Washington Capitals: Top Ten Wings In Franchise History

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Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

The Washington Capitals have been in existence for 40 seasons. Since the 1974-1975 season, there have been some great and entertaining players who have worn a Washington Capitals sweater.

To honor them, we’ve decided to make a top 10 list for every position. After taking a look at the centers, we’ll take a look at the wings to finish of our series of the best players in Washington Capitals history by position.

To be eligible for selection, players have to meet our qualifications. Here are the criteria that helped decide which Washington Capitals wings were eligible and where they will fit on this list.

At least 200 games played with the Washington Capitals
Only games with the Washington Capitals count as far as stats. We’ll use goals, assists, points, and +/- to determine each player’s worth.
Post-career honors and awards (such as a Hockey Hall of Fame induction or retired jersey number) count
To help put stats in context, we set up a point system. More on this later.

Using those qualifications and criteria, 40 Washington Capitals wings qualified for the list. We’ll cut the list down to just 10. To make this list, we had to look not just the stats compiled by each player.

Things such as time with the Washington Capitals and memories of that player will come into play. In some cases, two or more players are very similar as far as stats are concerned. That’s when things like sentimental value and favoritism come into play.

The new point system works like this. If a Washington Capitals player ranks 40th among qualified wings, he gets one point. If he ranks first, he gets 40. We measured the wings using games played, goals, assists, points, and plus/minus.

Our top ten are the players who got the highest amount of points judging by the rank among qualified forwards. We also assigned points for any Washington Capitals career record held.

It’s always fun to try to guess which players will make the list and where they will be placed on the list. We all have our personal favorites. This is our personal top ten.

Next: The Wings Who Qualified

Washington Capitals Top Ten Wings: Who Qualified?

Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

As I mentioned before, forty Washington Capitals wings met the qualifications to be considered for this list. Here are all forty wings that qualified in alphabetical order.

Washington Capitals Top Ten Wings: #10 Dmitri Khristich

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Coming in at number ten on our list of the top ten Washington Capitals wings in franchise history is a very underrated player who quietly put up some impressive stats for the Capitals.

Dmitri Khristich was an important part of the Caps in the early 90’s and also during his second stint with the team in the early 21st century.

Born in Kiev, USSR, Khristich played six years for Sokol Kiev where he was a solid two-way forward. He was chosen 120th overall by Washington in 1988 when his talent was considered very raw. He progressed and took on greater responsibilities for Kiev over the next two years and played for the USSR when it won gold at the 1990 World Championships. After starting the 1990-91 season in Kiev, Khristich joined the Capitals and scored 27 points in 40 games as a rookie. When he signed with the Caps on December 11, 1990, the 21-year-old Khristich made history as the youngest player ever allowed to leave the Soviet Union. The next season he broke through with 36 goals and was a consistent offensive threat until the end of the 1994-95 season. There was a concern over the drop in Khristich’s play in the playoffs when tighter checking predominated. However, this malady was rampant throughout the team as it continually put up mediocre results in the post-season. Khristich recorded consecutive 29-goal seasons and was one of the Bruins’ best all-round forwards. A contract squabble with general manager Harry Sinden led to the Ukrainian being traded to Toronto where he disappointed with only 30 points in 53 games. He was also a non-factor when the Leafs were eliminated by the stronger New Jersey Devils in the second round. After a slow start and significant time spent in the press box, Khristich was traded to Washington where he started quickly then faded and ended up with only 13 goals in 70 games. His career was at an important juncture as the 2001-02 season began. – Legends of Hockey

A Russian forward whose work ethic was questioned? Nope. Never heard that one before. That’s not a stereotype often given to Russian forwards or anything.

Here’s how Khristich stacks up against the other Washington Capitals wings who qualified for our list.

