Congratulations to Peter Bondra

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Peter and I had lunch last month to discuss his plans and he informed me of his decision to become GM of the Slovakian national hockey team. I am very happy for him and believe he will be a great addition to the team’s infrastructure and his goal is to help his country develop its skill and professionalism and to win a medal at the World Championships. He seemed very pumped at this opportunity and is very focused on helping his country achieve success on a global basis.

Peter and I had lunch last month to discuss his plans and he informed me of his decision to become GM of the Slovakian national hockey team. I am very happy for him and believe he will be a great addition to the team’s infrastructure and his goal is to help his country develop its skill and professionalism and to win a medal at the World Championships. He seemed very pumped at this opportunity and is very focused on helping his country achieve success on a global basis. Peter will be welcomed and embraced back into the Washington Capitals family. We are talking about a series of things to do together but at this time he will be focused on his new position and we wish him the best of luck. Peter and I have a great relationship. I am very grateful for all he did for our franchise. Hopefully you will be seeing Peter around the Verizon Center and Kettler Capitals Iceplex in his new job. Wish him well when you see him. He is a great man and was a great player in the NHL. Peter is deciding on the nature of our relationship on the go forward and we are here to help him in his new capacity. More as it develops.

52 thoughts on “Congratulations to Peter Bondra”

  1. I started watching hockey as a curiosity in 1993, when I was in high school. Peter Bondra made me a fan of Washington and a fan of the game. Any of the new crop of European talent have a long way to go in a Caps jersey before they will rise to the level of regard I hold for Bonzai. Please retire his jersey. While you’re at it, maybe consider retiring #6?

  2. Peter Bondra was the Washington Capitals from 93-2000 and he would have spent his whole career with the caps had u let him. After all hes done for the city and the sport the least u can do is recognize him and put his 12 up in the rafters

  3. One reason I love AO is he reminds me of Bondra, both in skill & love for the game. Been a fan since ’91 and most of my favorite caps memories involve either Bonzai or Olie. Good luck Peter. Oh, and retire #12!

  6. Peter Bondra is why I got hooked on Hockey. I first started attending Caps games when they made their Stanley Cup run. I saw him do some very amazing things and am disappointed that his last few years were injury prone and on less than spectacular teams. I left the Washington area the year before he left. I moved to Dallas and saw him and the caps defeat Dallas 2-1. It wasn’t the same as watching him on his home ice, what used to be MCI Center.Good luck Peter. I hope to see you return home to Washington.

  9. Bonzai! Bonzai! Bonzai! Bonzai! Bonzai! Bonzai! Bonzai! Bonzai! Bonzai! Bonzai! The greatest Washington athlete in the past 10 years!!

  10. I vote to retire #12! Peter Bondra epitomizes everything that is great about hockey as a sport.

  11. Best Bondra moment for me was at the old Cap Center. The Caps had a promo: Free Ice Cream Coupon if the Caps Scored more than 6 goals. And free pizza coupons if a Caps Player scored a hat trick. Bondra scored 5 goals that night and the Caps won with 6 goals. We received free ice cream and pizza. It was awesome.

  12. I just wanted to take the time to say that I completely agree with all of the statements here, that Peter Bondra’s #12 jersey should be retired and hung from the rafters. I agree with all of the posters is saying that he gave his ‘heat and soul’ to the Caps when he played here throught the bad, good, and great seasons. He always gave his all. I wish him all of the success in the world in his future endevors.

  13. Ted,

    Talk is cheap. I am still upset at your treatment and lack of respect shown to one of the Caps most favorite players of all time. You fired him.

    You need to give Peter a “Peter Bondra” night and retire his number 12.

    I also agree that you should “hire” Peter as a Capital for one day so he can retire wth the team he loved and the city who loved him!

  14. Congratulations to Bonzai

    Sadly Missed in Washington

    I will never forget those words from the capitals organization bondra would remain a capital.Its a shame he couldnt have played one year and then Retired.Please hang #12 up in the Rafters

    I will Plan on being there.

    Bonzai will always be my #1 FAN . Proud to wear #12 to the Games. Good Luck Peter

  15. As a lifelong Caps fan I believe that # 12 needs to go to the rafters on Peter Bondra night. Here’s a man that represented the team, the league, and his fans with nothing but class and good sprotsmanship. Best wishes Peter!

  16. I’m kind of disappointed that you couldn’t share Peter’s plans with us at the fan club meeting, but I forgive you, Ted. Bonzai was a class act and forever a favorite player of mine. A retirement ceremony for #12 is more than appropriate.

  17. Congrats to Peter and best wishes in his new endeavors! He absolutely deserves to have his number “12″ retired here in DC. Peter gave and did so much for the Capitals and the community during his tenure here — so likeable and approachable and, of course, a GREAT PLAYER!!

    Good Luck Bonzai!

