Washington Capitals: Top 10 best NHL Draft picks in team history

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Sergei Gonchar, Washington Capitals Mandatory Credit: Rick Stewart /Allsport /

The Washington Capitals have made a total of 452 draft selections in their franchise history as they enter their 47th season. That is a lot of draft picks so who made our list to the top 10 best draft picks of all time?

The NHL Draft, in fact a draft for any sport for that matter, is an exciting time for kids across the globe with a chance to fulfill their NHL dreams. Some draft picks, the Caps knocked it out of the park. Other draft picks, not so much.

We’ll take a look at the best of the best of who the Caps selected to invest in the future on.

Sergei Gonchar, Washington Capitals (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

#10 Sergei Gonchar

Defenseman Sergei Gonchar was selected by the Capitals in the first round at 14th overall in the 1992 NHL Draft. He led Russian born defenseman in both goals with 220 and points with 811. His career stretched from 1995 to 2015.

Gonchar came to North America in 1994 starting off with Washington’s AHL affiliate Portland for the Calder Cup playoffs. He started the 1994-95 season with Portland before making his debut with the Caps later in the season against the Buffalo Sabres on Feb. 7, 1995.

Gonchar recorded 41 points with 15 goals and 26 assists in 1995-96 which was the first time he reached double figures in goals. Just three years later in 1998 he helped the Caps reach their first Stanley Cup Finals before they were swept by the Detroit Red Wings. In 1998-99, Gonchar became the first Russian born defenseman to reach the 20 goal mark when he scored 21 goals.

Gonchar was traded to the Boston Bruins during the Caps fire sale in the 2003-04 season.

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