Washington Capitals: Top 10 centers of all-time

#2 Dale Hunter

Before there was Tom Wilson living rent free in opposing teams players and fans heads there was Dale Hunter who was a Caps center for 12 seasons and a coach for half a season. He served as team captain from 1994-1999. He currently coaches the London Knights and top prospect Connor McMichael.

Hunter leads the Caps in career penalty minutes with 2,003. On the night of his number getting retired, he received the penalty box of the old Capital Centre bestowed on him as a gift. Hunter scored 22 goals and 37 assists for 59 points his first season in Washington in 1987-88. He also scored a clutch goal that spring against the Philadelphia Flyers that helped the Caps advance to the next round. At the time it was the greatest playoff goal in Caps history just prior to the 2018 Cup run.

Hunter had five seasons where he scored 20 or more goals with his best season coming in 1991-92 where he scored 28 goals and added 50 assists for 78 points. In the playoffs he continued to shine as he led the team with seven playoff goals in the 1993 Patrick Division Semifinals.

After Bruce Boudreau was fired in 2011, Hunter took over as interim head coach for the remainder of the season. He guided the Caps to the second round before coming up short to the New York Rangers.