Mandatory Photo Credit: David Stevenson
Dale Hunter
Coming in at number six on our list of the greatest Washington Capitals players in franchise history is center Dale Hunter. Likes Oates, Hunter had the distinction of playing for the Caps and coaching them (albeit in an interim role). Hunter played with the Caps for 12 seasons and coached them for part of the 2011-2012 season. He also served as the team captain from 1994 to 1999.
Hunter was known as being an excellent two-way center who had a physical edge to his game that few could match. One of his distinctions is that he’s the only player with more than 3,000 penalty minutes and 1,000 points. He embodied the Caps spirit in the 1990’s.
Hunter played in 872 games for the Caps over his 12 seasons. He was remarkably durable, averaging over 70 games played per season with the Caps. He had 556 points with them. He scored 181 goals and had 375 assists. He is also the career penalty minutes leader for the Capitals with 2,003.
Hunter has his number retired by the Caps and his banner hangs in the Verizon Center. When they retired his number, he appropriately also got one of the penalty boxes from the old Caps arenas. He was a four-time Selke Trophy finalist with the Capitals.
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