Mitchell Layton/Getty Images

After Alex Ovechkin, the title of Greatest Washington Capital may belong to longitme forward Peter Bondra, who in his time in the District, wowed fans, analysts, and opponents with spectacular offensive skills and production, much like Ovechkin. And Bondra’s impressive resume with Washington has not gone unnoticed, as it was announced recently that Bondra will be one of 10 inductees to the D.C. Sports Hall of Fame.

Bondra will join other notable D.C. sports figures such as D.C. United (Major League Soccer), Jaime Moreno, former Caps General Manager David Poile, broadcaster Steve Buckhantz, and basketball great Walt Williams, among others who will be inducted on May 6 at Nationals Park prior to the Washington National’s 1:35 P.M. game. Bondra himself took to Twitter to express his thanks and feelings on being inducted into the Hall of Fame.

What an honor to be inducted into the D.C. Sports Hall of Fame. I am very thankful and humbled. Congratulations to the class of 2018! https://t.co/ZILaxaiPVi

— Peter Bondra (@PeterBondra12) March 28, 2018

Bondra is more than worthy of the honor, having recorded 825 points (472 goals, 353 assists) in 961 games played in Washington, and at the time of his being traded to the Ottawa Senators in 2004, was the franchise leader in goals, points, even-strength goals, goals created, power play goals, and game-winning goals (among other categories) before being surpassed by Ovechkin. A former eighth-round (156th overall) pick by the Caps in 1990, Bondra was one of the NHL’s most potent goals scorers in the 1990’s, and scored 30 or more goals nine times during his time in a Caps sweater, including two 50-goal seasons.

Bondra led the league in goals twice and was a five-time All-Star during his tenure with the Capitals and helped the team reach the 1998 Stanley Cup Final. While Bondra’s induction into the D.C. Sports Hall of Fame is a huge honor and fantastic accomplishment, NoVa Caps has looked at his candidacy for the Hockey Hall of Fame before; considering that he is just one of 45 players in NHL history to have scored 500 career goals, as well as coming up just short of 1,000 career points (892 points), one would think “Bonzai”, as he was affectionately called in Washington, would at least be in the discussion for the Hockey Hall of Fame’s hallowed halls. Regardless, Bondra’s induction into the D.C. Sports Hall of Fame is a huge honor and he will rightfully be recognized as one of the DMV’s greatest athletes.

From all of us here at NoVa Caps, Congrats Peter!

By Michael Fleetwood