Washington Capitals restricted free agent Evgeny Kuznetsov has made it clear that he is not interested in returning to Russia next season, saying that he’d only consider a Kontinental Hockey League offer if he’s not “wanted” in the NHL.
But fellow RFA, Dmitry Orlov, has made his intentions less clear. In late May, CSKA Moscow, who owns Orlov’s KHL rights, announced that they were trying to sign the Russian defenseman and bring him back home.
“We are conducting serious negotiations with Orlov,” Esmantovich said. “We have an understanding regarding this player. The head coach wants to see him on the team.”
In an interview with championat.com, Orlov’s wife Varvara was also vague on where the couple would end up, only saying that they both hoped for a long-term contract.
On Wednesday, Orlov ended all return-to-Russia speculation in an interview with his former KHL team, Metallurg Novokuznetsk.
Video
“For now I have no contract, and my agent is negotiating with Washington,” Orlov said. “We’ll see. I hope it will not drag on for a long time. Last year, it was a difficult summer for me. I was upset and thinking When is it all going to end? only to sign the deal during the World Cup of Hockey. So I hope it does not repeat this year, and within a week or two everything will be resolved.”
Orlov made the comments after holding a “master class” with Vezina Trophy winner Sergei Bobrovsky in the friends’ hometown of Novokuznetsk, Russia.
“It’s always nice to return home,” Orlov said. “It gives you a warm feeling. I only get to spend very little time here this year. It’s disappointing of course. But I am going to start my training for the new season soon, so I only get to spend less then two weeks here. So it’s always nice to get a skate in, and, besides, we are doing a good deed here.
“Last year we had a charity event, and auctioned off a master class with Sergei and myself,” Orlov continued. “The guys helped the youth academy, and now I hope they are enjoying skating with us. We are enjoying it as well, it’s always nice to be in town, see your people, and the city growing.”
Orlov also spoke about the Capitals’ deflating second-round loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins in consecutive seasons. Orlov finished on the Caps’ top defensive pairing with Matt Niskanen.
“I think overall the season was on a positive side,” Orlov said. “Of course it was disappointing to lose to Pittsburgh in the second round, everybody expected us to win, and we couldn’t get there again. Of course it’s hard to deal with it, and recover from it. But I think you have to accept it and move on. Think about everything we wanted to do and didn’t do, and go on to the next season with those thoughts.”
“Such is life, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose,” Orlov continued, waxing poetic. “To deal with a difficult defeat, we must remain professional, and be strong psychologically.”
Translation by Igor Kleyner.