419 games played (tied for 13th out of 40)
140 goals scored (9th out of 40)
160 assists (10th out of 40)
300 points (9th out of 40)
+44 plus/minus rating (10th out of 40)

Next: Number Nine: Good as Gould

Washington Capitals Top Ten Wings: #9 Bobby Gould

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Coming in at number nine on our list of the top ten Washington Capitals wings in franchise history is right wing Bobby Gould. He was an important role player for the Caps in the 1980’s.

Right-winger Bobby Gould played nearly 700 NHL games between 1979-80 and 1989-90. He was an excellent two-way worker who could create scoring chances with diligent fore checking while embracing defensive responsibilities. Born in Petrolia, Ontario Gould played four years at the University of New Hampshire and was an ECAC second team all-star in 1979. The hard working forward was chosen 118th overall by the Atlanta Flames in 1977 and spent most of his first two pro years in the CHL. He remained with the franchise when it relocated to Calgary in 1980 then joined the Washington Capitals after a trade in November, 1981. Gould scored 18 goals for the Caps in the last 60 games of the 1981-82 season and remained with the club the rest of the decade. He topped the 20-goal mark three times and was a key forward on the club as it shed its laughing stock image and became one of the top clubs in the NHL. Prior to the 1989-90 season he was traded to the Boston Bruins for Alain Cote. He was a solid worker on his new club and helped them reach the Stanley Cup finals that year. Ironically, the Bruins disposed of the Caps in a hard-fought semifinal series before facing the Edmonton Oilers in the championship round. Gould retired in 1991 after playing a year with the AHL’s Maine Mariners. – Legends of Hockey

Gould is perhaps most famous for fighting Mario Lemieux. Here’s how he stands up against the other Caps forwards who qualified.

600 career games played with the Caps (seventh out of 40)
134 goals (10th out of 40)
142 assists (11th out of 40)
276 points (11th out of 40)
Plus/minus rating of +43 (11th out of 40)

Next: Number Eight: A Religious Man

Washington Capitals Top Ten Wings: #8 Dave Christian

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Coming in at number eight on our list of the best Washington Capitals wings of all time is another guy from the 1980’s, Dave Christian. He was a productive forward for the Caps in the 80’s.

Dave Christian was one of the NHL’s most consistent right wingers in the 1980s. As a youth, his father, Bill, who played on the U.S. Olympic teams in 1960 and 1964, inspired him. The native of Warroad, Minnesota, just south of the Manitoba border, was a versatile athlete in his youth. He earned recognition as an All-State high school hockey player while also lettering in football, baseball and track A standout with the University of North Dakota, Christian was drafted 40th overall by the Winnipeg Jets in 1979. Before joining the NHL, he spent several months with the U.S. national team as it prepared for the 1980 Olympic tournament. Christian scored 30 points in 59 exhibition games, then contributed eight assists in the seven memorable matches at Lake Placid. Although he worked as a center in college, Christian was used exclusively on the blue line by coach Herb Brooks. Following the Olympics, he was given a rousing welcome and a key to the city of Warroad. Winnipeg Jets general manager John Ferguson was also on hand and presented Christian with his first multi-year NHL contract. Christian was still on cloud nine when he joined his new team and totaled 18 points in 15 games. He registered 71 points in his first full NHL season, then starred with 11 points in eight games at the 1981 World Championship. A few months later, Christian experienced disappointment with only one goal in six games at the 1981 Canada Cup when the United States finished fourth in the round robin. Prior to the 1981-82 season, the Jets named him team captain. He averaged just under a point per game during his three years in Manitoba before he was traded to the Washington Capitals following a contract dispute with the Jets. Christian was busy during his first year in Washington. He totaled 81 points and was a plus 26. In 1984 he played in his second Canada Cup and helped the U.S. reach the semifinals. He recorded his finest year in 1985-86 with 41 goals and 83 points and was often paired with fellow speedsters Mike Gartner and Bengt Gustafsson on an effective and entertaining forward line. In 1989 he enjoyed another strong showing at the World Championships with seven points in six games. Prior to the 1989-90 season, he traveled with the Capitals to the USSR on the NHL Friendship Tour. Later in the year, the Boston Bruins acquired Christian for his offense and experience. He enjoyed his longest spell in the playoffs by helping the Bruins reach the Stanley Cup finals against the eventual champion Edmonton Oilers. Following the free agent signing of Glen Featherstone and Dave Thomlinson, the St. Louis Blues received Christian as part of the compensation package. He recorded his 10th 20-goal season but was put on waivers at the start of the next year. The Chicago Blackhawks claimed him and he played his last 69 games in the Windy City. Christian left the NHL with 340 career goals before playing his last 190 pro games in the IHL. – Legends of Hockey

