Top 3 worst draft picks in Capitals history

#2 Alexander Volchkov

The Capitals selected Alexander Volchkov in the 1996 NHL Draft. After Byron Dafoe asked the Caps for a trade and wanted to go to the Los Angeles Kings, the Caps got their first round draft pick as part of the deal. Volchkov was the fourth overall pick.

The unfortunate part was the Caps also had to part ways with Dmitri Khristich. Volchkov came from Russia and was already contributing in the OHL for he Barrie Colts. He, however, only played in three NHL games. He was a bad pick in an overall bad draft class.

Other players that the Caps could’ve drafted include Derek Morris, Marco Sturm, and Daniel Briere. These guys aren’t franchise changers but the Capitals could have been happy going with one of those names for their fourth overall pick.

The worst part? If the Caps decided to acquire the Kings 1997 first rounder they could’ve selected Olli Jokinen, Roberto Luongo, or Marian Hossa. In 1996, their best option in the first round was Dainties Zubrus.

If we want to go deeper, Zdeno Chara wasn’t taken in the draft until the third round. Look how he turned out to be and he’s still playing! This was another bad pick.