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Washington Capitals: 5 Biggest Draft Busts of this Century

By Benjamin Little

WASHINGTON - FEBRUARY 26: Chris Bourque #56 of the Washington Capitals waits for a face off against the Minnesota Wild the Verizon Center on February 26, 2008 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/NHLI via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON - FEBRUARY 26: Chris Bourque #56 of the Washington Capitals waits for a face off against the Minnesota Wild the Verizon Center on February 26, 2008 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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With the NHL Entry Draft continuing today with rounds 2-7, it is fun to look back on your favourite team’s past draft picks. For the most part, the Washington Capitals have been fortunate when it comes to their drafting.

They have a very talented group of scouts who are able to help the Washington Capitals snag some good, and even some great players. These players can come with the first-overall pick (see Alexander Ovechkin), late first-round picks (see Evgeny Kuznetsov and John Carlson) or even in later rounds (see Braden Holtby). In total, Washington currently has seven first-round picks in their lineup with what seems to be more on the way in coming years.

With all of this success it is easy to forget that the Capitals, much like every other team in the NHL, have also had their share of woes when it comes to their selections on draft day. As fun as it is to look back on the successful picks and steals your team has had in previous drafts, it can also be fun to look back on the picks that could have or should have been. So, without further ado, get ready to read some names you’ve never read before because these are the Washington Capitals’ 5 biggest draft busts of this century (in no particular order).

Chris Bourque

WASHINGTON – JANUARY 1: Chris Bourque #56 of the Washington Capitals looks on from the bench during a NHL hockey game against the Tampa Bay Lightning on January 1, 2009 at the Verizon Center in Washington DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/NHLI via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON – JANUARY 1: Chris Bourque #56 of the Washington Capitals looks on from the bench during a NHL hockey game against the Tampa Bay Lightning on January 1, 2009 at the Verizon Center in Washington DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Chris Bourque was selected 33rd overall in the 2nd round of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. Although it is true 2nd-round picks are not as important or promising as 1st-round picks, being a 2nd-round pick still comes with some expectations. Especially when you’re a higher 2nd-round pick such as Chris Bourque was. Bourque did not live up to these expectations, however, as he only laced up in 12 games as a member of the Washington Capitals over two seasons. He was claimed off of waivers by the Pittsburgh Penguins, and also spent part of a season with the Boston Bruins. Chris Bourque’s true value has been in the AHL as a member of the Hershey Bears, Providence Bruins and Bridgeport Sound Tigers where he has 746 points in 794 games played.

Sasha Pokulok

DUESSELDORF, GERMANY – APRIL 12: Sasha Pokulok of Metro Stars looks dejected after losing 1-3 the fifth DEL play off semi final match between DEG Metro Stars and EHC Eisbaeren Berlin at ISS Dome on April 12, 2011 in Duesseldorf, Germany. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Bongarts/Getty Images)
DUESSELDORF, GERMANY – APRIL 12: Sasha Pokulok of Metro Stars looks dejected after losing 1-3 the fifth DEL play off semi final match between DEG Metro Stars and EHC Eisbaeren Berlin at ISS Dome on April 12, 2011 in Duesseldorf, Germany. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Bongarts/Getty Images) /

I know I said there was no particular order for this list, but if I were going to choose a number one it would have to be Sasha Pokulok. Pokulok went 14th overall (!) in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. Washington’s last 14th-overall pick before Pokulok was Sergei Gonchar; An NHL All-Star on more than one occasion and one of the greatest defensemen in Washington Capitals history. Pokulok did not meet, nor did he even get the phone number of the expectations set by Gonchar. Pokulok never touched the ice during a regular season NHL game and only suited up for 68 games in the AHL amassing 15 points. If you can believe it, the Capitals weren’t done making a mockery of the first round quite yet in 2005…

