![]() What can you say about a guy with a nickname like “the Can’t Miss Kid?” Bobby Carpenter was a player of firsts. Washington Capitals Centers #4- Bobby Carpenter He may well be number one on this list before it is all said and done. I look forward to watching him continue to develop and score, as he is only 24. In his career so far he has scored 101 goals and tallied 266 assists in 365 games. Oh, and he pots the odd goal now and again. Soft spoken and calm of demeanor, he delivers perfect saucer passes to his teammates on a consistent basis. He has vision and playmaking skills that seem almost extra sensory. Nic is as physically formidable as his contemporaries, however, he uses his strength to shield the puck and create opportunities as opposed to delivering crushing hits. He scored 69 points as a rookie and would have been a lock if not for the stellar seasons of Kane and Toews in Chicago. A Swedish import, Backstrom began play in the 07-08 season and finished just behind Patrick Kane for the Calder Trophy. But if he went away tomorrow he’d still be in the top ten. ![]() Nic Backstrom is another entry who is in the midst of his playing career. Washington Capitals Centers #7- Nicklas Backstrom I don’t know how you can be from the area and not love Halpern’s story. I was terribly happy to see him return to D.C. In his first go-round as a Cap he scored 87 goals, tallied 127 assists and earned 351 PIMs in 438 games. Halpern was named team captain for the 05-06 season. Their transcendence in that aspect of play appeared to be the product of voodoo at times, weaving in and out of the defense on extra long shifts. Jeff most notably played on a secondary line with Steve Konowalchuck and Ulf Dahlen, a line that seemingly mastered the cycle game. He scored 18 goals as a rookie, tying the team record. ![]() Halpern signed a contract with the Caps based on his success in the Ivy League and muscled his way onto the playing roster by busting his butt during the 99 camp. He turned pro to little fanfare: he was an undrafted free agent. There he led the ECAC in goals during both his Junior and Senior campaigns. Jeff matriculated to Princeton and played Ivy League hockey. To be a Caps fan then was much more difficult than today, with the arena in a hip section of China Town and hot young stars to watch on the ice. This was during the bad old days when the team played in Landover, MD and they achieved little positive press. As a child he watched and admired the play of Dale Hunter and Rod His parents were avid Caps fans and he played for the Little Caps, a major youth hockey organization in the D.C. Jeff’s tale is an example of boyhood aspirations coming true. Washington Capitals Centers #9- Jeff Halpern In Washington he played 312 games, scored 62 goals and compiled 172 assists. Although he went on to play for a few more teams before his career was over, his best years came as a Cap. When he did decide to shoot he chose well. Juneau looked almost ashamed to net the thing. They deftly passed the puck so many times that the unfortunate goalie was comically faked out of position. I recall a moment where he and Adam Oates were on a two-on-none breakaway. And he was an excellent passer and puck handler. Juneau in turn became a key member of the Caps offense.Īlways known as a playmaker, Joe sought to pass before considering a shot. Iafrate only played in twelve games for Boston due to ongoing injury problems. The deal turned out was one of the most lopsided in Washington history. In the midst of the 93-94 season the Caps traded Al Iafrate for the promising prospect. He stormed into the league with the Boston Bruins in the 92-93 season, scoring 32 goals and tallying 70 assists in 84 games. Joe (pronounced jho-A) was a talented French-Canadian player who lined up at center for the Caps during the mid-nineties. Washington Capitals Centers #10- Joe Juneau In compiling and ranking this list I took into consideration each player’s tenure, their offensive prowess, their defensive prowess and intangibles such as leadership and the amount of love and support showed by fans. ![]() Some were drafted, some came in trades and one was truly home-grown. The Washington Capitals have had excellent talent at center since their inception in 1974. This article was originally published in May, 2012. ![]()
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