5 random players you forgot were on the Washington Capitals

Washington Capitals: Roger Crozier

Behind his Jason Voorhees-type mask, Crozier was the first Stanley Cup playoff MVP representing a non-championship team, and later the first starting goaltender in Buffalo Sabres history.

Due in part to the new team’s start-up status, Crozier’s output and recognition with the Sabres never quite matched his breakout years with the Detroit Red Wings. He had won the 1965 Calder Trophy and finished fourth in the Hart Trophy vote upon leading the league with 40 wins.

His sophomore season was only a mild slide, as he matched his previous NHL-leading six shutouts and backstopped Detroit to the final against a Montreal machine.

After being traded to the Sabres ahead of their inaugural season, Crozier consumed the majority of the crease time for another three seasons. Facing the heaviest shot total in 1971-72 yielded the somewhat dubious honor of a league-high 1,983 saves on the year.

The next season was Buffalo’s first above .500, and Crozier was credited with a 23-13-7 record. While he subsequently receded to the backup role, he went 29-9-1 over his final three years with the Sabres.

Contrast that with his three-game stay in Washington. After keeping him on the pine for the majority of the season, the Sabres swapped Crozier to the Capitals for cash on March 3, 1977. His new team sat him for 10 of their remaining 13 games, and their non-playoff campaign, along with his career, was over within a month.

Granted, the Capitals can say Crozier never lost a game in their name, as he went 1-0-0. Still, they cannot say he earned more than one decision with them, much less that he was his peak Detroit or Buffalo self.