Joe Finley

UNIONDALE, NY – MARCH 09: Joe Finley #52 of the New York Islanders wears the Islanders St. Patrick’s Day jersey during warmups prior to the game against the Washington Capitals at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on March 9, 2013 in Uniondale, New York. The Islanders defeated the Capitals 5-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
UNIONDALE, NY – MARCH 09: Joe Finley #52 of the New York Islanders wears the Islanders St. Patrick’s Day jersey during warmups prior to the game against the Washington Capitals at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on March 9, 2013 in Uniondale, New York. The Islanders defeated the Capitals 5-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Joe Finley, or Joey F as I have taken to calling this legend, was the 27th-overall pick in the same 2005 draft that gave the Capitals Sasha Pokulok. Selected three picks after T.J. Oshie and one pick before Matt Niskanen, this pick is a tough one to swallow given the fact that they had already botched a pick in the same round. Although the 2005 draft was far-from-stacked (aside from a guy named Sidney Crosby), most of the talent were goalies and most of the talent were found in later rounds. Examples include James Neal, Jonathan Quick and Keith Yandle all found after the first round. It is excusable since every other team skipped on these players at least once but… Joe Finley? Joey F never played a game for Washington but found 21 career games between the Buffalo Sabres and the New York Islanders where the offensive D-man was able to accumulate one assist. He was mostly a career AHLer.

Anton Gustafsson

BALLSTON VA- July 12: Capitals Anton Gustafsson advances the puck up ice during the Washington Capitals development camp at their practice rink in Ballston VA July 12, 2010. (Photo by John McDonnell/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
BALLSTON VA- July 12: Capitals Anton Gustafsson advances the puck up ice during the Washington Capitals development camp at their practice rink in Ballston VA July 12, 2010. (Photo by John McDonnell/The Washington Post via Getty Images) /

This one was even worse than Joey F. Anton Gustafsson, drafted 21st overall in the 2008 NHL draft just six picks BEFORE John Carlson. Overall this draft turned out to be okay as they grabbed Carlson in the first round and Braden Holtby in the fourth, but sheesh if they only had one first-round pick this could have been deadly for the Caps. Gustafsson played ZERO games for the Washington Capitals and, get this, ONE game for the Hershey Bears. The Capitals drafted a player in the first round that played one professional hockey game in North America. Why did they even bother flying the guy over? Save him the time and just maybe, I don’t know, not draft him. Maybe pick Jordan Eberle 21st-overall so he doesn’t go to the Edmonton Oilers with the next pick or grab Roman Josi before he gets grabbed in the second round. It’s not Gustafsson’s fault, but man…this was a bad selection.

Brian Sutherby

WASHINGTON – JANUARY 10: Center Brian Sutherby #16 of the Washington Capitals looks on from the bench during the NHL game against the Chicago Blackhawks on January 10, 2006 at MCI Center in Washington, D.C. The Blackhawks won 4-3. (Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON – JANUARY 10: Center Brian Sutherby #16 of the Washington Capitals looks on from the bench during the NHL game against the Chicago Blackhawks on January 10, 2006 at MCI Center in Washington, D.C. The Blackhawks won 4-3. (Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

Brian Sutherby is the oldest draft pick on this list being the first Capital drafted at the turn of the new century after being selected 26th overall in the 2000 NHL Draft. He’s also unique in this list as he actually spent the majority of his career in the NHL. The only problem is that, as a first-round draft pick, Sutherby only managed 90 points in his 490-career NHL games. 61 points in 259 games as a Capital. Nothing awful but just not what is expected out of a first-rounder. Although he is far from the worst draft selection the Caps have ever made – hell he isn’t even the worst on this list – he is just far from the best.

Well, here is a nice little cautionary “What Not to Do at the NHL Draft” read for the Capitals’ management to prep for the stressful events that will continue today and carry over for the scouting assignments to prep for next year’s first round.

Next. Capitals select next-gen center Connor McMichael. dark

Hopefully, the Capitals hit the mark in the first round with a young center like Connor McMichael. Judging by the highlights and resume, this seems like a good pick. If we’re even luckier, maybe someday McMichael could win a surprise Calder Trophy and be the first Cap to win one since Ovechkin. Let’s go Caps.

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