion-like symptoms.[citation needed]
On May 24, 2017, Sanguinetti agreed to a one-year contract with Lugano. The contract contained an option for a second year but no NHL-out clause.[14] In the 2017-18 season, Sanguinetti led the blueline in scoring among Lugano, contributing with 11 goals and 29 points in 46 games.[citation needed]
As an unsigned free agent into the mid-point of the 2018–19 season, Sanguinetti returned to his former club, the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL, for the remainder of the campaign on January 1, 2019.[15] He appeared in 10 playoff games, posting 6 points to help the Checkers claim their maiden Calder Cup.
As a free agent, Sanguinetti opted to return abroad, securing a one-year contract with German club, EHC München of the DEL, on September 8, 2019.[16]
^ abHageny, John Christian. "Hockey: Where are they now? Call Lawrenceville's Sanguinetti a Hurricane", NJ.com, February 24, 2013. Accessed February 8, 2018. "Bobby Sanguinetti was born in Trenton, grew up a New York Rangers fan and even wore number 22 for a time in his career in honor of his favorite player, Brian Leetch, while skating at Lawrenceville.... Sanguinetti grew up in nearby Lumberton, N.J. and began his hockey career under Dan O'Brien while skating for the NJ Rockets.... The following year he enrolled at The Lawrenceville School in Mercer County where he played his freshman and sophomore seasons amassing six goals, 22 assists and 28 points in 51 games under coach Etienne Bilodeau."
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