Washington Capitals: Top 30 Players In Franchise History

Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

The Washington Capitals have had many excellent players over their 41-year history. Let’s take a look at the 30 greatest players in Capitals history. 

It’s hard to imagine that the Washington Capitals have been around for 41 seasons. The Capitals came to the nation’s capital in 1974. Their first season in DC was the 1974-1975. Since then, the Caps have not won a Stanley Cup. Despite that, they have had some excellent players during their history. They have had a ton of regular season success and Caps fans have a lot to be proud of.

In order to be eligible to be on the list, players had to have played at least 200 games with the Caps or 175 games for goalies. Career stats matter, but stats with the Capitals will be weighed more heavily than career stats. Any awards or post-career honors (such as Hart Trophies, Norris Trophies, or being inducted in the Hockey Hall of Fame) will also be considered.

Stats that will be considered include goals, assists, points, and plus-minus for skaters. For goalies, wins, shutouts, era adjusted goals against average and save percentage will matter. Holding a franchise record will be weighted heavily as well. The Washington Capitals have had some special players during their existence. Let’s start honoring them!

Next: #30

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Braden Holtby

Coming in at number thirty on our list of the greatest Washington Capitals players in team history is current Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby. He has only played in 191 regular season games. He has definitely accomplished enough in his young career to deserve to be on this list. He is already one of the best goalies in franchise history. That might be more telling of the franchise than Holtby, but it is true regardless.

Holtby is already among the franchise leaders in shutouts, goals against average, and save percentage. Holtby has also had an incredible amount of playoff success. He has the highest save percentage in the playoffs of any NHL goalie ever. He’s been stellar in the playoffs ever since he led the Caps to an upset over the reigning Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins in the first round back in 2012.

Holtby has the potential to win a Vezina Trophy. That’s something that only two Caps goalies have ever done. Holtby will be staying with the Washington Capitals for the next five seasons thanks to an extension. He should continue to fly up this list as he continues to rack up impressive stats.

Next: #29

Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Bob Carpenter

Coming in ranked at number 28 on our list of the greatest Washington Capitals players in franchise history is the often overlooked Bob Carpenter. Carpenter played for the Caps from 1981 to 1987 and during the 1992-1993 season. He spent a total of seven seasons with the Caps.

During his seven seasons with the Caps, Carpenter played in a total of 490 games. He scored 188 goals and has 207 assists for a combined 395 points. He had a -38 plus-minus rating, but that’s not telling of the competition that he faced or the roles that he had to play. He was often asked to shut down his opponent’s top lines at a time when offense and scoring were at their peak. All things considered, a -38 plus-minus does not begin to tell the story about how good Carpenter was.

Carpenter also played for the New Jersey Devils for six seasons and won a Stanley Cup with them during the 1994-1995 season. He played for the Boston Bruins for four seasons, the Los Angeles Kings for three seasons, and was also a trade acquisition by the New York Rangers during the 1986-1987 season.

Next: #27

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Steve Konowalchuk

Coming in at number 27 on our list of the greatest Washington Capitals players in franchise history was a fan favorite who spent a majority of his career with the Caps: Steve Konowalchuk. Konowalchuk quickly became a fan favorite in the nation’s capital because of his blue-collar approach to hockey. He also gave it his all whenever he was on the ice. He was often rewarded for his efforts. Konowalchuk spent 13 seasons of his 15 season career with the Capitals.

He was a third-round pick of the Washington Capitals in the 1991 NHL Draft. He made his NHL debut during the 1991-1992 season. He played in 36 games in 1992-1993. During the 1993-1994 season, Steve found a full-time job with the Caps. In his 13 seasons with the team, he played in 693 games. He had 146 goals and 196 assists for 342 points. He ranks eighth in franchise history in games played. He also ranks tenth in franchise history in career plus-minus with a +62 rating.

The Caps traded Konowalchuk to the Avalanche to give him a chance to play for a Stanley Cup during the 2003-2004 NHL season. He spent two seasons with the Avalanche but sadly never won a Stanley Cup. Konowalchuk was the first player born in Utah to make the NHL and is currently the head coach for the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL.

