Alex Ovechkin and The 15 Best Washington Capitals Players Ever

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The Washington Capitals joined the NHL as an expansion team for the 1974-75 season and promptly went on to record the worst record in NHL history going 8-67-5. That team set all types of records for futility during that season that I will not rehash here.

Well, there is one that is just remarkable. Michel Belhumeur, one of the Capitals goalies went the entire season without a win, posting a record of 0-24-3.

Since those inauspicious beginnings, the Caps have gone to the Stanley Cup final, won a President's Trophy and had a handful of players won individual awards, most notably Alexander Ovechkin. 

Ovechkin has collected two Hart Trophies, three Lester B. Pearson/Ted Lindsay Awards, one Art Ross Trophy, two Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophies, as well as winning the Calder Memorial Trophy in his rookie season.

Ovechkin may be the best known player of the current crop of Capitals, but Washington has had many all-stars in their brief NHL history.

I present the top 15 players in the history of the Capitals (in no particular order) not named Alex Ovechkin.

Rod Langway

Langway started his career with the Montreal Canadiens, and wanted to remain with Montreal, but the team was unable to meet his salary demands and he was traded to the Washington Capitals prior to the start of the 1982 season. The Canadiens sent Langway, Doug Jarvis, Craig Laughlin and Brian Engblom to Washington in exchange for Ryan Walter and Rick Green.

Langway was immediately named the team's captain and Langway did not disappoint in that role, leading the team to their first playoff berth and winning the Norris Trophy for the NHL's top defenseman.

Langway would earn a second Norris Trophy in 1984. Over the course of his career with Washington he would be named to the NHL's First-Team All-Star team on two occasions and play in four all-star games.

In 1997, the Capitals retired Langway's No. 5 jersey. In 1999, he was elected to the United States Hockey Hall of Fame and in 2002 he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

 

Rod Langway's Statistics with the Capitals

Games: 726

Goals: 25 

Assists: 177

Points: 202

PIM: 502

Plus/minus: +117

Mike Gartner

Gartner began his professional hockey career in the WHA. He played one season in that league before it was absorbed into the NHL. During his rookie year with the Cincinnati Stingers, the 18-year-old Gartner recorded 52 points and finished second in Rookie of the Year voting to Wayne Gretzky.

The Capitals selected Gartner with the fourth overall pick in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft and Gartner did not let them down, leading the team in points (68) and goals (36) in his first season with Washington. He won the Capitals MVP award as well as the team's Rookie of the Year that season.

During the next eight seasons, Gartner's lowest goal total for the Capitals was 35, reaching a career high of 50 goals during the 1984-85 season.

Gartner was traded from the Capitals to the Minnesota North Stars in 1989 with Larry Murphy in exchange for Dino Ciccarelli and Bob Rouse.

Gartner holds the NHL record for most consecutive seasons with 30 or more goals, hitting that number in 17 straight seasons.

He was also widely recognized as the fastest skater in the NHL.

Gartner's records with the Capitals includes longest point streak at 17 games, longest goal scoring streak at nine games, most shorthanded goals in a season with six and most points by a right-winger in a season with 102.

Gartner retired from the NHL after the 1998 season and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2001.

Gartner's No. 11 jersey was retired by the Capitals in 2008.

 

Mike Gartner's Statistics with the Capitals

Games: 758

Goals: 397

Assists: 392

Points: 789

PIM: 776

Plus/minus: +60

Dale Hunter

Dale Hunter was wildly popular with Washington Capitals fans and widely loathed by every other team and their fans. Hunter was a throwback to the days of Bobby Clarke, where the team captain took no prisoners and won at any cost.

When Hunter retired from the NHL he was the first player to end their career with 1,000 points and 3,000 penalty minutes.

When Hunter retired from the NHL he said, "I'm not a Wayne Gretzky. I just tried to give my all every night. That work ethic is what the Caps have always been about."

Hunter's No. 32 jersey was retired by the Capitals in March 2000.

 

Dale Hunter's Statistics with the Washington Capitals

Games: 872

Goals: 181

Assists: 375

Points: 556

PIM: 2003

Plus/minus: -4

Bengt Gustafsson

Bengt Gustafsson was a player that did not get a great deal of press outside of the Washington DC area during his playing career. 

Gustafsson made his North American professional debut for the Edmonton Oilers of the WHA during the 1979 playoffs.

When the WHA joined the NHL the following season he joined the Capitals and spent his entire NHL career with the team.

As with most European players in the '80s, Gustafsson was a skilled skater and puck handler and that was reflected in his ability to play on both the power play and penalty kill.

Gustafsson spent nine years in Washington, enjoying his beast season in 1984 when he scored 32 goals and 75 points. 