Here’s how Christian stands up against the other Washington Capitals forwards who qualified.

504 games played (eighth out of 40)
193 goals scored (sixth out of 40)
224 assists (sixth out of 40)
417 points (fifth out of 40)
Plus/minus rating of +20 (17th out of 40)

Next: Number Seven: Steve Konowalchuk

Washington Capitals Top Ten Wings: #7 Steve Konowalchuk

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Coming in at number seven on our list is a member of the only Washington Capitals team to ever make the Stanley Cup Finals. It’s fan favorite Steve Konowalchuk.

Since joining the NHL in the early 1990s, centre Steve Konowalchuk has been a solid two-way centre, a good skater with a tenacious work ethic. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, Konowalchuk played two years of junior hockey with the WHL’s Portland Winter Hawks. He scored a combined 94 goals and was Washington’s 5th choice, 58th overall in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft. Konowalchuk was voted on to the WHL’s First All-Star Team after scoring 51 goals and 104 points in 1991-92. That year he also suited up for the United States when they won the bronze medal at the 1992 World Junior Championships. In 1992-93, the young pivot split his first full pro season between the Caps and AHL’s Baltimore Skipjacks. He joined Washington on a full-time basis in 1993-94 and became a solid checker and reliable 40-point producer as the fourth centre behind Dale Hunter, Michael Pivonka, Joe Juneau, and Dave Poulin. He gradually worked his way up the ladder and was a crucial part of the team when veterans Hunter and Poulin retired. Konowalchuk’s solid all round game was recognized when he played a game for the U.S. when they won the inaugural World Cup of Hockey in 1996. As the Caps began the 2001-02 season with the addition of superstar Jaromir Jagr, Konowalchuk’s role as a solid two-way forward remained vital to the success of the team. A two-time member of the US World Championship team in 2000 and 2002, Konowalchuk was appointed team captain in 2002-03 and remained as the team’s leader in the early stages of the 2003-04 season, until being dealt to the Colorado Avalanche. – Legends of Hockey

Here’s how Steve stacks up to the other Washington Capitals wings who qualified.

693 games played (fifth out of 40)
146 goals scored (eighth out of 40)
196 assists (eighth out of 40)
342 points (eighth out of 40)
Plus/minus rating of +62 (fifth out of 40)

Next: Number Six: An Enigmatic Russian

Washington Capitals Top Ten Wings: #6 Alexander Semin

Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Coming in at number six on our list of the best Washington Capitals wings in franchise history is a current Carolina Hurricane: Alex Semin.