Next: #26

Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Dino Ciccarelli

Coming in at number 26 on our list of the greatest Washington Capitals players in franchise history is forward Dino Ciccarelli. Dino is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. His tenure with the Caps was quite short. He spent just four seasons with the Capitals. However, his four-year tenure spent in the nation’s capital was more successful than most politicians.

Dino played in 225 games for the Capitals. He had 209 points in those 225 games. He scored 112 goals and added 97 assists for the Capitals. He was a huge part of the 1989-1990 and 1990-1991 teams that both made it into the second round of the playoffs. Dino had an incredible influence on his teammates. Former Caps forward Alan May has some incredible stories about Dino and how much Dino meant to him.

Ciccarelli had a Hall of Fame career. He played in 1,232 games. In those 1,232 games, Dino scored 608 goals and added 592 assists for a total of 1,2000 points. He finished in the top 10 in power play goals six times and ranks ninth in career power play goals. He was a four-time All-Star. While he never won a Stanley Cup, Dino was sure an incredible player.

Next: #25

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Adam Oates

Coming in at number 25 on our list of the greatest Washington Capitals players in franchise history is forward and former head coach Adam Oates. Adam Oates was a horrible head coach with the Capitals, but that shouldn’t affect anyone’s view of how great of a player he was. He spent six seasons with the Capitals and was an extremely important member of the 1997-1998 team that made it all the way to the Stanley Cup. The Caps would wind up losing to one of Oates’s former teams (the Detroit Red Wings).

In six seasons with the Caps, Oates played in 387 games. He played with the Caps while he was in his mid-thirties. Despite that, he put up some pretty impressive stats. Known as more of a playmaker than a scorer, Oates scored 73 goals and had 290 assists. He averaged just under a point per game with 363 points in 387 games. He added 20 points in 26 playoff games with the Caps.

Oates made it to the Hall of Fame with an impressive career. In 1,337 career games, Oates had 1,420 points. He scored just 341 goals, but he had 1,079 career assists.

Next: #24

Mandatory Photo Credit: David Stevenson

Dennis Maruk

Coming in at number 24 on our list of the greatest Washington Capitals players in franchise history is forward Dennis Maruk. Maruk only spent five seasons with the Capitals, but he put up some extremely impressive numbers during his short tenure in the nation’s capital.

Maruk has several distinctions in the Capitals franchise history. He was their first player to score 100 points when he had 136 points during the 1981-1982 season. That 1981-1982 season might have been the most impressive offensive performance in Caps history. He scored 60 goals and had 76 assists. To this day, 136 points is the single-season record for most points scored in a single season by a Caps player.

In five seasons with the Capitals, Maruk played in 343 games. He scored 182 goals and had 249 assists for a total of 431 points. He still holds the franchise record for most points per game. He played in a total of 888 NHL games during his career. He also spent time with the California Gold Seals, Cleveland Barons, and the Minnesota North Stars. Maruk never matched his success with the Capitals after being traded to the North Stars.

Maruk’s time with the Washington Capitals was a short one, but a memorable one.

Next: #23

Mandatory Photo Credit: David Stevenson

Yvon Labre

Coming in at number 23 on our list of the greatest Washington Capitals players in franchise history was a defenseman who helped set the tone for the Capitals back when they were an expansion team: Yvon Labre. Labre’s career was sadly a very short one. He only played in 351 career games thanks to multiple knee injuries. However, the defenseman remains one of the most popular and beloved Capitals players of all-time.

Labre spent the first two years of his NHL career with the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Capitals claimed him in the expansion draft. Labre set the tone for the expansion Caps with his hard-hitting and by standing up for his teammates. He fought anyone despite being just 5’11” in height and weighing 190 pounds. He emerged as an early leader. He served as the Capitals captain for three seasons and was named captain when he was just 25 years old.

Labre’s stats aren’t that impressive. However, when you look at the influence that he had and the team that he had around him, you have to realize that Labre’s value did not come from his stats. It came from his heart. Fewer players have had a bigger heart than Labre. It’s sad that he never got to make the playoffs, but when they made the playoffs for the first time in their history, Labre was extremely excited.

Labre helped the Washington Capitals build a foundation and fans will always love him for that.

