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

#4 Braden Holtby

I was in a pickle here, I’ll admit it. Had to include a goalie on this list and I was torn between Braden Holtby and Olaf Kolzig. I ultimately picked Holtby as he helped the Washington Capitals get the job done just a few years before he left but both of their names are deservedly on the Stanley Cup.

But Holtby making this list shows just how much the NHL Draft matters. Sometimes even with a late pick you can find a diamond in the rough. The Caps sure did with Holtby when they selected him in the fourth round at 93rd overall in 2008.

Holtby made his debut on Nov. 5, 2010 against the Boston Bruins and got his first start two nights later. Flash forward to spring of 2012 and Holtby was thrust into the starting goaltender role for the playoffs with Michal Neuvirth and Tomas Vokoun both injured. He became a full time starter in the 2013 season.

In 2015-16, Holtby tied Martin Broudeur’s record for wins in a season with 48 and would go on to win the Vezina Trophy as the league’s top goaltender. He struggled two seasons later and began the playoffs as a backup to Philipp Grubauer but took over in their second game and went 16-7 with a 2.16 goals against average and a .922 save percentage along with two shutouts to help lead the Caps to the Stanley Cup.