Washington Capitals: Top 25 best draft picks in team history

#19 Scott Stevens

The Caps drafted Scott Stevens at fifth overall 1982. They opened that following season with some defensemen injured which opened up a chance for the then 18 year old to make the team right out of training camp. he did exactly that.

He scored his first NHL goal on his first shot and finished his rookie season with 25 points with nine goals and 16 assists. He finished third in Rookie of the Year voting for the Calder Trophy and led all rookie defensemen with 195 penalty minutes. He also made the all rookie team and was named the Caps Rookie of the Year.

Stevens’ offensive numbers jumped to 13 goals and 32 assists for 45 points in his second season. He learned to improve his defensive game from Rod Langway as well as his pairing partner Brian Engblom.

Stevens also was good offensively as he had 21 goals and 44 assists for 65 points in the 1984-85 season. The next year he had 15 goals and 38 assists for 53 points. the next year he had 10 goals and 51 assists for 61 points.

In his penultimate season with the Caps he had 12 goals and 60 assists for 72 points while in his final season recorded seven goals and 61 assists for 68 points. He signed with the St. Louis Blues in the summer of 1990 as a free agent.