Next: #22

Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Kevin Hatcher

Coming in at number 22 on our list of the greatest Washington Capitals players in franchise history is defenseman Kevin Hatcher. Hatcher is one of the greatest defensemen in franchise history. He spent 17 seasons in the NHL. The best ten of them came with the Caps.

Hatcher played in 685 career games for the Capitals during his ten season tenure with the team. He scored 149 goals and added 277 assists for a total of 426 points. He had a plus-minus rating of -10, but as usual, that’s not telling of how good of a player Hatcher was. He played against very tough competition and while time on ice was not documented when he played, he surely averaged over 25 minutes per game and probably pushed 30 minutes per game some years. They started measuring time on ice during the 1998-1999 season. During the last three years of Hatcher’s career, he averaged over 20 minutes of ice time per game each season.

Hatcher also accumulated 999 penalty minutes during his tenure with the Capitals. Hatcher’s career started to decline after he left the Capitals after the 1993-1994 season. He averaged 0.23 points per game with the Caps. He wouldn’t top that for any other team.

Hatcher was often forgotten about because of the Capitals other great defensemen, but Hatcher was truly an outstanding player.

Next: #21

Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Alan Haworth

Coming in at number 21 on our countdown of the greatest Washington Capitals players in team history is a center who was excellent defensively: Alan Haworth. Haworth’s time in DC was a very short one, spending just five seasons with the team. His career was short as well because it was cut short due to multiple injuries and his desire to play in Switzerland. He was extremely tough to play against and put up some impressive numbers during his tenure in DC.

Haworth began his career with the Buffalo Sabres. The Caps saw something in his game that they liked so they traded for him during the 1982 offseason. He played in 346 games with the Caps in five seasons. He scored 129 goals and added 139 assists for a total of 268 points.

Points don’t begin to tell how great of a player Haworth is. He was mostly a checking line center for the Caps. He was asked to take on his opponents’ top lines and was usually asked to do so while in his own zone. Despite that, he finished his Caps career with a plus-minus of +67. That puts him in the top ten for best plus-minus in franchise history.

After his NHL career was over (one year after being traded from the Caps), Haworth played in Switzerland for four years before retiring from hockey.

Next: #20

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

Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Larry Murphy

Coming in at number 19 on our countdown of the greatest Washington Capitals players in franchise history is Larry Murphy. Murphy is a Hall of Fame defenseman. However, most of his career was spent with other teams. He spent six seasons with the Capitals. That was the longest that he spent with any team, but he spent four or more seasons with four teams.

Murphy started off his career with a three season span with the Los Angeles Kings. The Capitals boldly traded for him during the 1983-1984 season. Murphy would form an incredible trio with fellow Hall of Famers Rod Langway and Scott Stevens. In his six seasons with the Capitals, Murphy played in 453 games. He had an almost unheard of 344 points during those 453 games. He played a huge role with the Capitals before budgetary reasons forced them to trade him to the Minnesota North Stars in 1988-1989 season.

Murphy would go on to play for the North Stars for three seasons before joining the Penguins and winning two Stanley Cups in five seasons. He played for two seasons in Toronto before being traded to the Red Wings. He won two more Stanley Cups in five seasons for the Red Wings, including one against the Caps.

Before anyone starts talking about how amazing the Caps defense is right now, just remember that the 1983-1984 Caps had THREE hall of famers on their blue line.

Next: #18

Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Sylvain Cote

Coming in at number 18 on our list of the greatest Washington Capitals players of all-time is defenseman Sylvain Cote. Cote is often overlooked because he didn’t put up the flashy numbers that other defensemen did. Ask anyone who played with him or against him and you’d hear the same thing: “Cote might not have been a big points guy, but man could that guy play defense”.

Cote played 622 games for the Caps. He scored 75 goals and added 195 assists, good for 270 points. He was extremely impressive in the defensive zone and playing defense. His +60 plus-minus rating reflects that.

Cote played five years in Hartford before being traded to the Washington Capitals on September 8, 1991. In 1993-94, Cote registered a career-high 51 points and remained a steady performer on the Capitals’ defense until being traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Jeff Brown in March, 1998. In the summer of 2000, Cote signed as a free agent with the Washington Capitals and went on to play two full seasons with the club before calling it a career after being released after only one game in 2002-03. – Washington Capitals

Next: #17

Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Dave Christian

Coming in at number 17 on our list of the greatest Washington Capitals players in franchise history is forward Dave Christian. Christian is perhaps most famous for being one of the members of the 1980 United States Men’s Hockey team that upset the Russians in the semi-finals of the Olympics and went on to win the gold medal.

