2009–10 Washington Capitals season

The 2009–10 Washington Capitals season was the team's 36th season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The season started with the 2009 NHL Entry Draft on June 26–27 with the Capitals holding the 24th selection in the draft.^[1]

Pre-season[]

Regular season[]

On December 28, the Capitals traded captain Chris Clark and Milan Jurcina to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for Jason Chimera. On January 5, Alexander Ovechkin was named the team's new captain, the unanimous choice of his teammates.

From January 13 to February 7, 2010, Washington won 14-straight games.^[2]

By finishing the regular season with 121 points in the standings, the Capitals became the first non-Original Six team to ever reach the 120-point plateau.

The Capitals finished the regular season in first place in scoring, with 313 goals (excluding five shootout-winning goals). This was the highest total by an NHL team since the 1995–96 season. Seven Washington players reached the 20-goal mark. The Capitals also scored the most power-play goals in the league with 79, and had the best power-play percentage at 25.24% (79 for 313).^[3][4][5]

Divisional standings[]

Conference standings[]

bold – Qualified for playoffs; y – Won division; p – Won Presidents' Trophy (and division)

AT – Atlantic Division, NE – Northeast Division, SE – Southeast Division

Game log[]

Playoffs[]

On March 11, the Capitals clinched the division title for the third consecutive season after also winning division titles in the 2007–08 and 2008–09 campaigns. The Capitals also clinched as the Eastern Conference regular season champions. On April 4, the Capitals won their first ever Presidents' Trophy award. The Capitals played the Montreal Canadiens in the opening round. The Canadiens won Game 1, 3–2 in overtime. The Capitals won the next three games to take a 3–1 series lead. The Canadiens won the next two games to tie the series at 3–3 and force a Game 7. In Game 7, the Canadiens took a 2–0 lead, which held up until the third period. The Capitals came close many times and outshot the Canadiens 42 to 16, but Canadiens goaltender Jaroslav Halak kept them in the game, only allowing one goal. The Canadiens won the game 2–1 and eliminated the Capitals in the first round, considered one of the biggest playoff upsets in NHL history.

Key:   Win   Loss   Clinch Playoff Series   Eliminated from playoffs

Player statistics[]

Skaters[]

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/− = Plus/Minus; PIM = Penalty Minutes

Goaltenders[]

Note: GP = Games Played; Min = Time On Ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime Losses; GA = Goals Against; GAA= Goals Against Average; SA= Shots Against; SV= Saves; Sv% = Save Percentage; SO= Shutouts

^†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Capitals. Stats reflect time with the Capitals only.
^‡Traded mid-season
Bold/italics denotes franchise record

Awards and records[]

Awards[]

Transactions[]

The Capitals have been involved in the following transactions during the 2009–10 season.

Trades[] Date Details June 27, 2009[20] To Phoenix Coyotes Sami Lepisto To Washington Capitals 5th-round pick in 2010 July 17, 2009[21] To Calgary Flames Keith Seabrook To Washington Capitals Future considerations December 28, 2009[22] To Columbus Blue Jackets Chris Clark Milan Jurcina To Washington Capitals Jason Chimera March 3, 2010[23] To Carolina Hurricanes 7th-round pick in 2010 To Washington Capitals Scott Walker March 3, 2010[24] To Minnesota Wild 2nd-round pick in 2010 To Washington Capitals Eric Belanger March 3, 2010[25] To Columbus Blue Jackets Conditional 6th-round pick in 2010[a] To Washington Capitals Milan Jurcina March 3, 2010[26] To Carolina Hurricanes Brian Pothier Oskar Osala 2nd-round pick in 2011 To Washington Capitals Joe Corvo

^ Condition not satisfied. Free agents acquired[] Player Former team Contract terms Jake Hauswirth[27] Omaha Lancers 3 years, $545,000[28] Mike Knuble[29] Philadelphia Flyers 2 years, $5.6 million Brendan Morrison[30] Dallas Stars 1 year, $1.5 million Dustin Stevenson[31] La Ronge Ice Wolves 3 years, entry-level contract

Free agents lost[] Player New team Contract terms Sergei Fedorov[32] Metallurg Magnitogorsk 2 years Viktor Kozlov[33] Salavat Yulaev Ufa 3 years Donald Brashear[34] New York Rangers 2 years, $2.8 million Graham Mink[35] Florida Panthers 2 years, $525,000 Staffan Kronwall[36] Calgary Flames 2 years, $500,000 Brent Johnson[37] Pittsburgh Penguins 2 years, $2 million

Claimed via waivers[] Player Former team Date claimed off waivers Chris Bourque[38] Pittsburgh Penguins December 5, 2009

