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Washington Capitals History: Top 5 Captains Of All Time

By Dave Stevenson

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Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

#4: Yvon Labre

Stats don’t define who a great captain is. They help, but they certainly aren’t the end all. The Washington Capitals had a captain who proved that in defenseman Yvon Labre. Labre served as the Caps captain from 1976 to 1978. He wasn’t the Caps captain for that long, but he played a very important role in the Caps turning into a playoff team.

RELATED: Top Ten Capitals Defensemen Of All-Time

As a captain, Labre taught the young Washington Capitals how to play in the NHL. His work ethic was contagious.

He taught the young players what it was like to be a part of a team. Whenever an opponent had a problem with the Caps during a game, Labre would stand up for his teammates. It didn’t matter who he had to fight to do so.

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    • "When Yvon Labre strapped on his hockey gear, he became a pure foot soldier who fought his battles in the toughest trenches of any arena in which he played. He launched his advent to the big leagues with the Toronto Marlboros where he toiled as a slow-skating, defensive defenseman who played tough, engaged in scraps, and inspired his teammates with his big heart. He made his NHL debut with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1970 before being dispatched to the minors where he played in Baltimore, Amarillo, and Hershey. He won a return engagement with the Pens in 1973-74 and was then returned to the minors until the Washington Capitals selected him in the 1974 Expansion Draft. His transition to the Caps marked his arrival as a full-fledged NHLer. The problem was, Labre was playing for one of the worst teams in league history — and he even had to struggle to make that team each year. He survived by throwing every ounce of his heart into clearing creases and engaging in fights that, more often than not, he lost because his arms were too short, as he once joked. By 1980-81, Labre’s knee gave out, forcing his early retirement. As a tribute to his career, he was invited out to centre ice where the Caps acknowledged his contribution to the club. In the process, he was stunned to learn that his #7 was to be retired to the rafters of the MCI Center. Labre has since stayed on with the Caps’ organization as a director of special programs. – Legends of Hockey"

    Labre is someone who Washington Capitals fans should appreciate. Without him, the Caps would be quite different and might not have even lasted in DC.

    Next: #3: The Quintessential Cap

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