NHL
Brooks Orpik Signs with Capitals Following Trade to Colorado Avalanche
The Washington Capitals are looking to make another Stanley Cup run by keeping the team together. Brooks Orpik signed a one-year contract worth $1 million just a month after being traded before the 2018 NHL draft. The deal also carries $500,000 in performance bonuses.
NEWS | Capitals sign defenseman Brooks Orpik to a one-year contract with an average annual value of $1 million #ALLCAPS https://t.co/w69IkMeueP
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) July 24, 2018
Orpik was traded to the Colorado Avalanche franchise along with goaltender Philipp Grubauer in June. The Avalanche bought out the remaining year on his contract just days following the acquisition. The discussion began shortly after regarding Orpik’s potential return to the team he had played with for the last four years. If the Capitals wanted to bring him back, they knew it had to be at a lower cost.
With a $5.5 million cap hit on his former contract, the Capitals would have been stuck. The cap space needed to sign John Carlson, Tom Wilson, and other restricted free agents would not have been available. This way it is a win-win situation. Due to the buyout, Orpik will still be making similar money to the final year of his contract.
Orpik had 1 year remaining on his previous contract which would have paid him $4.5M in 2018-19
Colorado buying out that final season of that contract pays Orpik $1.5M this year, & $1.5M next year
With Orpik's new deal paying him $1M + $500k in PB, means he still comes out even
— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) July 24, 2018
Return on Investment
Goals are few and far between for Orpik. No, we aren’t talking a couple per season. Orpik’s first goal last season, a game-winner, came during Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals. It broke a 220-game goal drought that started on Feb. 26, 2016. It’s clear the Capitals aren’t signing him for added offensive power. His job will be to add defensive depth while the Capitals ensure Madison Bowey is ready for the following season.
“Brooks has been a valuable player and a great mentor for our young players and we are thrilled to bring him back to our organization,” said Capitals General Manager Brian MacLellan.
His locker room presence is possibly part of the decision to bring back the veteran blueliner. He has been a guiding figure to the younger players on the team, earning him the Russian nickname “Batya.” Evgeny Kuznetsov gave it to him back in 2015 and it translates to “dad.”