Lost via waivers[] Player New team Date claimed off waivers Chris Bourque[39] Pittsburgh Penguins September 30, 2009

Player signings[] Player Contract terms Anton Gustafsson[40] 3 years Quintin Laing[41] 1 year Boyd Gordon[42] 1 year, $761,000 Shaone Morrisonn[43] 1 year, $1.975 million Eric Fehr[44] 1 year, $771,750 Chris Bourque[45] 1 year Kyle Wilson[46] 1 year Steve Pinizzotto[47] 2 years Jeff Schultz[48] 1 year, $715,000 Milan Jurcina[49] 1 year, $1.375 million Cody Eakin[50] 3 year entry level contract Alexander Semin[51] 1 year, $6 million contract extension Tyler Sloan[52] 2 year contract extension Dave Steckel[53] 3 year contract extension Keith Aucoin[54] 2 year contract extension Dmitri Kugryshev[55] 3 year entry-level contract

Roster[]

Updated April 27, 2010.^[56]

#	Nat	Player	Pos	S/G	Age	Acquired	Birthplace
27		Karl Alzner	D	L	32	2007	Burnaby, British Columbia
19		Nicklas Backstrom	C	L	33	2006	Gävle, Sweden
18		Eric Belanger	C	L	43	2010	Sherbrooke, Quebec
10		Matt Bradley	RW	R	43	2005	Stittsville, Ontario
74		John Carlson	D	R	31	2008	Natick, Massachusetts
25		Jason Chimera	LW	L	42	2009	Edmonton, Alberta
77		Joe Corvo	D	R	44	2010	Oak Park, Illinois
4		John Erskine	D	L	41	2006	Kingston, Ontario
16		Eric Fehr	RW	R	36	2003	Winkler, Manitoba
14		Tomas Fleischmann	LW	L	37	2004	Kopřivnice, Czechoslovakia
15		Boyd Gordon	C	R	37	2002	Unity, Saskatchewan
52		Mike Green	D	R	35	2004	Calgary, Alberta
23		Milan Jurcina	D	L	38	2010	Liptovský Mikuláš, Czechoslovakia
22		Mike Knuble (A)	RW	R	49	2009	Toronto, Ontario
21		Brooks Laich	C	L	38	2004	Wawota, Saskatchewan
53		Quintin Laing	LW	L	42	2006	Harris, Saskatchewan
9		Brendan Morrison	C	L	46	2009	Pitt Meadows, British Columbia
26		Shaone Morrisonn	D	L	38	2004	Vancouver, British Columbia
8		Alexander Ovechkin (C)	LW	R	36	2004	Moscow, Soviet Union
3		Tom Poti (A)	D	L	44	2007	Worcester, Massachusetts
55		Jeff Schultz	D	L	35	2004	Calgary, Alberta
28		Alexander Semin	LW	R	37	2002	Krasnoyarsk, Soviet Union
89		Tyler Sloan	D	L	40	2008	Calgary, Alberta
39		Dave Steckel	C	L	39	2005	Milwaukee, Wisconsin
60		Jose Theodore	G	R	45	2008	Laval, Quebec
40		Semyon Varlamov	G	L	33	2006	Kuybyshev, Soviet Union
24		Scott Walker	RW	R	48	2010	Cambridge, Ontario

Draft picks[]

The Capitals' picks in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, in Montreal, Quebec on June 26–27, 2009.

Rnd	Pick	Player	Nat	Pos	Team (league)	NHL statistics
						GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1	24	Marcus Johansson	Sweden	C	Farjestad BK (Elitserien)
2	55	Dmitry Orlov	Russia	D	Metallurg Novokuznetsk (KHL)
3	85	Cody Eakin	Canada	C	Swift Current Broncos (WHL)
4	115	Patrick Wey	United States	D	Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL)
5	144		Canada	D	Mississauga St. Michael's Majors (OHL)
6	174		Canada	RW	Regina Pats (WHL)
7	204		Canada	LW	P.E.I. Rocket (QMJHL)

Farm teams[]

Hershey Bears[]

The Capitals' American Hockey League affiliate will remain to be the Hershey Bears in the 2009–10 season.

South Carolina Stingrays[]

The South Carolina Stingrays remain Washington's ECHL affiliate for the 2009–10 season.

