DALLAS — That did not take long. Less than 24 hours after the Washington Capitals dumped Brooks Orpik‘s $5.5 million salary cap hit for next season on the Colorado Avalanche in the Phillip Grubauer trade, the Avs have placed Orpik on waivers for the purposes of buying out his contract.
Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic made it clear the team wanted no part of Orpik. They took him as part of Friday’s trade so they wouldn’t have to give up a higher draft pick. Grubauer was worth a first-round selection, but the trade netted the Caps the 47th overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft.
“We gave up a second-round pick, a good pick, but we felt to take him and give them cap relief, we wouldn’t have to pay as much of a premium,” Sakic said of Orpik. “I talked to him and the plan is to see if we can maybe move him here or buy him out.”
Orpik on waivers.
— Ryan Rishaug (@TSNRyanRishaug) June 23, 2018
If Orpik clears waivers, which he almost certainly will, he can be bought out by the Avalanche.
That would open the door for the Capitals to re-acquire the veteran defenseman at a lower salary. Washington general manager Brian MacLellan has said it is something the team would consider.
“It’s legal,” MacLellan told reporters Friday night after the first-round. “We’re open to that depending on how much room and salary it would take.”
