The Capitals skated onto the ice at Kettler Iceplex with their new coach hovering over them. But Dale Hunter had not yet made it there in the flesh. Instead, a massive banner with his image adorned one wall of the rink and loomed over the players.
If the current Caps did not realize the status Hunter holds in their organization, it didn’t take them long to understand. His uniform is one of four retired by the organization in its 38-year history. Now he replaces Bruce Boudreau, fired on Monday morning two months into a season that started strongly before it faltered with alarming speed in November.
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Hunter, 51, played 12 years for the Caps between 1987 and 1999 and captained the team to its only Stanley Cup Finals appearance. He served as Washington’s captain from 1994 until he was traded away during the 1998-99 season, still leads the franchise in penalty minutes (2,003) and ranks second in games played (872) and third in points (556).
