Restricted free agent defenseman Dmitry Orlov will rejoin the Washington Capitals next year after signing a six year, $30.6 million contract with an AAV of $5.1 million. Orlov has spent the first five years of his career with the Caps.
Caps have re-signed defenseman Dmitry Orlov to a six-year deal. $5.1 million AAV.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) June 30, 2017
Dmitry Orlov Re-Signs with the Washington Capitals
After being drafted 55th overall by the Capitals during the 2009 draft, Orlov made his NHL debut during the 2011-2012 season. In his rookie campaign, Orlov would go on to play 60 games and record 19 points, including his first ever goal and GWG against the Carolina Hurricanes. After a successful rookie season, Orlov spent the large majority of his season with the Hershey Bears before returning to the NHL on a full time basis. In 283 career games, the versatile defensemen has notched 93 points on 20 goals and 73 assists. This includes a career high of 8 goals during the 2015-2016 season. Since 2013, he’s been the best possession defenseman on the team minimum 2000 minutes averaging a 53.02% Corsi-for percentage including a Corsi-against of 50.48.
Orlov, now 25, participated an all 82 games for the Capitals last season, recording career highs in assists (27), points (33), and shots (125). Furthermore, the 2016-2017 season marked the second time the Russian defensemen played all 82 regular season games. The first time he accomplished this feat was the 2015-2016 campaign. In addition to his 33 regular season points, Orlov added 3 more assists in the Capitals playoff run that ended at the hands of the eventual Stanley Cup Champions, the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Prior to re-signing with the Capitals, Orlov’s most recent contract was a one year deal that he signed last off season which saw the Capitals pay the him $2.57 million for the 2016-2017 season as a bridge contract that was a tactic of looking to see what they had with Orlov.
In an off-season that will likely see them lose blue liners Karl Alzner and Kevin Shattenkirk, it was important to lock-up the young defenseman.
Advanced statistics courtesy of Puckalytics.
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