Washington Capitals: Top 10 Players of All-Time

2 of 5

Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images /

The Washington Capitals have had a number of great players over the years. Let’s take a look at the best of them.

The Stanley Cup Champion Washington Capitals have had many great players don the Capitals Sweater in their 45 seasons. From the Ovechkin’s to the Yvon Labre’s and everyone in between.

For a franchise that has a long and respected history in the NHL, it took many talented players to establish the franchise into the year-to-year contenders they are now.

Honorable Mentions

Mike Green (D) 2004-2015: Drafted by the Capitals 29th overall in 2004, Green was part of the rejuvenation of hockey in the Nation’s Capital. Green helped the Capitals to eight playoff appearances in 10 seasons. He scored 113 goals and 247 assists in 575 regular season games.

Mike Gartner (RW) 1979-1989: Drafted 4th overall by the Capitals in 1979, Gartner would score 397 goals and 392 assists in 10 seasons. He would go on to be inducted in the Hall of Fame in 2001 and his number 11 would be retired by the Capitals in 2008.

Dale Hunter (C) 1987-1999: Acquired by the Capitals along with Clint Malachuk in 1987 from the Nordiques, Hunter would go on to help the Capitals reach their first Stanley Cup Finals in 1998. During his career with the Caps, Hunter would score 181 goals and 375 assists in 872 games.

The Capitals retired his number 32 in March 2000. Hunter would return to the Caps in 2011 as an interim coach taking over for Bruce Boudreau during the 2011-12 Season. He would be replaced by Adam Oates after the season.

T.J. Oshie (RW) 2015-Present: Ever since his arrival from St. Louis in 2015, Oshie has become a huge role player for the Stanley Cup Champions. He has scored 86 goals and 82 assists in 240 games, including 15 game-winning goals.

Oshie will have a long time to establish himself as one of the great Caps of All-Time after signing an eight-year $46 million contract prior to the 2017-18 season.

Evgeny Kuznetsov (C) 2013-Present: in six seasons Kuznetsov has become a focal point of the Washington Capitals. During the Stanley Cup run, Kuzy contributed 12 goals and 20 assists, including one of the biggest goals in Caps history, which sent the Capitals to the Eastern Conference Finals.

10. Marcus Johansson (LW) 2010-17: Instrumental in six playoff appearances in 7 seasons with the Capitals, Johansson scored 102G including 20 game winners. A strong piece of the Capitals 2nd and 3rd lines he also contributed 188A during his time with the Caps before being traded to New Jersey in 2017.

9: Calle Johansson (D) 1988-2003: Playing with the likes of Sergei Gonchar, Rod Langway, and Scott Stevens Calle Johansson was arguably one of the best players to don a Capitals Sweater. During the franchises improbable run to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1998, he contributed 15G and 20A in 73 games. Over 15 seasons Johansson scored 113G and 361A. His 361A rank 6th in franchise history.

8. Scott Stevens (D) 1982-1990: Drafted by the Capitals 5th overall in 1982, Stevens helped establish the franchise in the DC area. Known for his defense and ferocious checking, he became a big offensive contributor. In eight seasons in Washington, Stevens notched 331 assists which ranks 9th all-time in team history. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2007.

7. Adam Oates (C) 1996-2002: Acquired from Boston in 1997, Oates led the Capitals with 56A in the teams journey to the 1998 Stanley Cup Finals. In six seasons, Oates scored 73G while contributing 290A before being dealt to Philadelphia in 2002.

Oates would be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2012, a day before being hired by the Capitals to replace Dale Hunter as Head Coach. The Oates era began with winning the Southeast Division in 2012-13 before being fired in 2014 in favor of Barry Trotz.

6. Rod Langway (D) 1982-1993: The Langway name is synonymous with the Capitals of the 1980s. He led the Caps to 11 straight playoff appearances. Not known for his scoring abilities, he contributed 177 points in 726 games. The Capitals retired Langway’s number 11 in 1997 and he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2002.

5. Olaf Kolzig (G) 1989-2008: “Olie The Goalie” is considered to be one of the greatest Goalies in NHL history. The 2000 Vezina Trophy Winner, Kolzig’s 33 wins during the 1997-98 season were instrumental to the Capitals reaching the 1998 Stanley Cup Finals. Sporting a 2.20GAA Kolzig went 12-9 in the 1998 Stanley Cup Playoffs with 4 shutouts. Kolzig finished his career in Washington with 301 Wins and 35 shutouts which are still club records

4. Braden Holtby (G) 2011-Present: Braden Holtby has become one of the premier Goalies in the NHL. In nine seasons Holtby has 235 wins, second only to Olaf Kolzig in franchise history. His biggest moment to date was “The Save” in Game 2 of the 2018 Stanley Cup Finals.

3. Peter Bondra (RW) 1990-2004: Before Alex Ovechkin, there was Peter Bondra. Over the course of 14 seasons, Bondra scored 472G and 353A which are 2nd and 8th respectively in Capitals history. Bondra also had 30G and 26A in 73 Postseason games.

2. Nicklas Bäckström (C) 2008-Present: Drafted famously by Alex Ovechkin on behalf of the Washington Capitals 4th overall in 2006. Bäckström has gone onto become one half of a ferocious 1-2 punch. The Capitals all-time leader in Assists with 613 and still counting, he alsO ranks 4th currently with 219G. He also has 31G and 67A in 116 Postseason games.

1. Alex Ovechkin (LW) 2005-Present: Drafted first-overall in 2004, Ovechkin has gone onto to become the Greatest Washington Capital of all-time. Ovechkin’s accolades include:

More from Puck Prose

*7x Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy

*1x Art Ross Trophy

* 3x Hart Trophy Winner

*1x Conn Smythe Trophy

*7x All-Star Appearances

*3x Presidents Trophies

*1x Stanley Cup Champion

And countless other accolades, Ovechkin has etched himself not only as one of the greatest Capitals of all-time, but also one of the greatest hockey players in history. A lock for the Hall of Fame when he retires Ovi is currently 15th all time with 626G which also ranks him 1st in franchise history.

Next. Every Team's Mount Rushmore. dark

His 15G and 12A in the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs helped secure the Washington Capitals first Stanley Cup Championship. At 33, he’s showing no signs of stopping a his scored 19G so far in the first 26 games of the 2018-19 season.

Home / Washington Capitals