In a hockey career forged by determination, T.J. Oshie has reached the hallowed 1,000 games played mark. Playing in his 16th NHL season, Oshie has split his career between the Washington Capitals, and the St. Louis Blues, who drafted him 24th overall in the first round of the 2005 NHL Draft. During his first seven seasons in St. Louis, Oshie would become one of the NHL’s premiere power forwards with his game defined by equal parts skill and physicality. While lacking a signature playoff moment with the Blues, Oshie became a household name during the 2014 Winter Olympics, leading USA over Russia in a thrilling eight round shootout, after scoring four goals on six attempts.
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Oshie would ultimately score 310 points (110 goals, 200 assists) in 443 regular season games with the Blues, before being traded to the Capitals during the 2015 offseason. Both teams needed a shakeup, with St. Louis coming off their third consecutive first round playoff defeat, and the Capitals having just blown a 3-1 series lead against the New York Rangers in the second round. In fact, the Capitals had not advanced past the second round of the playoffs since reaching the Stanley Cup Final in 1998. Oshie would be a perfect fit in Washington, as he continued to put up points and lead by example for a team looking to finally break through and reach their full potential.
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Everything would come together in 2018, as Oshie scored 21 points (8 goals, 13 assists) in 24 playoff games to help lead the Capitals to their first Stanley Cup Championship, a five-game triumph over the expansion Vegas Golden Knights. He has continued to shine in Washington, scoring 379 points (191 goals, 188 assists) in 556 regular-season games over nine seasons. While injuries have slowed him down the past several seasons, Oshie has always battled to return to the ice and give his all for his teammates. His journey to 1,000 games is a testament to his dedication to the game of hockey, and endless drive to succeed in the toughest moments.
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