The direction of the Washington Capitals’ franchise was changed forever on June 26, 2004.
On that very date, 20 years ago today, the Capitals selected Alex Ovechkin at the 2004 NHL Draft held at the RBC Center in Raleigh, NC.
Wednesday, the Capitals celebrated the Ovechversary on social media posting a highlight video and infographic.
Thanks to Lady Luck, the Caps won the right to select the brash and somewhat gawky teenager after a dreadful, rebuilding season that saw the team trade away Peter Bondra, Jaromir Jagr, Robert Lang, Sergei Gonchar, and Michael Nylander. Washington won only 23 of 82 games during the 2003-04 season — the franchise’s worst campaign in 26 years. But it’d be worth the pain. The Capitals, who were the third-worst team in the NHL that year, jumped over the Chicago Blackhawks and the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Draft Lottery to win the first overall pick.
Ovechkin was considered one of two elite players available. And while the Capitals gamed through drafting fellow Russian forward Evgeni Malkin, they just couldn’t pass up on Ovechkin.
“We just thought the combination of goals and physical play and enthusiasm that Ovechkin brings, he had to be the guy,” former Capitals general manager George McPhee said.
Since arriving in the NHL, Ovechkin has virtually accomplished it all in the NHL. He’s the only player in NHL history to win a Stanley Cup along with the Conn Smythe, Calder, Art Ross, Hart, Ted Lindsay, and Maurice Richard Trophies. He’s on pace to overtake Wayne Gretzky’s NHL goals record. He’s made hockey cool in the DC area. The only thing that has eluded him is outside of the NHL: he’s never won a gold medal with Team Russia in the Olympics.
Someday, Ovechkin will likely end up with a statue for all his amazing accomplishments. Until then, we’ll just appreciate the time we have left watching this guy play. Boy has it been an honor.
#OTD 20 years ago: The Caps selected Alex Ovechkin with the first overall pick at the 2004 NHL Draft. Ovechkin has the most goals by a No. 1 overall pick in NHL history and his 1,426 games played are the second most by a No. 1 pick with the team that drafted them. pic.twitter.com/xnVlfFJr4b
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) June 26, 2024
