5 random players you forgot were on the Washington Capitals

Washington Capitals: Jason Arnott

This week marks 20 years since Arnott sailed home New Jersey’s Cup clincher against Dallas. That goal tied him with Patrik Elias for the team lead with 20 postseason points.

For most of his career, Arnott was a second-tier center, and a reliable one at that. He was the first runner-up for the 1994 Calder Trophy after tallying 68 points for the 1993-94 Oilers. He crossed the 50-point threshold twice more for Edmonton, three times apiece for the Predators and Devils, and twice in between for Dallas.

After reaching his first Selke ballot in 2003-04, Arnott hit his production peak with the 2005-06 Stars, leading them with 32 goals and totaling 76 points. Two years later, he gained a little Selke consideration again while captaining Nashville and co-leading the Predators with 72 points.

A second stint in New Jersey ended early when the struggling Devils dealt Arnott to first-place Washington down the 2010-11 homestretch. Although Arnott was still producing at a top-six pace, the Capitals crumbled in the second round of the playoffs, falling to Tampa Bay in a sweep.

Two months after that letdown, the Caps made themselves the only one of Arnott’s employers not to bring him back for a full season. He signed with St. Louis for his swan song, and posted 17 goals and 34 points in 72 games. Volume-wise, that output dwarfed his combined regular season and playoff Washington totals of 13 points in 20 games.