5 Hockey Players who Played for Jets and Capitals
My guess is you’ve searched this page out because you’re playing the Immaculate Grid.
If I’m right, that also means that today’s grid is asking for players who have played for both the Winnipeg Jets and the Washington Capitals.
And, I’m also guessing that you’re a little stuck on this particular square and you’re looking for a little help to keep your grid immaculate. Sound about right so far?
Well, good news, I’m here to help.
I’ve already done the research and have put together a list of well-known stars along with some more “under-the-radar” players that could land you a low rarity score.
Peter Bondra
Peter Bondra was selected by the Washington Capitals in the eighth round, 156th overall, in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft. Spending the majority of his career with the Capitals, Bondra became one of the most prolific goal-scorers in the league.
Bondra’s best season came in 1997-1998 when he led the NHL with 52 goals, helping the Capitals reach the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in franchise history. A five-time All-Star, Bondra had two 50-goal seasons and nine 30-goal seasons over his illustrious career.
After 14 seasons with the Capitals, Bondra also played for the Ottawa Senators, Atlanta Thrashers, and Chicago Blackhawks. He retired with 503 goals and 389 assists for 892 points in 1,081 regular-season games, placing him among the top goal-scorers of his generation.
Bondra Key Stats
- 500+ Career Goals (Capitals, Senators, Thrashers, Blackhawks)
- 40+ Goal Season (Capitals)
Ilya Kovalchuk
Ilya Kovalchuk was a highly touted prospect leading up to the 2001 NHL Draft, where he was selected first overall by the Atlanta Thrashers. During his time with the Thrashers, Kovalchuk quickly became one of the league’s premier goal-scorers, notching several 40-plus goal seasons, including a 52-goal campaign in 2005-2006.
In 2010, he was traded to the New Jersey Devils, where he continued his goal-scoring exploits, helping lead the team to a Stanley Cup Final appearance in 2012.
After spending a few years playing in Russia, Kovalchuk made an NHL comeback in 2018, signing with the Los Angeles Kings. His return to the NHL included stints with the Kings, Montreal Canadiens, and Washington Capitals, but he could not replicate the kind of success he had during his prime years.
Kovalchuk Key Stats
- All-Star (Thrashers, Devils)
- 40+ Goal Season (Thrashers)
Phil Housley
Phil Housley was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the first round of the 1982 NHL Entry Draft. Housley had an extensive career, playing for several teams including the Jets, Blues, Flames, Devils, Capitals, Blackhawks, and Maple Leafs. He is the second-leading scorer among American-born players with 1,232 points (338 goals and 894 assists).
Housley never won the Stanley Cup, coming closest with the Capitals in 1998 when they were swept in the Stanley Cup Finals by the Detroit Red Wings. At the time of his retirement, he had played more NHL games without winning the Stanley Cup than any other player in NHL history.
Housley was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 2004, the Buffalo Sabres Hall of Fame in 2007, and the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2015. His legacy in ice hockey, particularly his scoring prowess as a defenseman, has left a lasting impact on the sport.
Housley Key Stats
- 1000+ Career Points (Sabres, Flames, Jets, Capitals, Blackhawks, Blues, Devils, Maple Leafs)
- 50+ Assists in a Season (Sabres, Jets)
Nate Schmidt
Nate Schmidt is an American-born player currently playing for the Winnipeg Jets. Starting his career as an undrafted player, Schmidt signed with the Washington Capitals in 2013 after playing for the University of Minnesota.
After four seasons with the Capitals, Schmidt was selected by the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft. During his first season with the Golden Knights, he achieved career-high numbers in points and led the team in average playing time. Schmidt played a pivotal role in the Golden Knights’ remarkable inaugural season, which saw them reach the Stanley Cup Finals, only to lose to his former team, the Capitals.
Schmidt was traded to the Vancouver Canucks on October 12, 2020, for a third-round pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. However, he expressed his unhappiness following the trade due to a lack of communication with Vegas management. A year later, on July 27, 2021, he was traded to the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for a third-round pick in 2022.
Cody Eakin
Cody Eakin is a Canadian forward currently playing with the SCL Tigers of the National League. He was drafted by the Washington Capitals in the third round, 85th overall, of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, after being selected in the first round, sixth overall, by the Swift Current Broncos in the 2006 WHL Draft.
Eakin began his NHL career with the Capitals’ AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears, in the 2011–12 season, making his NHL debut in November 2011. Eakin was traded to the Dallas Stars in 2012 and scored his first career Stanley Cup playoff goal in 2014.
In the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft, he was selected by the Vegas Golden Knights. He was later traded to the Winnipeg Jets, his hometown team, in 2020, and then signed with the Buffalo Sabres as a free agent in the same year.
