Washington Capitals Throwback Thursday: Scott Stevens
Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports
The Washington Capitals have had some pretty special players over the course of their 40 season history. Since it’s Throwback Thursday, let’s honor a hall of fame defenseman who helped define the Washington Capitals in the 1980’s: Scott Stevens.
The Washington Capitals drafted Stevens in the first round with the fifth overall pick in the 1982 NHL draft. He came into the 1982 NHL draft as one of the best defensemen available. People debated whether the Washington Capitals should take Stevens or forward Rich Sutter. While Sutter was a good forward, the Washington Capitals clearly made the right choice. Before Stevens arrived in the nation’s capital, the Capitals had never made the post-season. With him on the team, the Caps never missed the playoffs.
"“I went in there with the mindset that I wasn’t going back to junior,” Stevens says. “I just wanted to play in the NHL. That was my goal ever since I was growing up. Every time [you get to] the next step it’s a faster pace and in the NHL I was finally at the level where I wanted to be. I went in there playing physical and fighting. That was part of my game and that was a big part of the [game] in the ’80s and I think that’s what the coaches liked about me was my physical style that I brought to the game and my hitting. I think that part probably got me to the NHL. And from there, I was working on other parts of my game. I wanted to be an all-around defenseman, but I was very cautious my first year. I had some decent numbers but I wanted to be a plus player and I wanted to be physical. That was my goal.” – Washington Capitals website"
The Washington Capitals boldly decided to not only have him on the active roster for the start of the 1982-1983 season, they also decided to pair him with fellow new addition courtesy of a trade with the Canadiens Brian Engblom. Stevens learned a lot from playing with Langway and Engblom.
"“I think that helped,” said Stevens, of the pre-training camp trade that brought Langway and Engblom to Washington. “I was going in there thinking, ‘Geez, I’m not going to be able to make this team, they’ve got Engblom and Rod there.’ But actually it was a blessing in disguise because I could just sort of sneak right in there and come under the radar because they were taking all the publicity and they were the two guys who were going to be the mainstays. That definitely helped me and then to come in there and play with Brian at the same time, who was wonderful for me.” – Washington Capitals website"
From the moment he stepped on the ice for the Washington Capitals, Stevens stood out. He finished third in the Calder Trophy voting after scoring 25 points and having an impressive +14 plus/minus rating, which was second among Capitals defensemen. Stevens stood out in every aspect of the game. He was productive on offense. Few patrolled the defensive zone better than him. Stevens was also scared by nobody as he served as he set the tone for the Washington Capitals with his hits and fights.
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Scott Stevens had his breakout season in the 1984-1985 season. He scored 21 goals and 44 assists to go along with a plus minus rating of +19. He also had 221 penalty minutes. He finished fifth in the Norris trophy voting that season as both Stevens and Langway finished in the top five of the Norris trophy voting.
His greatest season with the Washington Capitals was the 1987-1988 season. He finished in second place in the Norris Trophy voting behind Raymond Bourque. Stevens had 72 points with a plus minus of +14 to go along with 184 penalty minutes. Stevens become a restricted free agent after the 1989-1990 season. The Blues offered him a very lucrative contract that the Washington Capitals decided not to match. They would get five first round picks as compensation though.
Though he spent just eight seasons with the Washington Capitals, Stevens’s influence on the team can still be felt to this day. One could say that Stevens and Langway saved hockey in DC.
"“He helped build the franchise,” Langway told The Washington Post on Mar. 19, 1991 when Stevens made his first return to Washington as a visiting player. “He and I came in at the same time, when he was a rookie [in 1982]. We put people in the building with a winning attitude and the way we played.”That they did. In the season before the arrival of Stevens and Langway, the Capitals averaged just 11,377 paying customers a night. During the summer of 1982, newspapers were filled with speculation of whether or not team owner Abe Pollin would be able to keep the failing franchise in town. A group of worried fans formed a “Save the Caps” group and telethons and other fund-raising elements were introduced.Beginning in 1982-83, attendance rose steadily, proving that quality hockey and a winning team would put people in the seats in Washington. Attendance rose to a franchise high of 17,251 in 1989-90, the first time the Caps reached the conference finals. – Washington Capitals website"
Though Stevens never won a Cup with the Capitals, he won three Stanley Cups with the New Jersey Devils, who he now coaches for. Stevens saved hockey in the nation’s capital, and for that, I am eternally grateful for him. Without him, the Caps might not be in Washington.
Next: Washington Capitals Top 10 Defensemen in Team History