#5 Mike Green
Everyone talks about the first rounder the Washington Capitals selected in the 2004 NHL Draft that we’ll touch on in a few slides from now, but the Caps also made another draft pick in that round at 29th overall. They selected defenseman Mike Green and he became an instant part of the young guns.
Green would spend 10 seasons with the Capitals and go on to be their best offensive defenseman in franchise history. In 2005-06 he bounced between the Capitals and their AHL affiliate the Hershey Bears, winning the Calder Cup at the end of the season. Come 2007-08, Green had a full time role and began to breakout with 18 goals scored. That season, Green was ranked second among NHL defensemen in goals and he additionally recorded 56 points while playing in all 82 regular season games.
On Valentines Day in 2009, Green set an NHL record for the longest goal scoring streak by a defenseman with eight games. He broke Mike O’Connoell’s record of seven games with the Boston Bruins that he set in the 1983-84 season.
From 2008-10, Green’s offense in Washington was on fire on both even strength play and while quarterbacking the power play. He had a slapshot that would rip right through the net. Green recorded 360 points during his time with the Capitals with 113 goals and 247 assists.