The Washington Capitals, known colloquially as the Caps, are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1974, the Capitals compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference. The team's history is rich with memorable moments, iconic players, and evolving jersey designs.
Early Years: The Indianapolis Capitals
In the beginning, there were the Indianapolis Capitals. The team that brought hockey to the city in 1939 was, for much of its 13-year reign in the Circle City, one of the AHL’s premier clubs. The Caps were the Detroit Red Wings’ top farm team, and as a result, were the training ground for much of the core of the Wings’ early-1950s dynasty. Owing to the days of the six-team NHL and the scarcity of jobs, a number of Hall of Famers passed through Indy - including three goalies, Terry Sawchuk, Harry Lumley and Glenn Hall. Not only that, but Marcel Pronovost, Alex Delvecchio, Syd Howe, Herb Lewis and (for one game) Ted Lindsay also made their way through Indy. A look at a Caps roster from any point in the team’s history would be a who’s who of hockey.
The team won championships in 1942 and 1950, and was wildly popular in the post-World War II years. In the late 1940s, crowds topping 9,000 and even 10,000 at the 8,100-seat Fairgrounds Coliseum were the norm. However, the onset of television led to significant declines not only in the Caps’ attendance, but all of minor-league sports, and the team folded in 1952 after a rare last-place season with a young team. That wasn’t unusual to Indy - of the 11 AHL teams in 1948-49, only five would be in the same markets five years later.
All-Time Capitals Team (Indianapolis)
The All-Time Capitals team is based on performance in Indianapolis, not in the NHL, so players like Delvecchio (who played in Indy for seven games), Sid Abel (who played 21 games in Indy) and Howe (who played here briefly at the end of his illustrious career) are not included.
First Team
- Forwards: Les Douglas, Enio Sclisizzi, Cliff Simpson
- Defensemen: Hugh Millar, Marcel Pronovost
- Goaltender: Terry Sawchuk
- Coach: Herb Lewis
Les Douglas: An original Capital, Douglas always found his way back to Indy. He had 15 goals in 54 games in the team’s first year, 1939-40, and was among the team’s top scorers in 1940-41 and 1941-42 - playing the interim year primarily in Detroit. He set an AHL record for points in a playoff year, tallying 17 in 10 games to lead the Caps to the 1942 Calder Cup championship. Douglas’ best years came after WWII, when he returned to the Capitals and had two high-scoring seasons. He led the AHL in scoring in 1945-46, with 44 goals, 46 assists and 90 points. The following year, he had 57 assists and 83 points and was a Second Team All-Star a year after being named to the First Team. He continued to be a productive scorer after leaving Indy in the summer of 1947. Douglas was small, at 5-10, 158, but a big scorer.
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Enio Sclisizzi: The perennial Capital. A popular winger from Milton, Ontario always brought an engaging personality and a high-scoring game to the team. Enio joined the Caps in 1946 and played the last six seasons with the team. His 314 games rank second all-time amongst Caps skaters, as do his 125 goals and 155 assists. He is the team’s third-leading scorer all-time, eclipsed only by the other two forwards on this list. Enio was an AHL First Team All-Star in 1952 after a 58-point season with the Caps. Four of his six seasons in Indy produced 20 goals. He scored 30 in 1950-51, and had 29 goals and 67 points in 1947-48, earning an extended call up to Detroit the next year. Enio only played 81 NHL games (but became known as the guy Foster Hewitt called “Jim Enio” because he couldn’t pronounce his last name), but he was a mainstay in Indy.
Cliff Simpson: One of the great AHL players of all-time. Simpson became one of the first players in hockey to tally a 100-point season when he put up a 48-62-110 line in 1947-48. Unfortunately, he was the runner-up in the AHL scoring race to former Capital Carl Liscombe. Simpson played briefly for the Caps before WWII in 1942-43, and came back on a tear. He had 21 goals in 1945-46, followed up with 42 goals and 78 points in just 54 games the following year, and then his 110-point season. Simpson followed with 25 goals in 1948-49 before finishing his career with three seasons in St. Louis. He was a crafty 5-11, 170-pound center who could finish. Nobody scored more goals in a Caps uniform (136). He ranks third all-time on the team in assists (145) and second in points (281). His 244 games played for the Caps are fifth-most in franchise history. He was an AHL Second Team All-Star in 1947 and a First Team All-Star the following year.
Hugh Millar: The only Capitals defenseman to be named to the AHL All-Star Team multiple times, Millar was a mainstay of the Caps’ blueline from 1945-48. He had a big year in 1946-47, with 18 goals and 30 points, significant numbers for a defenseman. In 1945-46, he had 26 assists and 32 points in just 50 games, and then put up a 44-point year in 1947-48, his final minor pro season. Millar was named an AHL All-Star in all three of his years with the Caps, to the second team in 1946 and 48 and the first team in 1947. His 106 points in 175 games with the Caps are the most by a defenseman on the team.
Marcel Pronovost: Pronovost didn’t stay in Indy long. But his stay was memorable. He would play for five Stanley Cup champions and become one of the premier offensive defensemen of his day. He came to the Caps at the start of the 1950-51 season, after playing the previous year with the lower-level Omaha Knights. In just 34 games, he had nine goals and 23 assists, and was so effective on the blue line that Detroit called him up midseason, beginning an NHL career that saw him play 1,206 games and eventually be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Pronovost’s play in Indy was so impressive that he was named an AHL Second Team All-Star despite playing just a half-season in the league.
