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Washington Capitals: A look back at Kevin Hatcher

By Michael Marzzacco

LANDOVER, MD - APRIL, 1991: Kevin Hatcher #4 of the Washington Capitals checks Mark Recchi #8 of the Pittsburgh Penguins into the boards during the 1991 Division Finals circa April, 1991 at the Capital Center in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images Studios/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD - APRIL, 1991: Kevin Hatcher #4 of the Washington Capitals checks Mark Recchi #8 of the Pittsburgh Penguins into the boards during the 1991 Division Finals circa April, 1991 at the Capital Center in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images Studios/Getty Images) /
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Kevin Hatcher was one of the Washington Capitals original offensive defensemen.

The Washington Capitals drafted Kevin Hatcher with their 17th pick in the 1984 NHL entry draft. At six-foot-three and 230 pounds, Hatcher was a polarizing defenseman that could play a two-way game on both sides of the ice.

Hatcher was a member of the Ontario Hockey League’s (OHL) North Bay Centennials where he remained the ensuing season after his draft selection in 1984-85. That season saw Hatcher score 26 goals and add 37 assists (63 points) in 58 games, 16 goals more than the previous season even though he played in 11 more games.

Towards the tail end of the season, the Capitals recalled Hatcher. He made his NHL debut in Pittsburgh on April 6, 1985 and scored his first NHL goal the next night against the Penguins on the backend of a home-and-home series. The 1985-86 campaign, Hatcher’s first full season, saw him post 19 points (9 goals, 10 assists) in 79 games.

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Hatcher’s numbers went up in his third season with 14 goals and 27 assists (41 points), including a career-high 144 penalty minutes in 78 regular season games. Additionally, Hatcher was clutch in the playoffs with five goals and seven assists. All five goals came in Washington’s first round series win over the Philadelphia Flyers that was won in seven games thanks to Dale Hunter’s overtime heroics.

Hatcher added 74 points (24 goals, 50 assists) in 1990-91. His best game came on February 10, 1991 when Hatcher notched a Gordie Howe Hat Trick against the Philadelphia Flyers. A unique feat where you’ve notched a goal, assist and a fight all in the same night. Last season, Tyler Lewington became the first Capitals defensemen since Hatcher to accomplish the feat.

Hatcher followed that up with 54 points his next season (17 goals, 37 assists). Then came his best season to date in 1992-93.  Hatcher scored 34 goals, setting the franchise record for most goals scored by a defensemen.

1993-94 turned out to be Hatcher’s final season in Washington. He finished that year with 16 goals and 24 assists (40 points). It’s an okay season but still a bit of a letdown and drop off. He wanted a trade and the Capitals responded by trading him to the Dallas Stars, a team he wanted to not only play for but a place where he and his younger brother Derian could play together.

Hatcher spent two seasons with the Dallas Stars before a three-year stint in Pittsburgh followed by one season with the New York Rangers and the next with the Carolina Hurricanes before deciding to finally hang it up in 2001.

Hatcher appeared in five all star games including three while as a member of the Capitals in 1990, 91 and 92. In 2010, he was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. Hatcher spent 10 of his 17 NHL seasons in Washington and played in 685 games, scored 149 goals and 277 assists.

More. How do the Capitals stack up against the rest of the Metropolitan Division?. light

Hatcher was a defensemen that helped set the standards of excellence for the Capitals. He was certainly the team’s Sergei Gonchar and Mike Green in the 1980s and early 90s.

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