  18. I’m glad to see there’s still a good relationship with Bondra and possible future plans. We’d all love to see him back with the Caps in some form or another one day. More so than any other past player, really.

  21. “Peter will be welcomed and embraced back into the Washington Capitals family.” To my mind (and in my heart) he never left. No hockey player, before or since, brought more joy to the game. I still miss him!

  22. I always remeber going to Piney Orchard and the only player that would gladly come off the ice and sign autographs and play with the kids was Bondra. You’re a class act Peter and I wish you a ton of success.

  24. Bondra is one of the all-time greats in Caps history. I was very saddened the day Bonzie left for the Thrashers. I do look forward to seeing him back in Washington soon so we can show him our deep appreciation for what he gave to us and the sport of hockey itself. Best wishes to a great man.

  25. Ted number 12 needs to be retired! He was an amazing player and person and represented the Capitals with class! He deserves a night and the fans derserve one more night to show our thanks for what he has done!

  26. Congrats Banzaii!! Thanks for all the memories…and yes..We need his number in the rafters.

  27. I believe Peter to be one of the most wholesome & complete players the Capitals ever had. I too hope to see his name & number haning from the roof soon.

  28. Bondra definetly deserves to see his jersey raised on high. What a total effort he gave the Capitals. I am from Minnesota, but have lived here since 1990. I am lucky enough to have one of the old style red/whit/blue jerseys, and it is signed by him. What a life, bonzai.

  29. Ted, What’s your take on retiring #12? The guys scored something like 10% of all our goals in the ’90s.

    I know he bounced around the league for the past few years… But he was a special capital.

    Great job with the new look caps!

    -Ross (season ticket holder)

  30. #13 and #15 should be retired as well, they are too close to #12, and no one comes close to #12.

  32. Peter “The Sniper” Bondra was a key player for the Caps. Enjoyed watching him play. Best of Luck to him.

  33. Congratulations to Peter on his career. He is at the top of a short list of players that will always be associated with the Washington Capitals. Great love of the game and one great shot. I will be at the Verizon Center when his jersey is raised to the rafters.

  34. It will be difficult to fill the Caps #12 jersey without thinking of Peter Bondra. Retire the #12!

  35. Hello Ted, I am happy to hear that Peter will be back in Washington in the near futher. Bondra is the type of player that his number should hang atop the raffters at the booth. I rember the day he was traded and the thought that he was on his way to hanging up the skates. I do wish that this would of happened when he was playing for washington. Stuff happens and I always have been for the rebuilding program and do feel that we are 1 to 2 seasons away from a stanley cup run but I wish Peter was part of that program. He gave me and many others alot of joy being blessed to watch him skate for Washington and I wish him well in his futher endevers.

  36. At the same time that you hoist #12, please also consider a “Ms Twiddle” banner for Ron Weber.

  37. We love Peter. God bless. PUT HIS NUMBER UP ON THE RAFTERS…

    Go Caps!!!

    Bernie

    PS: Ted, you’re a class guy… Go Hoyas, too…

  38. What a strange statement for the owner who ran Bondra out of town when the fans had no one left to cheer for. A little transition between the Bondra and Ovechkin Eras would have been nice, but too late now.

  40. Mr. Ted Leonsis,

    Honor Peter Bondra with a blow-out celebration. What a great hockey player, for many years, Bondra brought people to the Capitals! You could not do enough to honor this great and good man. My prayers is that Peter Bondra number would appear in the rafters in an in person celebration so that we as fans can express our love for him. He is the only hockey “bobble-head” I have on my bookcase. What a player and a man! Thanks for listening! G. Marc Cheney

  41. PLEASE RETIRE #12

    Peter Bondra deserves that honor for all he did as a Washington Capital

  44. Peter Bondra will always remain a player and person to admire in DC.

    A class move to work with him in some significant role with the Caps.

  46. Outstanding!!! He was the face of the Washington Capitals for years (along with Olie) and it broke my heart when I heard he was traded. Welcome home Bonzai!!!

  48. The only thing more tragic than breaking your promise and not bringing him back after you traded him to Ottawa would be to not retire his number as soon as possible.

    Congrats, Peter, and thanks for the memories.

  49. Hey Ted,

    Bonzai’s birthday is Feb 7th (when he turns the big 4-0!). How about “Peter Bondra” night on Feb 8th against Carolina. (Or Feb 2nd against Atlanta, another of his former teams).

    And definitely, tell the folks at the Phone booth to move the Canadian and American flags a little further apart, as we need to put the number 12 up there with 5, 7 and 32.

  50. Saturday December 8th should be Peter Bondra Day. We play the Thrashers that evening and would be a fitting tribute to Bonzai. Its time to retire number 12.

  52. that’s good to hear. I always appreciated Bondra’s zest for playing the game – just like Ovechkin.