Summary of the Washington Capitals 1994-95 Season: Arrival Of The Net Detective

Photo: Washington Capitals

With the Washington Capitals celebrating their 50th anniversary, NoVa Caps is summarizing each of the team’s previous seasons, from earliest to most recent. The series continues with the 1994-1995 season, their 21st season.

SUMMARY 

The 1994-1995 season was shortened to 48 games due to the lockout, and even once it began it took a long time for the Capitals to get going. Washington started with a record of 3-10-5, and anyone who wasn’t already disillusioned by the lockout was probably ready to write-off the season entirely.

That’s when they called up a 20-year-old goalie named Jim Carey. In his first game, Carey made 21 saves in a 4-3 win against the Islanders. That was the start of an unreal rookie season as he finished the year with an 18-6-3 record, a 2.13 goals against average, four shutouts, and a new nickname – “Ace,” after the hit comedy by comedian Jim Carrey. In Washington, at least, the goalie was becoming more famous than his namesake.

Photo: The Score

Thanks to that, the Caps turned the season around and finished with a 22-18-8 record for 52 points and the sixth in the Eastern Conference. Peter Bondra also had a great season and led the NHL in goals with 34. It was a season of transition where several notable Capitals were traded including Mike Ridley, Kevin Hatcher, and Don Beaupre.

Photo: Card Land

In the first round of the playoffs, the Caps played the Penguins … again. After beating them for the first time in franchise history the previous year, the Caps continued the momentum by taking a 3-1 series lead. However, just like in 1991-92, the Caps blew the series lead and lost in seven games to the Penguins. The only positive about this time was that the Penguins didn’t go on to the Stanley Cup.

Notable Draft Picks in 1994 NHL Draft

• Nolan Baumgartner (D) – (1^st round — #10 overall)
• Alexander Kharlamov (RW) – (1^st round — #15 overall) – Never played in NHL
• Matt Herr (C) — (4^th round — #93 overall)
• Chris Patrick (F) – (8^th round — #197 overall) — Never played in NHL but is now the General Manager of the Caps
• Richard Zednik (RW) – (10^th round — #249 overall)

General Manager: David Poile

Head Coach: Jim Schoenfield

Captain: Dale Hunter

Leaders

Goals: Peter Bondra (34), Keith Jones (14)
Assists: Joe Juneau (38), Calle Johansson (26)
Points: Peter Bondra (43), Joe Juneau (43)
Penalty Minutes: Craig Berube (173), Kevin Kaminski (102)

Major Trades 

• June 28, 1994
  • Capitals acquire: Rob Pearson, 1994 1^st round pick (#10 – used to pick Nolan Baumgartner)
  • Toronto Maple Leafs acquire: Mike Ridley, 1996 1^st round pick (#16)
• January 18, 1995
  • Capitals acquire: Rich Mrozik, Mark Tinordi
  • Dallas Stars acquire: Kevin Hatcher
• January 18, 1995
  • Capitals acquire: 1995 5^th round pick
  • Ottawa Senators acquire: Don Beaupre
• February 2, 1995
  • Capitals acquire: 1996 4^th round pick
  • Anaheim Ducks acquire: Todd Krygier
• February 10, 1995
  • Capitals acquire: Warren Rychel
  • Los Angeles Kings acquire: Randy Burridge
• February 10, 1995
  • Capitals acquire: 1995 4^th round pick (used to pick Sebastien Charpentier)
  • Toronto Maple Leafs acquire: Warren Rychel
• April 7, 1995
  • Capitals acquire: Mike Eagles, Igor Ulanov
  • Winnipeg Jets acquire: 1995 2^nd round pick and 1995 5^th round pick
• April 7, 1995
  • Capitals acquire: 1995 or 1996 5^th round pick
  • Calgary Flames acquire: Mike Tabaracci

Previous Summaries

1974-75 Season
1975-76 Season
1976-77 Season
1977-78 Season
1978-79 Season
1979-80 Season
1980-81 Season
1981-82 Season
1982-83 Season
1983-84 Season
1984-85 Season
1985-86 Season
1986-87 Season
1987-88 Season
1988-89 Season
1989-90 Season
1990-91 Season
1991-92 Season
1992-93 Season
1993-94 Season

By Ethan Berman