This Date in Caps History - January 1

On January 1, 1987, Capitals general manager David Poile swung one of the best deals in team history. He sent Bobby Carpenter and a second round selection in the 1989 Entry Draft to the New York Rangers in exchange for Mike Ridley, Kelly Miller and Bob Crawford.

Ridley and Miller both went on to enjoy long and prosperous NHL careers in Washington. Ridley reeled off seven straight 20-goal seasons for the Capitals, eclipsing the 40-goal plateau once and the 30-goal level once. Ridley was dealt to Toronto in June of 1994 after playing in 588 games with the Caps. He totaled 218 goals and 547 points. Ridley ranks third on the team's all-time list in goals and sixth in points.

Miller evolved into one of the game's best and most durable defensive forwards. He was a Selke Trophy finalist in 1992 and ran up a string of 300-plus consecutive games. He spent twelve and a half seasons with the Capitals and holds the franchise record with 940 games played.

Crawford played in only a dozen games with Washington before ending his Capitals and NHL career.

As for the Rangers' end of the swap, Carpenter played in just 28 games for the Blueshirts - scoring only two goals - before he was sent to the Los Angeles Kings in a package for Marcel Dionne. New York used the draft pick to select right winger Jason Prosofsky, who never made it to the NHL.