Terry Sawchuk: Before he became the greatest goaltender in the NHL’s first half-century, Sawchuk matriculated in Indianapolis for two seasons, backstopping the Capitals from 1948-50. He played 128 games for the Caps, went 69-37-12, had a 3.07 GAA, and backstopped one of the most incredible playoff runs in AHL history. In 1950, he - and the Caps - went 8-0 in sweeping their way through the playoffs, including a four-game whitewash of the heavily-favored Cleveland Barons in the Calder Cup Final. Sawchuk introduced his famed “Gorilla Crouch” to hockey in Indianapolis, and his play was so impressive that the Red Wings traded fellow future Hall of Famer Harry Lumley to clear room for Sawchuk, who would win five Stanley Cups in his 20-year NHL career. He was an AHL first-team All-Star in 1950.
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Herb Lewis: Lewis was the Capitals’ first coach, and had a tremendous amount of success in four years with the team. He coached them to an AHL division title in 1939-40, and then a division title and Calder Cup championship in 1942. The “Duke of Duluth” was one of the NHL’s fastest skaters in the 1930s, and brought a speedy, attacking mentality to Indianapolis. His teams went 106-86-32 during his tenure as the Caps’ coach. In addition to winning a Calder Cup in 1942, the team returned to the league’s title series the following year. Lewis remained in Indianapolis and was active in the community for the remainder of his years.
Second Team
- Forwards: Fred Glover, Pete Leswick, Earl “Dutch” Reibel
- Defensemen: Al Dewsbury, Hal Jackson
- Goaltender: Joe Turner
- Coach: Ott Heller
Third Team
- Forwards: Adam Brown, Connie Brown, Rod Morrison
- Defensemen: Doug McCaig, Benny Woit
- Goaltender: Harry Lumley
- Coach: Johnny Sorrell
Honorable Mentions
- Forwards: Sid Abel, Tony Bukovich, Alex Delvecchio, Joe Fisher, Syd Howe, Ron Hudson, Bill Jennings, Rod Morrison, Bill Thomson
- Defensemen: Al Dewsbury, Alvin “Buck” Jones, Red Kane, Max Quackenbush, Sandy Ross, Gordon “Moose” Sherritt
- Goalies: Glenn Hall, Red Almas
- Coaches: Tommy Ivan
Evolution of the Washington Capitals Jersey
The Washington Capitals have seen several iterations of their jerseys throughout their history. Here's a glimpse into the evolution:
- Early Years (1974-1995): The team initially used a red, white, and blue color scheme.
- Mid-1990s: The color scheme shifted to a blue, black, and copper palette with an American bald eagle logo.
- Late 1990s: A black alternate jersey was introduced, featuring the Capitol building logo.
- 2007-Present: The team returned to the original red, white, and blue color scheme with a modernized design.
Designed in partnership with Fanatics, this new uniform honors multiple eras of Capitals history. The primary red base celebrates the team’s signature color and fan passion, while nodding to the 1970s and 80s with the iconic white rounded shoulder yoke and classic hem striping. The Screaming Eagle logo features a powerful eagle diving downward, symbolizing speed, strength, and dominance-qualities associated with both the sport of hockey and the eagle itself, the national bird of the United States. The eagle’s dynamic pose evokes energy and motion, capturing the intensity of the game. Capitol building positioned in front of two crossed hockey sticks, with a hockey puck nestled between the blades.
The jersey also features the Coupang jersey patch.
Key Moments and Milestones
The Capitals have had their share of ups and downs, but several moments stand out in their history:
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- 1974-75 Season: The Capitals set records for the worst record in the NHL, finishing with a .131 winning percentage.
- 1982: David Poile was hired as general manager, leading to significant trades and draft picks that transformed the team.
- 2001: The Capitals acquired Jaromir Jagr, signing him to the largest contract in NHL history at the time.
- 2008: Alexander Ovechkin signed an NHL-record $124 million contract extension.
- 2018: The Capitals won their first Stanley Cup, defeating the Vegas Golden Knights.
In the 2009-10 season, the Capitals won the franchise's first Presidents' Trophy for being the team with the most points at the end of the regular season. They won it a second time in 2015-16, and for a third time the following season in 2016-17.
The Capitals have retired the use of four numbers in honor of four players. In addition, the team holds an association with a number of individuals inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Evolution of Jersey Materials
The Capitals wore different types of knit jerseys. which ripped very easily and these jerseys typically have a lot of sewn repairs. by its tiny holes that allow air to flow through the jersey. slightly open weave that gives the material its name. in Capitals jerseys from 1986-87 to the present. referred to as the large hole and small hole varieties. material and has slightly larger airholes. 1986-87. The small hole variety has been used from 1986-87 to the present. The Rbk Edge 1.0 jersey consists of four lightweight fabrics. Soon after the 2007-08 season began, Reebok started making the Rbk Edge 2.0 jerseys. Air-Knit material. Capitals to recycle jerseys from one season to the next.
This jersey is made from heavy game weight doubleknit fabric with double elbows and double shoulders. This jersey is made by a former manufacturer of pro jerseys worn in the national, american and international leagues and represents the finest quality available in the industry. The front logo is felt with embroidered hilites. Your choice of a one color felt number included at no charge.
| Jersey Type | Material | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Knit Jerseys | Various knits | Prone to ripping and often had sewn repairs. |
| Air-Knit | Open weave with tiny holes | Used from 1986-87 onwards, available in large and small hole varieties. |
| Rbk Edge 1.0 | Lightweight fabrics | Four lightweight fabrics used. |
| Rbk Edge 2.0 | Air-Knit material | Introduced shortly after the 2007-08 season. |
| Heavy Game Weight | Doubleknit polyester | Made with double elbows and shoulders, featuring felt logo with embroidered hilites. |
The Jersey History of the Washington Capitals
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