The Peter Bondra Legacy And How It Could Help the Caps Win the Cup

It was 27 years ago when a Ukranian-born Slovak came to the Washington Capitals as a rookie.  Little did the Caps know that they had drafted what would become the greatest scorer the franchise had ever seen.  Over Peter Bondra's 14 seasons with the Capitals he would become the franchise leader in goals and points, and he even led the Capitals on an improbable playoff run to their first (and only) Stanley Cup Finals appearance in the '97-'98 season.  The Capitals were all Peter Bondra had known in his NHL career until February of 2004 when George McPhee traded Bondra to Ottawa in a salary cap purge.  An inglorious end for the Caps's greatest goal scorer at the time.  The Caps traded their best player for financial comfort, and in return they got some guy.  Some guy named Brooks Laich.

It did not take long for Bondra's replacement to endear himself to the Washington fan base.  While nowhere near the scorer that Peter Bondra was, Brooks Laich brought a humble and gritty work ethic to a team that needed that type of spark.  Laich would be an integral part of the Rock the Red Renaissance that saw the Caps' team popularity reach unprecedented heights beginning with the Cinderella run to make the playoffs in '07-'08 and continuing through to this day.  Laich would average over 20 goals as a center between '07-'10, and between 2007 and 2012 he only missed four games.  Laich's perseverance made him a fan favorite, and the franchise rewarded him with a large contract.  But fate was cruel to Brooks as he suffered a groin injury playing in Switzerland during the 2012 lockout season that never fully healed.  His production was never the same after that, and by this time last year it was evident that his $4.5 million cap hit was untenable.  The Capitals, and their fans, came to grim reality when they traded Laich in order to save cap room yet again.  It may have been the smart move to make, but they guy who had been acquired in a trade for the Capitals then best player and subsequently gave 12 hard fought years for the franchise was now being traded away himself for financial comfort and some guy.  Some guy named Daniel Winnik.

Whether Daniel Winnik likes it or not, he carries this Dalai Lama-like legacy that began with Peter Bondra and lived through Brooks Laich.  Winnik now is the physical embodiment of this spirit and he has proven this season that he is an integral part of the Capitals' success.  The knock on the Caps in the playoffs last season was their bottom six could not match up with the likes of the Penguins.  Winnik is changing that narrative by having the 12th best GF% (62.16) out of any forward 5v5 that has at least 600 minutes of ice time per Puckalytics. This is also bolstered by the fact that 75% of Winnik's zone starts come at either neutral ice or in his defensive zone.  Nerdy hockey stats aside, it was his goals Saturday Night against the Arizona Coyotes that showed the hustle and talent that Winnik brings to a fourth line that has anchored this team all season.  His first goal was Bondra-esque snapping a wrister over the catching glove; and the open net goal showed the hustle and determination that Brooks Laich brought to the team for so many years.  These goals show that Winnik has the skills and determination that has been needed to push the Capitals' bottom six forwards to produce in the playoffs.  They also show that he is worthy of carrying on the legacy that Peter Bondra left when he was traded away nearly 15 years ago.  That legacy may end with Winnik considering that his contract is up and there are numerous UFA's for the Caps to sign this offseason.  But if it there is only one more season left in this Peter Bondra legacy, it will end with someone who gives the Caps their best chance at winning a Stanley Cup.