Christian played for the Capitals for seven seasons. He played in 504 games for the Caps during those seven seasons. He scored 193 goals and added 224 assists for a total of 417 points. He is one of the greatest goal scorers in team history, ranking seventh among all Caps players in career goals. His 417 points rank fifth among all Capitals forwards.

Christian was a great all-around player. He was often a member of the Caps second line or third line. No matter where he played, Christian was asked to be defensively responsible. With a plus-minus rating of +20, he did exactly that. He also placed in the Lady Byng Trophy race five times while he was with the Capitals. He was extremely good at not committing penalties. He was relied on to be a great penalty killer.

Next: #16

Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Guy Charron

Coming in at number 16 on our countdown of the best Washington Capitals players in franchise history is a forward who put up impressive numbers when the Caps were bad. Guy Charron was undersized and was told he was too small to play in hockey. Charron seemed to make it a point to prove everyone who told him that wrong every single time he stepped on the ice.

Charron played for the Caps for the final five seasons of his relatively short NHL career of 12 seasons. He played for the Caps from 1976 to 1981 while they were still suffering the rigors of being an expansion team. Like Labre, Charron played an extremely important role in helping the Caps go from an expansion team to a playoff team. Labre was the defensive stalwart while Charron was the closest thing the Caps had to an offensive stalwart.

Charron scored 118 goals and had 156 assists for a total of 274 points in 320 games with the Capitals. His plus-minus was -73, but keep in mind that he didn’t play for the Caps when they were good. He played for them while they were still climbing out of the basement and shedding their expansion team label.

Charron deserved a better fate than playing for the Caps when they were bad.

Next: #15

Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Kelly Miller

Coming in at number 15 on our countdown of the best Washington Capitals players in franchise history is forward Kelly Miller. Miller played in 13 seasons for the Capitals during his 15 season career. He was a part of one of the best trades in Caps history. The Caps sent Bobby Carpenter to the Rangers in exchange for Miller, Mike Ridley, and Bob Crawford. Ridley and Miller would go on to form a deadly forward line for the Caps.

Miller played in 940 NHL games for the Caps and played in 1,057 career NHL games. With the Caps, Miller scored 162 goals and had 246 assists for a total of 408 points. Miller finished third in Selke Trophy voting at the end of the 1991-1992 season. His plus-minus rating of +70 ranks sixth among all Capitals players.

Miller was an extremely important member of the Caps penalty kill and was their most defensively responsible forward for many years. He quickly became a fan favorite in DC because he played like he had an eternal fire underneath his butt. The proudest moment of his career came when the Caps went to the Stanley Cup Finals.

He is the cousin of current Vancouver Canucks goaltender Ryan Miller. He was a threat on the penalty kill, finishing in the top five in short-handed goals in franchise history.

Next: #14

Mandatory Photo Credit: David Stevenson

Calle Johansson

Coming in at number 14 on our list of the greatest Washington Capitals players in franchise history is defenseman Calle Johansson. Johansson holds the record for most games played with the Capitals for a defenseman with 983. He played 983 of his 1109 career NHL games with the Caps organization. He spent 15 seasons with the team from 1988 to 2003

Upon his trade to Washington in 1988-89, Johannson became a fixture on the team’s blueline. He scored at least 40-points four times and was a major part of the Caps’ special teams and transition game. The talented blueliner helped Washington reach the semi-finals in 1990 and the final in 1998. In 1999-00 the veteran rearguard led all NHL defenseman with 2,389 shifts. Johansson went on to play 15 seasons in Washington before opting to call it a career at the end of the 2002-03 season. However, the Toronto Maple Leafs signed the veteran rearguard at the 2004 trade deadline for the remainder of the 2003-04 season, in hopes of adding some depth to their blueline. The Leafs failed to win the cup that season and Johansson retired for good after the playoffs. – Washington Capitals

In 983 games with the Caps, Johansson scored 113 goals and had 361 assists for a total of 474 points. He placed in the Norris Trophy voting twice, finishing 16th in both 1995-1996 and 1997-1998. His career high in points with 56 back in 1991-1992.

