Each of Washington's top four picks made it to the NHL but only top pick Robert Picard enjoyed true success in the league. The Caps' expansion mates, the Colorado Rockies (nee Kansas City Scouts), had the second overall pick and took defenseman Barry Beck. Like Picard, Beck had a solid though not spectacular career. Like the Caps, the Rockies did well with the first pick but washed out with the rest.
Meanwhile, the rich got richer. The New York Islanders had the 15th pick of the 18 teams but managed to snare Mike Bossy and John Tonelli with their first two picks. The defending Stanley Cup champion Montreal Canadiens had the 18th overall pick but managed to grab stalwart defensemen Rod Langway and Gordie Roberts with their second- and third-round picks. The Habs also chose winger Craig Laughlin with the 162nd overall pick. Future Cap Bobby Gould was taken by Atlanta with the 118th overall pick.
Hindsight is 20/20: Picard was a decent first pick, but the Blackhawks grabbed Doug Wilson with the sixth overall pick. Wilson played 16 seasons in a borderline Hall of Fame career, winning the Norris Trophy in 1982 and appearing in seven All-Star games. The Caps sent Picard to Toronto for in a deal for Mike Palmateer in June of 1980.
The league drafted well in the first round as all 18 players made it to the NHL and 17 of the 18 appeared in at least 250 games. But 14 teams -- including the Capitals -- let 573-goal scorer Mike Bossy slip through their hands. The Islanders grabbed him with the 15th overall pick and he became a key cog on the club that went on to win four straight Stanley Cups.
How many Cups would the Caps have won if they had taken Bossy with their first pick, Langway with their second, Gould with their seventh and Laughlin with their 10th? Remember, with Langway and Laughlin already in the fold, the Caps would not have had to trade Rick Green and Ryan Walter to obtain the two Habs. Hindsight is not only 20/20, it's painful.
Full Draft Results Here