With Semin’s military obligations fulfilled, he agreed to a two-year contract with the Capitals on April 11, 2006, resolving the conflict between the two parties. Playing in his first game for the Capitals in two years, Semin scored the team’s first goal of the 2006–07 season against the New York Rangers on October 5, 2006. In his next game, against the Carolina Hurricanes, he recorded a hat-trick. On March 18, 2007, Semin tallied the second natural hat-trick of his career against the Tampa Bay Lightning, scoring three goals on three successive shots in a span of 7:04 in the second period. Late in the season, Capitals Head Coach Glen Hanlon started Alexander Ovechkin and Semin together on the powerplay and occasionally on the team’s first scoring line. Ovechkin and Semin finished as the team’s top two scorers, and Semin soon became known as “The Other Alex.” He completed the season with 38 goals (13th in league scoring) and 73 points in 77 games, missing five games to an injury early in the season. Semin was one of three 30-goal scorers for the Capitals for the season, along with Ovechkin and captain Chris Clark. After a successful NHL comeback in 2006–07, Semin struggled in comparison during the 2007–08 season, scoring 42 points while being sidelined for 19 games. Along with Ovechkin and second-year forward Nicklas Bäckström, Semin helped form a highly offensive core with the Capitals in 2008–09. On March 3, 2009, Semin’s 25th birthday, he scored his 100th career goal, against the Carolina Hurricanes goalie Cam Ward. Semin spent much of the first couple months of the season as the league’s top point-scorer, but tailed off as he began to experience injury troubles. Regardless, he finished with a career-high 79 points in just 62 games, third in Capitals scoring behind Ovechkin and Bäckström. In the 2009 playoffs, Semin added 14 points in 14 games, including a three-point effort (two goals and an assist) on April 20, 2009, leading the Capitals to a crucial playoff win against the New York Rangers in Game 3 of the opening round. Midway through the 2009–10 season, Semin signed a one-year, $6 million contract extension with the Capitals. Semin played for Team Russia in the 2010 Winter Olympics. In Washington’s 2010 quarter-final match-up against the Montreal Canadiens, Semin received large amounts of criticism due to his poor play, as he did not score any goals despite firing 44 shots on Canadiens goaltender Jaroslav Halák. He finished the series with just two assists in seven games, as Montreal upset Washington 4–3 in the series, with the Capitals blowing a 3–1 series lead. Semin signed another one-year extension with the Washington Capitals on January 27, 2011, worth $6.7 million. He became an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2012. On April 5, 2012, Semin became the fifth highest all-time leading goal scorer of the Capitals with his 197th goal. – Wikipedia

Here’s how Semin compares to the other Washington Capitals wings who qualified.

469 games played (ninth out of 40)
197 goals scored (fourth out of 40)
211 assists (seventh out of 40)
408 points (seventh out of 40)
Plus/minus rating of +65 (fourth out of 40)

Next: Number Five: A Great Swede

Washington Capitals Top Ten Wings: #5 Bengt-Ake Gustafsson

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Coming in at number five on our list of the greatest Washington Capitals wings of all time is Bengt-Ake Gustafsson. He was a great wing for the Washington Capitals back in the 1980’s.