Next: #13

Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Bengt-Ake Gustafsson

Coming in at number 13 on our countdown of the greatest Washington Capitals players in franchise history is forward Bengt-Ake Gustafsson. Gustafsson was an important part of the Capitals back in the 1980’s. He spent his entire nine season career with the Caps.

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.= 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

Gustafsson played in 629 games for the Capitals. He scored 196 goals and had 359 assists for a total of 555 points in his career. He finished his career with a plus-minus rating of +49 and was a four-time finalist for the Selke Trophy. His hamstring injury in 1986 shortened his career by at least five years. It’s sad to think what he could have been because even when he retired, he was still an excellent player.

Next: #12

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Mike Green

Coming in at number 12 on our list of the greatest Washington Capitals players in franchise history is defenseman Mike Green. Green had some incredible seasons in the nation’s capital and was probably robbed of at least one Norris Trophy when you look back at what he has accomplished.

Green played with the Capitals for the first ten seasons of his career. He scored 113 goals and added 247 assists for a total of 360 points in 575 games with the Caps. He ranks among the Capitals leaders in points, goals, and assists from a defenseman. Considering the defensemen that the Capitals have had over the years, that’s no small feat.

Mike Green’s 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 seasons were arguably the two best seasons that a Capitals defenseman has ever had. He finished second in the Norris Trophy voting both years. He had 73 points (31 goals 42 assists) in 68 games in 2008-2009. That the season that he got his nickname “Game Over Green” because of his game-winning goals. He had 76 points (19 goals and 57 assists) back in 2009-2010.

Green signed with the Detroit Red Wings after the 2014-2015 season, but his time in DC was very special. Green will not soon be forgotten because he wasn’t only a great player, but a great human being as well.

Next: #11

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Sergei Gonchar

Coming in at number 11 on our list of the greatest Washington Capitals players in franchise history is another defenseman known for his offensive prowess: Sergei Gonchar. Gonchar played for the Caps for 10 seasons to begin his majestic career. Before Green lit the red light on a consistent basis and helped his teammates do the same, there was Gonchar. And Gonchar was even better at doing what Mike Green did than Mike Green himself.

Gonchar played in 654 games for the Capitals. He scored 144 goals for the Caps with his legendary slapshot. He was equally adept at dishing passes with 272 assists. He had 416 points as a catalyst of the Capitals offense at the time. He had five Norris Trophy nominations with the Caps. That includes four in a row from 1999 to 2003.

Gonchar is one of the most influential players of all-time because he helped bridge the gap from Russia to the NHL. Very few defensemen before Gonchar were able to come over to the NHL and have almost immediate success. Gonchar worked hard and was able to do so. In doing so, he created a blueprint for Russian blue liners to follow.

Gonchar is not a Hall of Famer yet, but it is very likely that when he retires, he won’t have to wait long before he is enshrined in the Hockey Hall Of Fame.

Next: #10

Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Michal Pivonka

Coming in at number ten on our countdown of the best Washington Capitals players in franchise history is center Michal Pivonka. Pivonka held the franchise record for assists before that record was broken by Nicklas Backstrom. He played his entire career with the Caps, spending 12 seasons with them.

He joined the Caps in 1986-87 and filled an important void created by the retirement of Bengt Gustafsson. Pivonka centered a line between Bobby Gould and Gatean Duchesne, making a good impression from the start with his strong skating, excellent passing, and willingness to play physically. Pivonka remained as a fixture with the Caps for 12 seasons. By the early nineties, fellow countryman Petr Bondra joined the club, uniting with Pivonka to make an effective offensive duo. In tandem, they raised each other’s game with Pivonka scoring a career- high 80 points in 80 games during the 1991-92 campaign. By the end of the decade, however, his numbers and his legs began to slow. In 1999, he was dispatched to the Kansas City Blades of the IHL where he completed his pro career in 2000. – Capitals

He played in 825 games with the Caps over his 12-year career. He scored 181 goals and had 418 assists for a total of 599 points.

