Batya is returning to the Capitals.
After being dealt to the Colorado Avalanche and subsequently bought out, defenseman Brooks Orpik has agreed to return to the Capitals on a one-year, $1-million contract. The contract also has up to $500,000 in performance bonuses.
Brooks Orpik has signed with the Capitals, one-year and $1 million. They traded him to the Avalanche last month. Colorado bought out the final year of his deal ($5.5 million cap hit), making him UFA. So the Caps get a cap savings of $4.5 million on a player they had last season.
— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) July 24, 2018
Orpik has been a part of the Capitals organization since 2014-15, where he has been a constant presence on the Caps blueline. This past season, he led the Capitals with 168 blocked shots. His lone goal of the season came at the most important time: it was the game-winning goal of the Capitals’ first-ever Stanley Cup Final win.
More from the Caps:
The Washington Capitals have signed defenseman Brooks Orpik to a one-year contract, senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today. Orpik’s contract will carry an average annual value of $1 million. In addition, the contract includes $500,000 of potential performance bonuses.
“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 MacLellan. “We feel his leadership and competitiveness on and off the ice will be welcomed back to our group.”
Orpik, 37, led the Capitals with 168 blocked shots and ranked second on the team, and first among Washington defensemen, with 218 hits in 2017-18. He recorded 10 points (0g, 10a) in 81 regular-season appearances and five points (1g, 4a) in 24 postseason contests. The 6’3”, 217-pound defenseman has recorded 53 points (3g, 50a) and 830 hits in 279 games with the Capitals.
The San Francisco, Calif., native has registered 185 points (16g, 169a) in 982 career regular-season games and 24 points (3g, 21a) in 149 playoff outings. He’s a two-time Stanley Cup champion, also winning with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009, an Olympic silver medalist (Team USA, 2010) and has also won an NCAA national championship (Boston College, 2001). Orpik ranks first among defensemen in Penguins history in games played (703) and was named the team’s Defensive Player of the Year on three occasions (2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12).
Looking back, here's what the June 22nd trade between Washington & Colorado now looks like after today's news:
To #Avalanche:
G Philipp GrubauerTo #Capitals:
2018 2nd RD pick
$4,000,000 in cap space https://t.co/sOUdx7JQeW— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) July 24, 2018
Headline photo: @Capitals
