Caps Draft History: 1989 Entry Draft

Washington used its first two choices in the 1989 Entry Draft to select the first two goalies taken in that draft, Olaf Kolzig and Byron Dafoe. The two netminders became fast friends and went on to serve as best man at each other's weddings although they were separated by the 1995 trade that sent Dafoe to the Los Angeles Kings. Later Caps picks Jason Woolley and Trent Klatt each went on to achieve a degree of success in the NHL as well.

Mats Sundin made history in the 1989 draft as he became the first non-North American player to be chosen with the first overall pick. Other first round notables were Stu Barnes (fourth overall), Bill Guerin (fifth) and Bobby Holik (10th). Adam Foote (22nd) and Patrice Brisebois (30th) were both taken in the second round. Later prizes included Nicklas Lidstrom (53rd), Robert Reichel (70th), Sergei Fedorov (74th), Pavel Bure (113th), Donald Audette (183rd), Vladimir Malakhov (191st) and Vladimir Konstantinov (221st).
Hindsight is 20/20: Washington did fairly well with its first five picks as all reached the NHL. Konstantinov instead of Vykoukal would have been prescient, but that's easy to say now.
Full Draft Results Here