Capitals Lookback: Drafting Bobby Carpenter - The Hockey Writers Washington Capitals Latest News, Analysis & More

The Washington Capitals had a difficult number of seasons at the beginning of their history following their expansion into the NHL. Putting their 1974 first-overall pick Greg Joly aside because that was an expansion selection, the Caps had to pick at the top due to poor results on the ice, as expansion teams experienced most of the time. Defender Rick Green was selected as the first overall pick in 1976, defenseman Robert Picard was picked third overall in the 1977 Draft, and forward Ryan Walter was selected second overall in 1978. The next time that the Caps would have to pick that high was 1981, when the team had the third overall pick and chose Bobby Carpenter.