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

By Michael Marzzacco

Nicklas Backstrom, Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Nicklas Backstrom, Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mike Gartner, Washington Capitals (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
Mike Gartner, Washington Capitals (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

#8 Mike Gartner

Mike Gartner was drafted by the Washington Capitals at fourth overall in the 1979 NHL Draft. He played 19 seasons in the NHL for the Capitals, Minnesota North Stars, New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs and Phoenix Coyotes. In 2017, Gartner was named one of the 100 greatest players in NHL history as part of the league’s 100th anniversary celebration.

Gartner would spend about 10 seasons with the Capitals. He recorded an assist in his NHL debut on Oct. 11, 1979 against the Buffalo Sabres. Gartner had a solid first season with the Caps in 1979-80 winning both team’s Rookie of the Year and MVP awards. He was also voted on by the fans as the team’s Most Promising Player. He led the Caps with 36 goals.

Gartner was traded to the Minnesota North Stars on March 7, 1989. He left the Capitals as the team’s all time leader in career goals, assists, and points. Despite scoring 50 goals only once in a single season, Gartner is only the fifth player in NHL history to reach 700 goals. Alex Ovechkin reached that number in Feb. 2020.

On Dec. 28, 2008 prior to a home game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Caps retired Gartner’s #11 to the rafters. He is tied with Ovechkin and Jaromir Jagr with 15 consecutive 30 goal seasons.

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