via ESPN
The Washington Capitals and defenseman Dmitry Orlov have been “in negotiations” on a new contract since the end of the season. Some three months later, the parties have announced a new contract: one year, one-way, $2.57 million, a $0.57 million raise from his contract last year.
According to General Fanager, the Capitals had $3.45 million in cap space before this signing. Now, they have $884 thousand.
The Capitals now have seven defenders signed to one-way contracts for next season. In order of salary cap hit, they are Matt Niskanen, Brooks Orpik, John Carlson, Karl Alzner, Dmitry Orlov, Nate Schmidt, and Taylor Chorney.
The Novokuznetsk, Russia native is busy representing Russia at the World Cup of Hockey. They do not play today. This is the seventh time Orlov has represented his home country, with two stints on the World Championships at the senior (2014, 2016), U20 (2010, 2011), and U18 teams (2008, 2009).
The 5’11”, 212-pound defenseman played in all 82 games in 2015-16 for the first time in his career after missing the 2014-15 season due to injury. Orlov set career highs in goals, assists, points, plus/minus (+8) and game-winning goals (3) last season and ranked tied for first among Capitals defensemen in goals and third in assists and points.
He tallied an assist in his 200th NHL/Capitals game on April 9 at St. Louis and earned two assists and was plus-4 against New Jersey on Feb. 20.
It was reported yesterday by both the Washington Post and CSN-Capitals that Orlov would be signed for a contract like this.
With the official announcement, the Caps now have 44 of the 50 contracts they are allowed collective bargaining agreement.
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