Bengt-Ake Gustafsson was a superb skater and puck handler. The lanky Swede had a long, fluid stride combined with great balance, making him surprisingly tough to knock off of the puck. He had breakaway speed, capable of reaching full speed in less than three steps. “Gus” had the stick skills to match his skating gifts. He was capable of doing everything within his arsenal of puck tricks while at top speed, making him a natural threat on both specialty teams. He had excellent vision and anticipation, which he combined with his one-step quickness to create passing lanes. Though not a noted physical player, Gustafsson was definitely not intimidated by the rough going. He was never afraid to do the dirty work in the corners or in the front of the net, though he was smart enough to dart in and out of these work zones. He wasn’t afraid to initiate contact either. I remember one devastating hit in particular when “Gus” knocked New York Ranger Rob Ftorek out of a game with a thunderous check in retaliation for an earlier Ftorek spear. An conscientious two way player, it there was one true fault to Gustafsson’s game was his desire to pass rather than shoot, a trait extremely common of European trained players in the 1980s. Gustafsson had a good shot, particularly his snap shot that he released quickly and accurately. He was deadly within 10 feet of the net, particularly in his favorite power play perch at the base of the left face-off circle. In the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft, the Washington Capitals selected Gustafsson 55th overall. After helping Sweden capture a silver medal at the 1978 World Championships, Gustafsson headed to North America, but joining the WHA’s Edmonton Oilers instead. Gustafsson would play just two playoff games in the Alberta capital. After scoring 1 goal and 3 points, he was ruled ineligible to play by the WHA since teams could not add European free agents so late in the season. The following season saw the Oilers and other remaining WHA teams merge with the NHL. Gustafsson was initially one of four players protected by the Oilers in the merger, along with goaltenders Ed Mio, Dave Dryden and a teenage forward named Wayne Gretzky. Gustafsson was on record as wanting to stay in Edmonton. The Capitals weren’t going to let Gustafsson slip out of their hands that easily, and argued that Gustafsson was their property. On June 9th, 1979 the Caps further strengthened their claim by selecting Gustafsson in a special reclaim draft. The matter would eventually be sorted out by NHL president John Ziegler. Gustafsson would move to the American capital, and enjoy a fine 9 year career which ranks him among the best players in franchise history. He would score 196 goals, and 555 points in 629 career games. His best season came in 1983-84 when he scored a career high 32 goals and 75 points while playing with linemates Dave Christian and Mike Gartner. Gustafsson had a particularly memorable game on January 8, 1984 in Philadelphia. He tied a club record for most goals in a game with 5! Gus scored on every shot he took that game. A pulled left hamstring plagued Gustafsson the following season, but he would rebound nicely in 1985-86 by leading the team in assists and equaling his career high of 75 points. Late in the season, however, disaster struck. Gustafsson’s right leg was broken in a spectacular spill involving New York Islander defenseman Denis Potvin. Not only did Gustafsson miss the rest of the season and the playoffs, but he would not play in the NHL the following year either. Feeling he lost a significant step of speed, Gustafsson returned home for the 1986-87 season, playing for Bofors, essentially a development team in his hometown. Gustafsson used the season to reinvent his game after breaking the leg. By the end of the year he was back to top condition, leading Sweden in the world championships to a gold medal, the first for the country in 25 years. He also led the Swedes in the Canada Cup that September. Gustafsson returned to Washington in 1987 and picked up where he left off. His scoring totals were off slightly, but his playmaking abilities were a definite shot in the arm of the Washington power play. – Washington Capitals Legends

Here’s how Gustafsson compares to the other Washington Capitals wings who qualified.

629 games played (sixth out of 40)
196 goals scored (fifth out of 40)
359 assists (third out of 40)
555 points (fourth out of 40)
Plus/minus rating of 49 (eighth out of 40)

Next: Number Four: Kelly Miller

Washington Capitals Top Ten Wings: #4 Kelly Miller

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Coming in at number four on our list of the greatest Washington Capitals wings is a Washington Capitals forward who played with the team for thirteen years: Kelly Miller.

Upon graduation Miller stepped directly into the National Hockey League, playing in the final 5 regular season games and 3 playoff games with the Rangers. He finished the year by representing USA at the senior World Championships. Miller returned for his rookie season in 1985-86, but found nagging knee and ankle injuries hampering him. An offensive leader in college, Miller found the NHL to be a much tougher place to score. He would end up 13 goals and 33 points in a respectable rookie season. After not showing much offensive progression in half a season in 1986-87, the Rangers gave up on the youngster. Miller found himself traded with Mike Ridley and Bob Crawford to the Washington Capitals in exchange for Bobby Carpenter. The trade would go down as one of the best in Caps history. Miller would never really find much offense in Washington either. Only once in 13 seasons in the nation’s capital would he surpass the 20 goal mark. But Miller worked hard to evolve into a defensive specialist, often playing with Mike Ridley and Michal Pivonka. Miller would be a finalist for the Selke Trophy, as NHL’s best defensive forward, in 1992. Miller was a very unpredictable skater, and that was his best asset. He was lightning quick, but knew how to throw off the opposition by using his speed in multiple gears. His hand and stick skills never caught up to him at the NHL level, but as his career progressed he became a decent passer while on the break. He was strong at reading plays and great at anticipating moves, allowing him to become a top checker and penalty killer. He was a tiny little guy, but he did put what he had into an engaging physical game. He knew his limitations. Not surprisingly, Miller was a crowd favorite in Washington. Those fans were happy for Miller as much as anyone when the Capitals made an unexpected journey to the Stanley Cup finals in 1998. Despite losing the finals to Detroit, the experience was one of Miller’s career highlights. He had been through good times and bad in Washington, and it must have been justifying to be a part of that team. After finishing the year at the World Championships, Miller retired in 1999. He did sign a minor league contract in a comeback bid in 2000. He skated with the Grand Rapids Griffins, a team he was already working with as a volunteer coach. He would later coach junior hockey in the Lansing area while starting his own real estate development company. – Washington Capitals Legends

