Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals (Photo by Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
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LAS VEGAS, NV – JUNE 07: Jay Beagle #83 of the Washington Capitals celebrates after winning the Stanley Cup in the locker room with teammate Devante Smith-Pelly #25 after their 4-3 win over the Vegas Golden Knights in Game Five of the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena on June 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Capitals won the series 4-1. (Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images)
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Alexander Semin
WASHINGTON, DC – MAY 2: Alexander Semin #28 of Washington Capitals skates during warmups before Game Three of the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs against the New York Rangers on May 2, 2012 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/NHLI via Getty Images)
Alexander Semin was drafted by the Capitals with the 13th pick in the 2002 NHL Draft. His best season came in the 2009-10 year with 40 goals. For a while he was one of the faces of the “Young Guns” era and was on a line next to Alex Ovechkin, packing a one-two punch. Semin followed that killer season with 28 and 21 goals, respectively, before he signed with the Hurricanes as a free agent in 2012. Semin is currently in the KHL and was named team captain for HC Vityaz prior to this season.
Jay Beagle
LAS VEGAS, NV – JUNE 07: Jay Beagle #83 of the Washington Capitals celebrates as he lifts the Stanley Cup after the Capitals defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 4-3 in Game Five of the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena on June 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Capitals won the series four games to one. (Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images)
Jay Beagle wasn’t a top six center but he was an important role player and that longevity alone can be good enough to make this list. He was undrafted simply looking for a chance and throughout this decade he was (and still is!) a fan favorite among Caps fans. He also was stellar on the face-off dot winning 56.5% of draws from 2010-2018.
Mike Knuble
RALEIGH, NC – FEBRUARY 20: Mike Knuble of the Washington Capitals gets ready for a faceoff during an NHL game against the Carolina Hurricanes on February 20, 2012 at RBC Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Phil Ellsworth/NHLI via Getty Images)
Mike Knuble was brought on as a veteran following Sergei Fedorov’s retirement in the beginning of the decade. In his first season which was 2009-10, Knuble nearly matched his career-high with 29 goals at age 37. He followed that up with a 24-goal season. Knuble was never afraid to crash the net, scoring some of the dirtiest goals among the team in the early part of the decade.