Next: #9

Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Mike Ridley

Coming in at number nine on our countdown of the greatest Washington Capitals players in team history is forward Mike Ridley. Ridley spent eight seasons with the Caps from 1986 to 1994. The Caps got Ridley in the Bobby Carpenter trade, the same one that they got Kelly Miller in.

Ridley played in 588 games for the Caps during his eight-season stint with them. He scored 218 goals and added 329 assists for a total of 547 points. He had a plus-minus rating of +49 with the Caps. Despite playing in more of a defensive role (notably with Miller), he still managed to average nearly a point per game with the Capitals.

Ridley was a three-time Lady Byng finalist (1987 through 1990) and three-time Selke Trophy finalist (1988-1989 and 1991 to 1993) during his tenure with the Capitals.

Ridley played in a total of 866 NHL games during his career. He scored 292 goals in his NHL career. He also added 466 assists for a grand total of 758 points.

Next: #8

Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Olaf Kolzig

Coming in at number eight on our countdown of the greatest Washington Capitals players in franchise history is the best goalie that the Caps have ever had: Olaf “Olie” Kolzig. Kolzig holds virtually every franchise record in goaltending stats. He also holds the distinction of being the first South African goaltender in NHL history.

Kolzig played for the Caps for 16 seasons. In those 16 seasons, he played in 711 games. He ranks ninth in career games played with the Caps for all Caps players and ranks first among goaltenders. He ranks first in wins with 301. He ranks third in career save percentage (90.6%). He ranks fourth in goals against average with 2.70. He ranks first in shutouts with 35.

Kolzig wore number thirty-seven. Since he retired in 2009, no Capitals player has worn #37. While his number has not been officially retired, it has been sort of retired. Kolzig is still a fan favorite with the Capitals and is still involved in the organization. He served as their goaltender coach before the Caps brought in current goalie guru Mitch Korn.

Next: #7

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Nicklas Backstrom

Coming in at number seven on our list of the greatest Washington Capitals players in franchise history is the franchise leader in assists: Nicklas Backstrom. Backstrom is entering his ninth season with the team and has already placed himself among the franchise leaders in a variety of categories.

He has played in 590 games as of November 14th, 2015. He has scored 151 goals and has 433 assists for a total of 584 points in his career to this point. He still has plenty of years left in him as he is just 27 years old. He has been the team’s number once center for quite some time though that position has since been earned by Evgeny Kuznetsov. Despite that, Backstrom is still an extremely important member of the team. He’s their best overall center who plays during all situations.

He holds the franchise record for assists (433). He is fifth in points with 584 and is just 15 away from tieing Pivonka. His career plus-minus of +83 is fourth in franchise history. So is his 47.8 points shares.

Backstrom should keep on climbing up the ranks on this list as he continues to be a great player and continues to set records.

Next: #6

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.

Next: #5

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Scott Stevens

Coming in at number five on our list of the greatest Washington Capitals players in franchise history is Hall of Fame defenseman Scott Stevens. Stevens helped form one of the elite defensive pairings of the 1980’s with Rod Langway. Stevens was mentored by Langway, being paired with him from the moment he stepped on the ice in the NHL. Being paired with such a wily veteran as Langway jumpstarted his career. Stevens might be better known as a Devil, but it’s undeniable that the Capitals set him up for success.

Stevens played in 601 games for the Caps over his eight-season tenure in DC from 1982 to 1990. He scored 98 goals and had 331 assists for a total of 429 points. He ranks ninth in franchise history in assists. His +88 plus-minus rating ranks second in team history next to his linemate Langway. He also ranked second in penalty minutes with 1,628.

Stevens played an extremely important role for the Capitals defensively. The Caps never missed the playoffs while Stevens was with the team. That’s quite telling. His physical presence helped to define the Capitals in the 1980’s. He went on to win three Stanley Cups with the New Jersey Devils, including the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1999-2000.

Next: #4

Mandatory Photo Credit: David Stevenson

Rod Langway

Coming in at number four on our list of the greatest Washington Capitals players in franchise history is Hall of Fame defenseman Rod Langway. Langway was traded to the Capitals before the 1982-1983 season. Before Langway joined the Capitals, the Caps had never made the playoffs. The Caps made the playoffs for the first time ever the first season that Langway was with the team. Langway played with the Caps for eleven seasons.

