Washington Capitals veteran forward TJ Oshie played his 1,000th career NHL game on Saturday as the team faced the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena. The Capitals got a 2-1 victory with Oshie’s longtime teammates Tom Wilson and Alex Ovechkin notching the team’s goals. Let’s take a look back at Oshie’s nearly 16-year career in the NHL– one that has been chock-full of milestones, memories, and lots of goals.
July 30th, 2005: Drafted by the St. Louis Blues
TJ Oshie, a winger from the University of North Dakota, was selected 24th overall by the St. Louis Blues. Oshie had been playing hockey in the state of Washington since age 5, and moved to Warroad, Minnesota in high school, where he continued to play and led the team to two Minnesota State Class A titles. As a senior, he led all Minnesota high school players in scoring with 100 points (37g, 63a), making a first-round draft pick no surprise for Oshie.
October 10th, 2008-July 2nd, 2015: Time with the St. Louis Blues
Oshie decided to forego his senior season at the University of North Dakota in favor of signing with the Blues. He played his first game on October 10th, and just 12 days later, scored his first NHL goal. T.J. quickly became a fan-favorite in St. Louis and was known for his fast and energetic play. In his 57 games as a rookie, he tallied 39 points (14g, 25a) and won the fan-voted “goal of the year” at the end of the season. Oshie also reached a career-high 60 points (21g, 39a) with the Blues during the 2013-2014 season. On July 2nd, 2015, he was traded to the Washington Capitals for Troy Brouwer, Phoenix Copley, and a 2016 third-round draft pick.
February 15th, 2014: Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia
T.J. Oshie was selected to represent Team USA in the 2014 Winter Olympics. The team played a preliminary qualifier against Russia, which ended up going to a shootout after a 2-2 tie at the end of overtime. Fortunately for Team USA, Oshie was known for his shootout abilities– and he really showed up for his team. International rules stipulate that players can take as many shootout attempts as their coach desires, unlike the NHL, where a player can only shoot once. Head coach Dan Bylsma, therefore, put his star shooter in play five consecutive times, where he eventually scored the game-winner in the eighth round of the shootout, earning him the title of “American Hero” by some. Unfortunately, Team USA made an early exit in the Olympic quarterfinals.
October 15th, 2015: First Goal with the Capitals
T.J. Oshie had a successful first season with the Capitals. He often found himself on the first line alongside Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom and scored a career-high 26 goals that season, helping lead the team to the President’s Trophy in the 2015-2016 season. In 2016-2017, Oshie reached yet another career-high with 33 goals, once again helping the team earn the President’s Trophy.
June 7, 2018: Stanley Cup Champion
T.J. was a huge factor in the Washington Capitals’ playoff run in the 2018 postseason. He scored 8 goals and tallied 13 assists in playoffs, with 6 of those 8 goals coming on the powerplay. Besides his offensive abilities, Oshie also made a name for himself by showcasing multiple sides of his personality while celebrating the team’s victory. Immediately on the ice following the game, Oshie found his family to celebrate with them, including his father, Tim, who was afflicted with Alzheimer’s. He got choked up while talking about him to reporters.
In stark contrast, T.J. showcased his wild side during the Capitals’ victory parade and rally in D.C., famously chugging a beer through his iconic red jersey. He has consistently been a fan-favorite in Washington due to his explosive play style and loveable personality.
2018: Warroad Hockey Co.
T.J. Oshie is not only a champion on the ice, he’s also an entrepreneur. He set out to make hockey garments that were durable, anti-bacterial, high-quality, and, most importantly, cut-resistant. Warroad’s sales skyrocketed in late 2023 in the wake of Adam Johnson’s unfortunate death involving a skate blade accident. Oshie famously began wearing neckguards following the accident, saying that he was making the choice to increase his own safety and give his family and friends peace of mind.
Throughout his full and thriving career, Oshie has been a standout guy both on and off the ice. He has tallied a total of 301 goals and 388 assists, was an NHL All-Star in 2020, and of course, is and forever will be a Stanley Cup Champion.
