Stars and Sticks
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Washington Capitals: 15 All-Time Best Draft Picks

By Michael Marzzacco

SUNRISE, FL - JUNE 26: Ilya Samsonov poses after being selected 22th overall by of the Washington Capitals in the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft at BB&T Center on June 26, 2015 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
SUNRISE, FL - JUNE 26: Ilya Samsonov poses after being selected 22th overall by of the Washington Capitals in the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft at BB&T Center on June 26, 2015 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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Reggie Savage

27 Jan 1993: Center Reggie Savage of the Washington Capitals looks on during a game against the Buffalo Sabres at Memorial Auditorium in Buffalo, New York. Mandatory Credit: Rick Stewart /Allsport
27 Jan 1993: Center Reggie Savage of the Washington Capitals looks on during a game against the Buffalo Sabres at Memorial Auditorium in Buffalo, New York. Mandatory Credit: Rick Stewart /Allsport /

Center Reggie Savage was selected in the 1988 NHL Draft at 15th. Although his career in Washington was just two seasons before ending his career with the Quebec Nordiques. The Capitals selected after he scored 68 goals for the Victoriavile Tigres of the QMJHL.

After returning to the junior ranks after the draft he represented Team Canada at the 1989 World Junior Championships. He also spent a two-year stint with the AHL’s Baltimore Skipjacks (Washington’s affiliate at the time) scoring 74 goals in two seasons before making his NHL debut in the 1990-91 season (via Hockey Hall of Fame).

27 JANUARY 1993, REGGIE SAVAGE OF THE WASHINGTON CAPITALS WATCHES FOR THE PUCK DURING A GAME AGAINST THE BUFFALO SABRES.
27 JANUARY 1993, REGGIE SAVAGE OF THE WASHINGTON CAPITALS WATCHES FOR THE PUCK DURING A GAME AGAINST THE BUFFALO SABRES. /

Despite scoring just two career goals in Washington, Savage has the unique stat of being one of just five players in the 102-year history of the NHL to score his first career goal on  a penalty shot.

Mike Gartner

2002 Season: Mike Gartner celebrates And Player Mike Gartner. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images Studios/Getty Images)
2002 Season: Mike Gartner celebrates And Player Mike Gartner. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images Studios/Getty Images) /

Mike Gartner was selected at the fourth pick in the 1979 Draft and made his debut the following season. Gartner was a part of the foundation of early success from a young expansion team at the time. Gartner spent 10 of the 19 seasons in the NHL in Washington and was part of the franchise’s first six playoff teams.

In 702 games, Gartner scored 371 goals and added 363 assists and scored at least 35 or more goals in each of his first nine seasons. He was traded 56 games into the 1998-89 season when he scored 26 goals.

Former Washington Capitals star and Hall of Fame member Mike Gartner waves to fans during a ceremony to retire his Capitals uniform, No. 11, before the Capitals game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., Sunday, December 28, 2008. (Photo by Chuck Myers/MCT/MCT via Getty Images)
Former Washington Capitals star and Hall of Fame member Mike Gartner waves to fans during a ceremony to retire his Capitals uniform, No. 11, before the Capitals game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., Sunday, December 28, 2008. (Photo by Chuck Myers/MCT/MCT via Getty Images) /

Despite the later career stops with the Minnesota North Stars, New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Phoenix Coyotes, Gartner left a mark in Washington. That mark is clearly seen when you attend a game at Capital One Arena and look up to the rafters.

Jakub Vrana

PHILADELPHIA, PA – JUNE 27: Jakub Vrana is selected thirteenth overall by the Washington Capitals in the first round of the 2014 NHL Draft at the Wells Fargo Center on June 27, 2014 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – JUNE 27: Jakub Vrana is selected thirteenth overall by the Washington Capitals in the first round of the 2014 NHL Draft at the Wells Fargo Center on June 27, 2014 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

The Washington Capitals selected Jakub Vrana with the 13th overall pick. At the time of his selection, he was “Welcomed to Washington” with a phone call from Alex Ovechkin himself.

Vrana made his NHL debut in the beginning of Dec. 2016 and notched his first NHL goal in Buffalo against the Sabres nine days later. After a brief stop in the AHL, Vrana struggled in his callup and was sent back.

But fans know that “V” is a hard worker from his speed on the ice to the extra shots he takes at the end of practices. He made the roster after a great training camp in 2017 he earned a roster spot.

Vrana’s first full season was a roller coaster from slumps to scratches but he elevated his game. Vrana scored one of the biggest goals in Capitals history, assisted by a pass from that same person he was on the phone with on Draft night, that helped line things up for slaying their biggest rivals and added an game-opening goal in the Stanley Cup clincher.

Vrana followed this up with a monster 2018-19 with a career-high 24 goals and 23 helpers and it’s no surprise he’s due for a payday this summer.

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