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Dmitry Orlov re-signs long term with new six-year, $30.6 million contract

By Ian Oland

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June 30, 2017 10:12 am

On Wednesday, Dmitry Orlov hoped that his contract negotiations with the Capitals would only last two weeks into July. He didn’t even make it past June.

Friday morning, the Capitals announced that the 25-year-old Orlov signed a six-year, $30.6 million contract that will keep him in Washington until the 2022-23 season. Orlov’s AAV in the deal is $5.1 million, and, starting during the 2019-20 season, the Russian defender will also receive a five-team no-trade clause.

The deal cements the Caps’ top blue-line pairing of Orlov and Matt Niskanen through the 2019-20 season. In 727 minutes together during the regular season — many of which were against top-six forwards — Orlov and Niskanen helped the Caps own 58.1 percent of the shot attempts. That was enough to easily place the pair among the top-10 defensive pairings in puck possession in the league.

Orlov, who received one fifth-place vote for the Norris Trophy, tallied 33 points (6g, 27a) during the 2016-17 season, recording career highs in assists (27) and points (33). The season before, Orlov put up 29 points in 82 games, posting career highs in goals (8) and game-winning goals (3).

Over the last two years, 220 defensemen have played 750-plus minutes at 5-on-5. We know Orlov is a great possession player, so here’s how Orlov stacks up in a few other important categories.

  • His 1.1 points per 60 ranks 11th (95th percentile)
  • His 58.7 percent on-ice goals for percentage ranks 8th (96th percentile)
  • For those who doubt Orlov’s defensive abilities, his 50.3 shot attempts against per 60 ranks 27th (88th percentile)

Orlov’s cap hit of $5.1 million ranks 42nd among NHL defenders. Since missing an entire season due to a wrist injury, Orlov has more than earned this payday with his play over the last two seasons.

More from the Capitals:

The Washington Capitals have re-signed defenseman Dmitry Orlov to a six-year, $30.6 million contract, senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today.

Orlov, 25, registered 33 points (6g, 27a) in 82 games with the Capitals during the 2016-17 season, recording career highs in assists (27), points (33) and plus/minus (+30). In addition, Orlov played in all 82 games for the second straight season and second time in his career (2015-16). The 5’11”, 212-pound defenseman ranked second among Capitals defensemen in goals (6) and plus/minus last season and ranked sixth in the NHL in plus/minus.

During the 2015-16 season, Orlov recorded 29 points (8g, 21a) in 82 games, posting career highs in goals (8) and game-winning goals (3). Since 2015-16, Orlov ranks second among Capitals defensemen in goals (14) and third in points (62), assists (48) and hits (243). The Novokuznetsk, Russia, native also ranks seventh among NHL defensemen in plus/minus (+38) over the last two seasons. Orlov was drafted by the Capitals in the second round, 55th overall, in the 2009 NHL Draft and has registered 93 points (20g, 73a) in 283 career games with Washington.

Orlov has represented Russia at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, three World Championships (2014, 2016, 2017), two World Junior Championships (2010, 2011) and two World U18 Championships (2008, 2009). Orlov won a gold medal with Russia at the 2014 World Championship, won a gold medal at the 2011 World Junior Championship and was named to the Media All-Star team at the tournament. In addition, he earned a bronze medal with Russia at the 2016 World Championship.

Patrick Holden also contributed to this article.