First pick of the 1974 NHL Amateur Draft and first pick ever of the newly founded Capitals, Joly, despite registering an assist in his first NHL game (and, coincidentally, the Capitals' first ever), never developped into the player many expected him to become, chiefly due to numerous injuries. He would split his time between the NHL and the American Hockey League, and on November 30th 1976, he was dealt to the Red Wings for Bryan Watson. He retired from playing in 1986, after having played 365 matches in the NHL, scoring 21 times and adding 76 assists for 97 points.