Your greatest players in franchise history

[HeyMattyB]

Man, what a joy it was to watch Peter Bondra play.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

Cue the Semin fan club. Everyone has their favorites. I have a hard time putting a player on a greats list when his teammates questioned his heart, but would likely begrudgingly have him there because of a early sad franchise history with few great options.

Pure talent-wise, he’s there no doubt. He could have been so much more if he had Ovy’s heart.

Semin was a beast when he was on. The Caps truly had a 3 headed monster up front when Ovi, Semin and Backstrom were all on their game at the same time. Could've won the Cup once with these 3 if they got hot at the same time.

 

[maacoshark]

Semin was a beast when he was on. The Caps truly had a 3 headed monster up front when Ovi, Semin and Backstrom were all on their game at the same time. Could've won the Cup once with these 3 if they got hot at the same time.

Semin just didnt do it on a regular basis. His skills were 2nd to none. He had the skill to be the best player in the league.

 

[RandyHolt]

I loved young Semin maybe the most. He definitely kept my caps interest dialed up during the dark years.

Peter Bondra was awesome. He knew you have to make a lot of shot to make a lot of goals.

 

[Silky mitts]

The Caps have had 4 wingers you could count on in the playoffs: Ciccarelli, Bondra, Ovy, Oshie. Every other guy it was like well we could have been out in the first or second round with or without you.

 

[maacoshark]

The Caps have had 4 wingers you could count on in the playoffs: Ciccarelli, Bondra, Ovy, Oshie. Every other guy it was like well we could have been out in the first or second round with or without you.

Bondras playoffs numbers aren't that impressive. Gartners playoff numbers were actually a bit better and he was known to under achieve in the playoffs.

 

[Silky mitts]

Bondras playoffs numbers aren't that impressive. Gartners playoff numbers were actually a bit better and he was known to under achieve in the playoffs.

Prior to last season Washington had won two playoff series of significance: the one time they beat the Penguins in 94, and Buffalo in the semis in 98. In those eight wins Bonzai had 6 g, 3 a, and 2 GWG. So outside of the stats, watching the important Caps wins over the last 30 years. there was Bondra dominating. These were benchmark achievements for the franchise that they clearly would not have accomplished without Bondra.

As far as the stats the average NHL GAA in Gartner's Caps tenure was about 3.7, during Bondras it was about 2.8. So Bondra's slightly worse stats are actually much better than Gartner's. Gartner averaged 0.52 gpg and 1.04 ppg in the regular season as a Cap, 0.34 gpg and 0.915 ppg with 1 gwg in 47 games and if you watched the games he was worse than those numbers. There's a reason they immediately had the best year in franchise history as soon as they traded him. Bondra 0.49 gpg and 0.86 ppg in the regular season, 0.411 gpg and 0.767 ppg in the playoffs with 6 gwg in 73 games and if you watched the games he was better than those numbers.

 

[Chokingdogs]

Gartner’s PO numbers are skewed to the good due to one year he showed up. Remove that and his vanishing act when it mattered is even more apparent.

Great regular season performer, woefully sad playoff guy.

 

[Calicaps]

Gartner’s PO numbers are skewed to the good due to one year he showed up. Remove that and his vanishing act when it mattered is even more apparent.

Great regular season performer, woefully sad playoff guy.

Seems like you might need a new screen name, sir. Just sayin'

 

[maacoshark]

Prior to last season Washington had won two playoff series of significance: the one time they beat the Penguins in 94, and Buffalo in the semis in 98. In those eight wins Bonzai had 6 g, 3 a, and 2 GWG. So outside of the stats, watching the important Caps wins over the last 30 years. there was Bondra dominating. These were benchmark achievements for the franchise that they clearly would not have accomplished without Bondra.

As far as the stats the average NHL GAA in Gartner's Caps tenure was about 3.7, during Bondras it was about 2.8. So Bondra's slightly worse stats are actually much better than Gartner's. Gartner averaged 0.52 gpg and 1.04 ppg in the regular season as a Cap, 0.34 gpg and 0.915 ppg with 1 gwg in 47 games and if you watched the games he was worse than those numbers. There's a reason they immediately had the best year in franchise history as soon as they traded him. Bondra 0.49 gpg and 0.86 ppg in the regular season, 0.411 gpg and 0.767 ppg in the playoffs with 6 gwg in 73 games and if you watched the games he was better than those numbers.

I didnt find those wins more important than any others. The end result was that we didnt win the cup. So what if we advanced an extra round that season. And BTW the 98 playoffs it was Kolzig that carried us in those playoffs.
What do you mean by if you watched the games? I have never missed a Caps playoff game. Bondra didnt get us anywhere.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

-1 Maaco

Bonzai just wasn't a “carry the team” type of player for a playoff series.....but that doesn’t mean his 30g and 56 pts in 73 games is something to disparage.

How can you not consider his contribution on the road to that Finals as worthy? They had balanced contributions among many of the forwards and yeah Kolzig was insane but you can’t win 0-0.

 

[Silky mitts]

1st 2 rounds Gonchar carried them, that was his coming out party

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

1st 2 rounds Gonchar carried them, that was his coming out party

And then from there on he could barely buy a playoff G for years.

 

[Silky mitts]

And then for there on he could barely buy a playoff G for years.

It was hard to really enjoy any post run glow because so many aspects were fluky and clearly unrepeatable.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Yep, but it was still an awesome run.

 

[Chokingdogs]

Seems like you might need a new screen name, sir. Just sayin'

lol

I did think about changing it couple years ago, figuring the hockey gods had been punishing me for it.