 

Bengt Gustafsson's Statistics with the Capitals

Games: 629

Goals: 196

Assists: 359

Points: 555

PIM: 196

Plus/minus: +31

Kelly Miller

Kelly Miller was a standout college hockey player with Michigan State. After his college career ended he was drafted by the New York Rangers. Miller had a tough go of it in his time in New York and the team quickly gave up on him, trading him to the Capitals in exchange for Bobby Carpenter.

Miller, never developed into much of a goal scorer in the NHL, only surpassing the 20-goal mark on one occasion, but he did develop into a stalwart defensive winger, being nominated for the Frank J. Selke award in 1992.

The undersized Miller was a crowd favorite with the Capitals fans.

 

Kelly Miller's Statistics with the Washington Capitals

Games: 940

Goals: 162

Assists: 246

Points: 408

PIM: 436

Plus/minus: +75

Peter Bondra

Peter Bondra spent the majority of his NHL career with the Washington Capitals after being selected by the team with the 156 pick in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft.

Bondra was one of the bright spots during some tough years for the Washington franchise. He was traded to the Ottawa Senators at the end of the 2004 season during the Capitals rebuilding stage. In exchange the team received Brooks Laich.

A quick look at the Capitals record shows many references to Bondra, most goals (472), most points (825), most power play goals (137), most game-winning goals (73), most short handed goals (32) and most hat tricks (19).

Bondra appeared in five all-star games and twice led the NHL in scoring while playing for the Capitals.

 

Peter Bondra's Statistics with the Washington Capitals

Games: 961

Goals: 472

Assists: 353

Points: 825

PIM: 679

Plus/minus: +74

Olaf Kolzig

"Olie the Goalie" was the Washington Capitals first pick in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft. The team selected the 19-year-old goalie with the 19th pick in the draft.

Kolzig did play in two games during his draft season, losing both. 

He would get spot duty with the Caps over the next few years, but spent most of his time in the minor leagues until the 1997-98 season when an injury to starting goalie Bill Ranford opened the door for Kolzig.

During that season he played in 64 games, posting a record of 33-18-10. Kolzig captured the starting job with his play that year and held that job through the 2008 season. On July 1, 2008 Kolzig became an unrestricted free agent. Kolzig accepted a contract from the Tampa Bay Lightning and played backup to starter Mike Smith.

Kolzig announced his retirement from professional hockey on Sept. 23, 2009.

Kolzig accomplished a great deal during his tenure in Washington including leading the Capitals to the 1998 Stanley Cup final. The Caps lost that series to the Detroit Red Wings, 4-0.

As a Capital, Kolzig played in two All-Star games, captured the 2000 Vezina trophy, was named a first-team All-Star in 2000 and won the King Clancy Trophy in 2006.

Some of Kolzig's team records include most games played as a Capitals goalie (711), most minutes (41,259), most wins (301), most shutouts (35), best save percentage (.906), most saves made (18,013) as well as most assists (17). Suffice it to say, if their is a goaltender record for the Capitals odds are that Kolzig's name is next to it.

 

Olaf Kolzig's Statistics with the Washington Capitals

Games: 711

Record: 301-293-86

Save %: .906

Goals Against Avg: 2.70

Scott Stevens

The face of the New Jersey Devils for many years got his start with the Washington Capitals. 

Stevens was drafted by the Capitals in the 1982 NHL Entry Draft. The team selected him with the fifth overall pick, selected before him were Gord Kluzak, Brian Bellows, Gary Nylund and Ron Sutter. 

The Capitals were thin on defense that year and the 18-year-old Stevens played 77 games for the Capitals in his rookie season. 

Stevens wasted no time in announcing his arrival to the NHL, scoring on his first NHL shot on goal. He would make the NHL's all-rookie team that year. 

Stevens was a hard-nosed player for the Capitals, racking up penalty minutes as well as points from the blueline. Stevens mark of 1,630 PIM's is the highest total for a Capitals defenseman. His 429 career points rank him second all-time for Washington defensemen.

After the 1989-90 season the Capitals let Stevens go to the St. Louis Blues after the Blues presented an offer sheet to the restricted free agent. The Capitals received five first-round draft picks in exchange for Stevens. 

It could be argued that letting Stevens walk was one of the biggest mistakes in Washington Capitals history.

 

Scott Stevens' Statistics with the Washington Capitals:

Games: 601

Goals: 98

Assists: 331

Points: 429

PIM: 1628

Plus/minus: +88

Calle Johansson

Calle Johansson spent 15 seasons with the Washington Capitals, playing for the team between the years of 1988 and 2003.  During that time he set many team records that stand to this day.

Johnansson was the team's defensive anchor for many years. 

