Mandatory Photo Credit: David Stevenson
Don Beaupre
Coming in at number 20 on our countdown of the best Washington Capitals players of all-time is goaltender Don Beaupre. Beaupre played for the Caps for six seasons as their starting goaltender after being traded to them during the 1988-1989 NHL season. While he wasn’t a franchise goalie, he was very solid in net and he helped bridge the gap to Olaf Kolzig.
Beaupre played in 269 games for the Capitals during his five-season tenure with the team. Beaupre finished his Caps career with a 3.05 GAA and 88.6% save percentage. To this day, he ranks second among all Capitals goaltenders in wins (128) and games played (269). His 88.6% save percentage ranks ninth among all Caps goalies and his 3.05 goals against average ranks seventh. His 12 shutouts with the Capitals ranks fourth.
He also ranks third in goaltender point shares with 36.5. He has played the second-most minutes with the Caps of any goaltender (Kolzig is first). Beaupre was a good goalie at a time when offense ruled the NHL. His era-adjusted numbers are much better than his actual numbers, which tells you that his numbers were more of a product of the high-octane offense era that he played in.
Next: #19