(Caps Outsider)
The Caps announced today that they signed defenseman Dmitry Orlov, 25, to a six year, $30.6 million ($5.1 average annual value, the cap hit) extension. Per Cap friendly, the Caps currently have just under $12.5 million in cap space to finish filling out their roster, and this is without the Brett Connolly signing, which still isn’t official. Orlov is coming off years in which he had 29 points in 2015-2016 and 33 points in 2016-2017 while playing all 82 games each season.
Orlov was drafted 55th overall in 2009 and has been in North America since 2010-11 when he played 19 games in Hershey. Orlov will likely be paired with Matt Niskanen on Washington’s top defensive pair.
Orlov’s possession numbers are pretty solid as well. He plays well with just about everyone, but Brooks Orpik.
Orlov will also most likely see time on the power play this season, maybe even on the top power play unit with Alex Ovechkin. Orlov can be dangerous, but his biggest issue is his consistency. Orlov has gone on hot and cold stretches in the past two years. If he can stay consistent, then he is a force to be reckoned with.
