Defenseman Brooks Orpik has been out of the Capitals line-up since undergoing surgery on his right knee in November. He has been skating on his own with strength and conditioning coach Mark Nemish recently.
Wednesday morning, he rejoined the team for practice wearing a light blue no-contact jersey.
Brooksie’s back out there with the boys for morning skate #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/AaWwmxO7p1
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 19, 2018
After missing practice multiple times for “maintenance days” in October, the Capitals officially announced that the 38-year-old needed arthroscopic knee surgery. The estimated recovery time was 4-6 weeks which fits his return to practice now and potentially playing around the new year.
While this is a positive sign that Orpik is healthy enough to return soon, head coach Todd Reirden has said that Orpik will not return until after Christmas.
Reirden says Orpik wil not return until after Christmas
— JJ Regan (@JJReganNBCS) December 19, 2018
With both Brooks Orpik and fellow Stanley Cup Champion Christian Djoos out of the line-up recently the Capitals’ defensive depth has been tested. Orpik has been on long-term injury reserve retroactive to October 27 and was eligible to return as early as November 21.
Headline photo: Elizabeth Kong/RMNB