Johansson left the team holding the record for most games played as a Capital (983), most points by a defensman (474) and most assists by a defenseman (361).

Upon leaving the team, Johansson said, "I truly enjoyed the many years I spent in Washington. A big piece of my heart will always be here."

 

Calle Johansson's Statistics with the Washington Capitals

Games: 982

Goals: 113

Assists: 361

Points: 474

PIM: 449

Plus/minus: +47

Sergei Gonchar

Gonchar was drafted by the Washington Capitals with the 14th overall pick in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft.

During his time with the Capitals, Gonchar developed into one of the best offensive defenseman of recent times. While he became better known with other teams he got his start in Washington.

Gonchar holds the Capitals record for most power play goals by a defenseman with 53.

Gonchar was traded to the Bruins at the 2004 NHL Entry Draft in exchange for Shaone Morrison and two draft picks that became Jeff Schultz and Michail Yunkov.

 

Sergei Gonchar's Statistics with the Washington Capitals

Games: 654

Goals: 144

Assists: 272

Points: 416

PIM: 517

Plus/minus: +51

Kevin Hatcher

Kevin Hatcher was a first-round draft pick of the Capitals, selected with the 17th overall pick in the 1984 Entry Draft.

Hatcher was a two-way threat from the Capitals blueline for many years. While not as heralded as his younger brother Derian, Kevin was a big part of the Washington teams of the 1980s and early '90s.

He would play in three all-star games while with the Capitals. 

In 1995 with his production slipping, the Caps traded Hatcher to the Dallas Stars in exchange for Mark Tinordi and Rick Mrozik.

 

Kevin Hatcher's Statistics with the Washington Capitals

Games: 685

Goals: 149

Assists: 277

Points: 426

PIM: 999

Plus/minus: -10

Adam Oates

Adam Oates is widely recognized as one of the finest assisters in the history of the National Hockey League.

Oates joined the Capitals late in his career, being traded from Boston to the Caps along with Rick Tochett and Bill Ranford in exchange for Jim Carey, Anson Carter, Jason Allison and the Capitals third-round pick in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft.

Even though he was well into his career when he joined the Caps, he helped the team to the Stanley Cup finals in 1998.

While with the Capitals he led the NHL in assists in 2001 and 2002. On Jan. 14, 2002 he became the eighth player in NHL history to earn 1,000 assists.

 

Adam Oates Statistics with the Wahington Capitals

Games: 387

Goals: 73

Assists: 290

Points: 363

PIM: 126

Plus/minus: +5

Joe Juneau

Juneau was obtained by the Caps in a trade with the Boston Bruins. The Caps sent Al Iafrate to the Bruins in exchange for Juneau. 

In terms of career longevity, it was a great trade. Juneau would spend parts of six seasons with the Caps, while Iafrate would only play 71 games in the NHL after the trade due to injury.

While in Boston, Juneau had been on a line with Adam Oates and Cam Neely. The Caps were not able to team him up with that type of firepower and his scoring numbers dropped while with the Washington hockey club. 

Instead of sulking, he changed his game, becoming a solid two-way player, still scoring goals, but also pitching in as a checker and a penalty killer.

When the Caps made it to the Stanley Cup final in 1998 he was a big part of the playoff run, scoring 17 points in 21 playoff games.

 

Joe Juneau's Statistics with the Washington Capitals

Games: 321

Goals; 63

Assists: 173

Points: 236

PIM: 100

Plus/minus: -26

Craig Berube

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"The Chief" ranks third on the all-time penalty minutes chart for the Capitals with 1,220. 

Berube was "the enforcer" for the Caps during the prime heavyweight fight days of the NHL, taking on such names as Tie Domi, Joey Kocur, Jim Cummins and Tony Twist.

His most prolific fighting year with the Caps was 1993-94 when he logged 23.

 

Craig Berube's Statistics with the Washington Capitals

Games: 419

Goals: 26

Assists: 38

PIM: 1220

Plus/minus: -32

Alexander Semin

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Semin gets the nod for the final spot. While he is still young, he benefits from the Capitals short history in the NHL.

Semin was selected by the Capitals with the 12th pick in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. 

Semin debuted with the Caps in 2003-04, playing in 52 games and putting up 22 points. He had a gap in his tenure with the Caps when he was forced to return to Russia to serve out his mandatory military duty. Things got a little ugly between Semin's Russian squad and the Capitals and lawsuits were filed before he eventually returned to the Capitals.

Semin, along with Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and Mike Green form a solid core for the Capitals future success. 

 

Alexander Semin's Statistics with the Washington Capitals

Games: 327

Goals: 148

Assists: 152

Points: 300

PIM: 323

Plus/minus: +34