Here’s how Kelly Miller stacks up to the other Washington Capitals wings who qualified.

940 games played (second out of 40)
162 goals scored (seventh out of 40)
246 assists (fifth out of 40)
408 points (sixth out of 40)
Plus/minus rating of 75 (first out of 40)

Next: Number Three: A Hall Of Famer

Washington Capitals Top Ten Wings: #3 Mike Gartner

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Coming in at number three on our list of the best Washington Capitals wings of all-time is a hall of famer: Mike Gartner.

Gartner was drafted 4th overall during the 1979 Entry Draft by the Washington Capitals. He made an instant impact on his new club, leading the team in both goals (36) and points (68). Over the next eight seasons, Gartner never scored fewer than 35 goals, hitting the magical 50-goal mark during the 1984-85 season. He led the Capitals in scoring on four occasions, and prior to his trade to Minnesota in 1989 he had tied or set 12 team records including career goals (397) and points (789), all of which he accomplished on a team that missed the playoffs three times and bowed out in the first round three other times. The poor playoff performances by the Capitals enabled Gartner to become an experienced member of Canada’s National Team. Always answering the call when asked, Gartner suited up for the 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1993 World Championship squads. Additionally, he was named to the Canada Cup clubs in 1984 and 1987, narrowly missing a third tournament as the final cut in 1981. Combined with his World Junior bronze medal, Gartner won two gold and three bronze medals in international competition, scoring a total of 19 goals and 29 points. After two short half-season stints with the North Stars, Gartner was traded to the New York Rangers in March 1990 where over the next three seasons he continued his goal scoring consistency with totals of 49, 40 and 45. He had now recorded 30-or-more goals in 14 consecutive seasons, a new NHL mark. During his stint in the Big Apple, Gartner became just the 16th player to reach the 500-goal mark, 6th to reach 600 goals and 33rd player to hit the 1,000-point milestone. Prior to the 1994 trade deadline, Gartner was dealt to his boyhood home, Toronto. Continuing his record-setting streak with a 34-goal season, he was again disappointed as the Maple Leafs were ousted in the Stanley Cup semi-finals. Playing two more seasons for the Maple Leafs, Gartner was named as a Commissioner’s Selection to the 1996 All-Star Game team. This marked his seventh and final appearance, which included an MVP performance of four goals and an assist in 1993. It was during the annual Skill’s Competition, however, that he excelled. Gartner captured the “Fastest Skater Competition” each of the three years he entered, including 1996, at age 36. During the 1985-86 season, Gartner once said, “I have a God-given ability to skate. I haven’t really worked on my legs at all during my career.” He continued to prove his ability until his retirement in 1998. – Legends of Hockey

Here’s how Mike Gartner’s stats with the Washington Capitals compare to the other Washington Capitals wings who qualified.

758 games played (fourth out of 40)
397 goals scored (third out of 40)
392 assists (second out of 40)
789 points (third out of 40)
Plus/minus rating of +60 (sixth out of 40)

Next: Number Two: Is It Ovechkin Or Bondra?

