Ok I got the ruling...
Rookie Qualifications
To be considered a rookie, a player must not have played in 25 or more NHL games in any preceding seasons, nor in six or more NHL games in each of any two preceding seasons. Any player at least 26 years of age (by September 15th of that season) is not considered a rookie.
http://nhl.com/nhlhq/faq/hockey_ops.html#rookie
Andrew Raycroft
- 15 gms in 2000-01
- 1 gm in 2001-02
- 5 gms in 2002-03
Raycroft is still considered a rookie.