Langway is one of the greatest defensemen to ever play in the NHL. He was a Norris Trophy finalist seven times (five times with the Caps). He won the Norris Trophy his first two seasons with the Capitals. He remains the only Caps defenseman to win the Norris Trophy.

Langway had 202 points in his 11 seasons with the Caps. He scored 25 goals and had 177 assists. He was a stay-at-home defenseman who was one of the best ever at what he did.

Next: #3

Mandatory Photo Credit: David Stevenson

Mike Gartner

Coming in at number three on our list of the greatest Washington Capitals players in franchise history is Hall of Fame forward Mike Gartner. He spent the first ten seasons of his career with the Caps. Perhaps Gartner and the Capitals were destined for each other – Gartner might be the greatest player ever who never won a Stanley Cup. Gartner almost won a cup with the Rangers during the 1993-1994 season, but he was traded to Toronto at the trade deadline.

Gartner played in 758 games in ten seasons for the Capitals. He scored 397 goals and added 392 assists for a total of 789 points. He ranks seventh in franchise history in games played. He ranks third in goals scored and points. He also ranks fourth in assists. Gartner provided the offense for the Caps in the 80’s when they generally focused more on defense. The reason that they were able to be competitive was because of guys like Gartner.

Not only did Gartner never win a Stanley Cup, he never won an NHL award or even got named to a post-season All-Star team. He also scored over 30 goals in each of his first fifteen seasons. Even though that might have been a product of the era he played in, that’s an incredible display of consistency nonetheless.

Gartner played in 1,432 games in his NHL career with 1,335 points.

Next: #2

Mandatory Photo Credit: David Stevenson

Peter Bondra

Coming in at number two on our list of the greatest Washington Capitals players in franchise history is forward Peter Bondra. Bondra absolutely should be in the Hall of Fame, but for some odd reason, he’s not in the Hall of Fame. His number has been unofficially retired by the Caps but has yet to be officially retired. Bondra spent 14 seasons with the Capitals after being drafted in the eighth round of the 1990 NHL Draft.

Bondra just missed playing in 1,000 games with the Caps. He played in 961 games in 14 seasons for them. He scored 472 goals and added 353 assists for a total of 825 points. He played in 1,081 games during his career and had 892 points. He is among the franchise leaders in multiple categories. All of these ranks are as of November 14th, 2015.

• Second in games played (961)
• Second in goals scored (472)
• Eighth in assists (353)
• First in even strength goals (303)
• Second in power play goals (137)
• First in short-handed goals (32)
• Second in game-winning goals (73)

It really is a shame that Bondra isn’t in the Hall of Fame because over the course of a decade from 1993-1994 to 2003-2004, he was the second best goal scorer in the NHL. The best during that decade? Jaromir Jagr, who is an unquestioned first ballot Hall of Famer whenever he decides to retire.

Next: Who's #1?

Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Alex Ovechkin

Coming in at number one on our list of the greatest Washington Capitals players in franchise history is forward Alex Ovechkin. Ovechkin is currently in his 11th season with the Caps and has already either broken or is well on his way to breaking most of the franchise’s all-time records.

Ovechkin cemented his spot atop this list last season when he bested Bondra’s franchise records in goals and points. It’s hard to imagine that he has already played in 775 games with the Caps (as of November 15th, 2015). It seems like only yesterday he was a record-setting rookie along with rival Sidney Crosby.

Ovechkin has won countless awards, but here are just some of the highlights.

• Five-time Rocket Richard Trophy winner (most goals scored in a season)
• Three-time Hart Trophy winner (and he has finished second twice)
• Calder Trophy winner (when he had to compete against Crosby)
• Art Ross Trophy winner

Ovechkin is going to continue to crush records and probably has at least seven seasons of hockey left in him (likely more). When he retires, he’s going to be mentioned among the legends. Gretzky, Lemieux, Messier, Howe, Orr. Ovechkin is comparable to all of those players thus far in his career. Whether or not he wins a Cup is irrelevant to Ovechkin’s talent and skill, which is the kind you see maybe once or twice in a generation. If the Caps don’t win a Cup with Ovechkin, the Caps should be extremely embarrassed to have wasted such an extraordinary talent.