Washington Capitals: Top 5 All-Time American-Born Players

#2 Bobby Carpenter

CANADA – FEBRUARY 05: All eyes on the puck: Jim Korn (20); Bill Kitchen (26) an Al lafrate (33) of the Maple Leafs look to the net; where the puck shot by Washington’s Mike McEwen settles behind goaltender Tim Bernhardt. It was the Capitals’ first goal; coming in the first period. Kitchen has Gaetan Duchesne pinned on the ice; while Bobby Carpenter cruises through the slot. The Caps had lost only one of their previous eight games against Toronto. (Photo by Colin McConnell/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

Bobby Carpenter, born in Beverly, Massachusetts, was drafted by the Capitals at third overall in 1981. Just prior to the draft back on Feb. 23, 1981, Carpenter graced the cover of Sports Illustrated and was the first American-born hockey player to land on the cover of the magazine. He was dubbed “The Can’t Miss Kid”.

The article noted that at the time, no high school player had ever been drafted in the top 60 and no American among the first 10. The center spent his first five full seasons in the NHL with the Capitals.

Carptenter’s best season in Washington was his fourth where he recorded a career-high 53 goals and 42 assists for 95 points in the 1984-85 campaign. His 53-goals were historic. Carpenter became the first USA-born NHL player to score at least 50 goals in a season.

TORONTO, CANADA – OCTOBER 1984: Bobby Carpenter #10 of the Washington Capitals controls the puck against the Toronto Maple Leafs during preseason action in October 1984 at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Ontario Canada. (Photo by Graig Abel Collection/Getty Images)

Carpenter was traded in the middle of the 1986-87 season to the New York Rangers in exchange for Mike Ridley and Kelly Miller. He additionally was part of another trade later that same season when he was dealt to the Los Angeles Kings.

On the international stage, Carpenter represented Team USA in the 1981 World Juniors as well as well as the 1984 and 1987 Canada Cup.

Carpenter additionally made stops with the Boston Bruins, and New Jersey Devils with his second tour in Washington sandwiched in between in the 1992-93 season. Carpenter suited up for 490 games with the Capitals in his career and recorded 395 points (188 goals, 207 assists).