Washington Capitals Top Ten Wings: #2 Peter Bondra

Credit: David Stevenson

Coming in at number two on our list of the best Washington Capitals wings in franchise history is Peter Bondra.

Kosice supporters were upset by Bondra’s sudden departure for the Washington Capitals in 1990, but he was eager to show the NHL team which had drafted him 156th overall in that year’s draft what he was worth. In his third season, 1992-93, he led Washington with 37 goals and 85 points. He enjoyed great support, both on and off the ice, from Czech center Michal Pivonka, who had been with the Capitals since 1986. Pivonka helped Bondra and his family get used to a new way of life. The two would also become holdouts in the fall of 1995, when neither player could agree to contract terms with the Caps; during their absence they played together briefly for the Detroit Vipers of the IHL. During the NHL lockout of 1994-95, Bondra made a temporary return to Kosice. When play resumed in North America, the right wing had a breakthrough year with a league leading 34 goals in only 47 games. In 1995, Bondra became a Slovakian citizen, and during his standoff with the Capitals he played for the national team in an Olympic qualifying round as well as at a four-country tournament for the Pragobanka Cup, held in Zlin, Czech Republic. After re-signing with Washington he appeared in only 67 games, but still managed to score 52 goals. Bondra took part in the 1996 World Cup of Hockey, where he played for Slovakia and scored three goals in three games. He was also a member of the national squad that hoped to qualify for the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. Bondra, and Florida Panthers defenseman Robert Svehla, took part in the third game of a three-game preliminary round. However, Slovakia did not play as well in the preliminaries as the surprising team from Kazakhstan, and so was denied the chance to proceed to the final round. When the NHL season resumed after a three-week break for the Olympics, Bondra picked up where he left off, scoring a league-high 52 goals. If that weren’t enough, the Washington Capitals fought their way to the club’s first-ever appearance in the Stanley Cup finals. Bondra was truly a workhorse for the team, which even managed to eliminate the Buffalo Sabres who were led by the phenomenal netminding of Dominik Hasek in the Eastern Conference finals. After that victory, however, Washington was swept in four games by the powerful Detroit Red Wings. During the 2003-04 NHL season the Caps were struggling and had dealt superstar Jaromir Jagr prior to the All-Star Game and made note to every team that several players from their roster would be available to those interested. Thus on February 17, 2004 Bondra’s 14-year career with the Caps came to an end, as he was dealt to the Ottawa Senators for young prospect Brooks Laich and a 2nd round draft pick in 2005. – Legends of Hockey

Let’s see how Peter Bondra matches up against the other Washington Capitals wings who qualified.

961 games played (first out of 40)
472 goals scored (second out of 40)
353 assists (fourth out of 40)
825 points (second out of 40)
Plus/minus rating of 74 (second out of 40)

Next: Number 1: The Great 8

Washington Capitals Top Ten Wings: #1 Alex Ovechkin

Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

That’s right, number one on our list of the greatest Washington Capitals wings is none other than the holder of eleven franchise records, Alex Ovechkin. We decided to put Ovechkin ahead of Bondra for several reasons.

First of all, Ovechkin has broken just about every offensive record of the Washington Capitals.

Secondly, while Bondra should absolutely be in the Hockey Hall of Fame, if Ovechkin retired today, nobody could present an argument as to why he shouldn’t be enshrined in it.

Thirdly, Ovechkin has shattered the franchise records and he’s still got plenty of hockey left in him.

The Washington Capitals needed a miracle to save them in 2004. That miracle happened when the Caps won the draft lottery and got the right to draft Ovechkin. He’s saved the franchise and he will hopefully one day lead the Washington Capitals to a Stanley Cup.

Here’s how Ovechkin compares to the other Washington Capitals wings who qualified.

760 games played (third out of 40)
475 goals scored (first out of 40)
420 assists (first out of 40)
895 points (first out of 40)
Plus/minus rating of +57 (seventh out of 40

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