See also[]

• 2009–10 NHL season

References[]

1. ^ Kimelman, Adam (2009-06-13). "Final order for Entry Draft set". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2009-06-16.
2. ^ https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/WSH/2010_games.html
3. ^ https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/WSH/2010.html
4. ^ https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_2010_games.html
5. ^ https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_2010.html
6. ^ "2009–2010 Standings by Division". National Hockey League.
7. ^ "2009–2010 Standings by Conference". National Hockey League.
8. ^ Ovechkin, Anderson and Tkachuk named NHL "Three Stars"
9. ^ Bryzgalov, Anderson, Ovechkin named NHL "Three Stars" of the week
10. ^ Anderson, Ovechkin, Bryzgalov named NHL 'Three Stars' for October
11. ^ Backstrom, Weiss, Duchene named '3 Stars of Week'
12. ^ Ovechkin, Mason and Latendresse named NHL's three stars of the week
13. ^ Ovi, Henrik Sedin, Vokoun named January's best
14. ^ Phoenix Coyotes' Shane Doan named NHL first star of the week with nine points
15. ^ Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin once again named NHL first star of week
16. ^ Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin once again named NHL first star of week
17. ^ Crosby, Staal, Backstrom are NHL's Stars of the Week
18. ^ Ovechkin Wins 3rd Consecutive NHLPA MVP
19. ^ Jose Theodore Honored with Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy
20. ^ COYOTES ACQUIRE LEPISTO FROM WASHINGTON, HESHKA FROM VANCOUVER IN EXCHANGE FOR DRAFT PICKS
21. ^ Capitals Trade Keith Seabrook to Calgary Flames
22. ^ Capitals Acquire Jason Chimera from Columbus for Chris Clark, Milan Jurcina
23. ^ Capitals Acquire Right Wing Scott Walker from Carolina
24. ^ Capitals Acquire Center Eric Belanger from Minnesota
25. ^ Capitals Acquire Defenseman Milan Jurcina from Columbus
26. ^ Capitals Acquire Defenseman Joe Corvo from Carolina
27. ^ Capitals Sign Center Jake Hauswirth
28. ^ "Jake Hauswirth - CapGeek". Archived from the original on 2010-01-14. Retrieved 2010-03-08.
29. ^ Capitals Sign Mike Knuble to Two-Year Contract
30. ^ Caps Sign Brendan Morrison
31. ^ Capitals Sign Defenseman Dustin Stevenson
32. ^ Fedorov: "I Always Wanted to Play on the Same Team With My Brother"
33. ^ 2009-10 Washington Capitals Preview
34. ^ "Rangers agree to terms with Brashear". Archived from the original on 2009-07-04. Retrieved 2009-07-06.
35. ^ Florida Panthers Sign RW Graham Mink
36. ^ "Flames sign d-man Kronwall". Archived from the original on 2009-07-18. Retrieved 2009-07-25.
37. ^ Pens Sign Goaltender Brent Johnson
38. ^ Capitals Claim Chris Bourque off Waivers from Pittsburgh
39. ^ Penguins Claim Forward Chris Bourque Off Waivers
40. ^ Capitals Sign Center Anton Gustafsson Archived May 20, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
41. ^ "Capitals Re-Sign Left Wing Quintin Laing to One-Year Contract". Archived from the original on 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-07-06.
42. ^ "Capitals Sign Boyd Gordon". Archived from the original on 2009-07-19. Retrieved 2009-07-21.
43. ^ "Capitals Sign Shaone Morrisonn and Eric Fehr". Archived from the original on 2009-07-20. Retrieved 2009-07-21.
44. ^ "Capitals Sign Shaone Morrisonn and Eric Fehr". Archived from the original on 2009-07-20. Retrieved 2009-07-21.
45. ^ "Chris Bourque, Steve Pinizzotto and Kyle Wilson also signed for next year". Archived from the original on 2009-07-20. Retrieved 2009-07-21.
46. ^ "Chris Bourque, Steve Pinizzotto and Kyle Wilson also signed for next year". Archived from the original on 2009-07-20. Retrieved 2009-07-21.
47. ^ "Chris Bourque, Steve Pinizzotto and Kyle Wilson also signed for next year". Archived from the original on 2009-07-20. Retrieved 2009-07-21.
48. ^ "Capitals Sign Jeff Schultz". Archived from the original on 2009-07-24. Retrieved 2009-07-21.
49. ^ "Capitals Sign Milan Jurcina". Archived from the original on 2011-10-01. Retrieved 2009-08-01.
50. ^ Capitals Sign Center Cody Eakin
51. ^ Caps Extend Forward Alexander Semin
52. ^ Capitals Sign Tyler Sloan and David Steckel to Contract Extensions
53. ^ Capitals Sign Tyler Sloan and David Steckel to Contract Extensions
54. ^ Capitals Sign Keith Aucoin to Two-Year Contract Extension
55. ^ Capitals Sign Right Wing Dmitry Kugryshev
56. ^ "Capitals Roster". Washington Capitals. Retrieved 2010-04-27.

External links[]

• 2009–10 Washington Capitals season at ESPN
• 2009–10 Washington Capitals season at Hockey Reference