Washington Capitals: Top 25 best draft picks in team history

#17 Michal Pivonka

Michal Pivonka was drafted by the Caps in the third round at 59th overall in 1984. He played in 825 games with the Caps at center and recorded 599 points with 181 goals and 418 assists. He’s from the Czech Republic.

He had 18 goals and 25 assists for 43 points in his rookie season in 1986-87. The next year he had 11 goals and 23 assists for 34 points. In his third season he had eight goals and 19 assists for 27 points.

In 1989-90 he had a career high 25 goals and 39 assists for 64 points. The next ear he had 20 goals and 50 assists for 70 points. In 1991-92 he had 23 goals and 57 assists for 80 points. In 1992-93 he had 21 goals and 53 assists for 74 points.

In 1993-94 Pivonka had 14 goals and 36 assists for 50 points. The next year he had 10 goals and 23 assists for 33 points. In 1995-96 he had 16 goals and 65 assists for 81 points. In 1997-98 he had three goals and six assists for nine points in just 33 games. In his final season he had 11 points in 36 games with five goals and six assists.

Pivonka had several injury filled seasons down the stretch of his career and retired following the 1998-99 season. He has the third most assists in Capitals history with 418, trailing only the greatest two to ever suit up for this team, Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin.