Revisiting the Washington Capitals Getting Sergei Gonchar and Brendan Witt – The Hockey Writers – Washington Capitals

The Washington Capitals have been lucky of their historical past to have many strong defensemen play for the group. They’d Kevin Hatcher, Larry Murphy, and Rod Langway throughout the earlier components of their historical past. The most effective blueliners they ever drafted, although, was Scott Stevens. He was chosen with the fifth-overall decide within the 1982 NHL Entry Draft and made an instantaneous affect when he joined the crew for the 1982-83 season. In 77 regular-season video games, Stevens posted 9 objectives and 16 assists for 25 factors. He solely continued to turn into an even bigger level producer on the again finish for Washington. Whereas he was in D.C., he produced the next numbers:

• 1982-83: 9 objectives and 16 assists for 25 factors in 77 video games
• 1983-84: 13 objectives and 32 assists for 45 factors in 78 video games
• 1984-85: 21 objectives and 44 assists for 65 factors in 80 video games
• 1985-86: 15 objectives and 38 assists for 53 factors in 73 video games
• 1986-87: 10 objectives and 51 assists for 61 factors in 77 video games
• 1987-88: 12 objectives and 60 assists for 72 factors in 80 video games
• 1988-89: seven objectives and 61 assists for 68 factors in 80 video games
• 1989-90: 11 objectives and 29 assists for 40 factors in 56 video games

Whereas Stevens was enjoying very nicely for the Capitals, he finally checked out the potential of enjoying elsewhere and favored what the St. Louis Blues needed to supply. St. Louis had numerous promise, as a few of their high gamers of their 1989-90 roster included winger Brett Hull, middle Adam Oates, ahead Rod Brind’Amour, and future star goalie Curtis Joseph. Consequently, Stevens and the Blues agreed on a proposal sheet. Washington didn’t find yourself matching it, and they acquired 5 first-round draft picks as compensation.

Drafting Sergei Gonchar and Brendan Witt

The 1992 first-round decide Washington acquired from the Blues (which was 14^th general) was used to pick defenseman Sergei Gonchar. After a quick time within the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Portland Pirates, he made his NHL debut throughout the lockout-shortened 1994-95 marketing campaign.

Gonchar joined a Capitals locker room that had skills corresponding to Peter Bondra, Michal Pivonka, Dale Hunter, and Calle Johansson. That season, Gonchar tallied two objectives and 5 assists for seven factors in 31 video games. He adopted that up by suiting up in his first full season within the league and notching 15 objectives and 26 assists for 41 factors in 78 video games. It didn’t take Gonchar lengthy to get used to enjoying within the NHL, and his numbers offensively had been proof of that. Whereas in Washington, he amassed the next:

• 1994-95: two objectives and 5 assists for seven factors in 31 video games
• 1995-96: 15 objectives and 26 assists for 41 factors in 78 video games
• 1996-97: 13 objectives and 17 assists for 30 factors in 57 video games
• 1997-98: 5 objectives and 16 assists for 21 factors in 72 video games
• 1998-99: 21 objectives and 10 assists for 31 factors in 53 video games
• 1999-2000: 18 objectives and 36 assists for 54 factors in 73 video games
• 2000-01: 19 objectives and 38 assists for 57 factors in 76 video games
• 2001-02: 26 objectives and 33 assists for 59 factors in 76 video games
• 2002-03: 18 objectives and 49 assists for 67 factors in 82 video games
• 2003-04: seven objectives and 42 assists for 49 factors in 56 video games

One other asset Washington acquired as a part of Stevens leaving on the Blues’ supply sheet was a first-round choice within the 1993 NHL Draft at 11^th general. With this alternative, the Capitals picked defender Brendan Witt, who had grown his recreation within the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Seattle Thunderbirds.

Witt’s first NHL season with the Capitals got here in 1995-96 when he suited up for 48 contests and accrued 5 factors in that span (two objectives and three assists). He was not recognized for bringing an offensive presence, however he did get factors on occasion. Whereas in Washington, Witt collected the next stats:

• 1995-96: two objectives and three assists for 5 factors in 48 video games
• 1996-97: three objectives and two assists for 5 factors in 44 video games
• 1997-98: one objective and 7 assists for eight factors in 64 video games
• 1998-99: two objectives and 5 assists for seven factors in 54 video games
• 1999-2000: one objective and 7 assists for eight factors in 77 video games
• 2000-01: three objectives and three assists for six factors in 72 video games
• 2001-02: three objectives and 7 assists for 10 factors in 68 video games
• 2002-03: two objectives and 9 assists for 11 factors in 69 video games
• 2003-04: two objectives and 10 assists for 12 factors in 72 video games
• 2005-06: one objective and 10 assists for 11 factors in 58 video games

Witt was recognized extra for his physicality, offering many hits whereas he was on the ice. The truth is, Witt led the complete league in hits throughout the 2000-01 season. His management expertise had been additionally essential to the group. This was a lot the case that he was named a co-captain of the squad together with ahead Steve Konowalchuk.

Gonchar and Witt Go Elsewhere

The 2003-04 Capitals made fairly just a few trades. The franchise was transitioning to the following period, which led to the group drafting celebrity Alex Ovechkin, and plenty of nice skills had been shipped out throughout the 2003-04 marketing campaign. Bondra was dealt to the Ottawa Senators, ahead Jaromir Jagr was moved to the New York Rangers, Robert Lang was traded to the Detroit Purple Wings, Mike Grier to the Buffalo Sabres, and Konowalchuk to the Colorado Avalanche. Gonchar, too, ended up on the transfer. He was traded by Capitals GM George McPhee to the Boston Bruins. The complete deal was Gonchar to the Bruins for defenseman Shaone Morrisonn, a first-round decide within the 2004 Draft that grew to become Jeff Schultz, and a second-round decide in 2004.

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Witt stayed in D.C. for the whole lot of the 2003-04 season. He additionally performed in some video games for the Capitals in 2005-06. Nevertheless, he was traded in the midst of that marketing campaign to the Nashville Predators in change for Kris Beech and a first-round decide in 2006 that grew to become goalie Semyon Varlamov.

Following his time in Boston, Gonchar joined the Pittsburgh Penguins earlier than 2005-06. He helped them make the Stanley Cup Remaining in back-to-back postseasons (2008 and 2009) and was a key piece within the membership successful the Cup in 2009 towards Detroit. He later additionally performed for the Ottawa Senators, Dallas Stars, and Montreal Canadiens earlier than retiring from recreation motion following the 2014-15 NHL season. He completed his profession having performed in 1,301 video games and tallying 811 factors (220 objectives and 591 assists).

Witt, in the meantime, joined the New York Islanders previous to the 2006-07 marketing campaign. He performed for the Islanders for components of 4 seasons, splitting his ultimate one between them and the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Witt retired having suited up for 890 NHL video games and posting 25 objectives and 96 assists for 121 factors.

Good Compensation from Shedding Stevens

Shedding Stevens and his skillset stung for the Capitals and their followers, however with the ability to purchase the extent of expertise Gonchar and Witt introduced will not be too dangerous of a return. Gonchar was a major identify on the again finish for almost all of his profession on the minimal, whereas Witt made an affect time and time once more by physicality and management expertise. They each performed essential roles for Washington whereas they had been with the crew. With how good they had been, dropping Stevens to the Blues was not as dangerous because it might have been.