Brooks Orpik will join a rare fraternity tonight, becoming the 330th player to hit 1000 career NHL games.
This is a game that could have come much earlier in the season. However, Orpik missed 27 games, including the entire month of November, and only returned from long-term injured reserve for the last game of December after undergoing successful arthroscopic knee surgery. Orpik has been a staple on the third defensive unit since his return, after Christian Djoos was sidelined due to compartment syndrome and the Capitals rotated through a combination of Bowey, Jonas Siegenthaler, and Tyler Lewington.
#Caps Brooks Orpik addressing the media at @MedStarIceplex prior to playing in his 1,000th career NHL game tonight vs @StLouisBlues at @CapitalOneArena pic.twitter.com/v5xMrDQYtz
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) January 14, 2019
Since joining the Capitals in 2014 on a five year, $25.5 million contract, Orpik has 56 points (4g, 52a) in 296 career games with Washington.
Here are some eye-popping stats from Orpik’s career, courtesy of the Capitals:
- Since joining Washington at the start of the 2014-15 season, Orpik ranks first in hits (879) and second in blocked shots (614) among Capitals defensemen.
- At 38 years and 110 days old, Orpik will become the 14th oldest player to play in his 1000th career game.
- He’s the seventh player from the 2000 draft class to appear in 1000 regular-season games.
- Since making his NHL debut on Dec. 10, 2002, Orpik ranks first among defensemen in hits (3066) and second in blocked shots (1856). Orpik’s hit total will rank third among players with 1000 career games (Zdeno Chara: 3675; Dustin Brown: 3295) since 1997-98.
- He’s the fifth Boston College Eagle to make it to 1000 games. That list includes Bill Guerin and Brian Leetch, who are Hockey Hall of Fame inductees.
- In addition to his 1000 NHL career regular-season games, Orpik has appeared in 149 postseason games, which is the eighth-most among active players and second-most among active defensemen (Chara: 159).
- He is one of 20 American-born defensemen to win multiple Stanley Cups.
- Finally, Orpik holds the distinction of recording the most hits (537) in playoff history.
Brooks #Orp1k is poised to become the fifth @BCHockey alum to play 1,000 @NHL games, joining Guerin, Leetch, Mullen and Gionta pic.twitter.com/342pchrD0E
— College Hockey Inc. (@collegehockey) January 14, 2019
Orpik spoke with Mike Vogel after the Caps morning skate about some of the high points of his career, including the dominant BC Eagles teams he played for, being drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins 18th overall, and representing the United States at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.
Brooks Orpik takes a look back at his NHL and international hockey playing career #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/lu185D9dQT
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 14, 2019
Around the Capitals beat, several reporters also took the time out to reflect on Orpik’s career over his 1000 games, ranging from insights from the man himself, to quotes from his teammates.
Orpik’s teammates reflect on his longevity
“Someone doesn’t drink beer, right? Someone doesn’t drink Coke. You try to be healthy. Maybe one day I will do the same, but everybody’s different,” Captain Alex Ovechkin said of Orpik’s ability to maintain a healthy diet and stick with it.
John Carlson reflects on everything Orpik taught him
“[Orpik’s] meant a lot to me,” John Carlson said to the media, following Monday’s practice. “I approach the game a lot differently and learned a lot from him. I’m not the only one for sure either, but being a defenseman and knowing him just a little bit before he got here I think it was great for me and my career.”
Orpik will likely retire after this season
While speaking with Chris Kuc of The Athletic, Orpik notes that he only needs to complete one more semester to receive his diploma from Boston College, but from there he’s unsure of what his future holds away from the ice.
Orpik has improved his skating, diet, and training to hang in today’s NHL
“The last third of my career, I’ve definitely been making a lot of sacrifices in terms of health and nutrition and taking care of myself better,” Orpik told Ben Raby. “If I didn’t make those adjustments, I would have been out of the league a long time ago.”
Orpik’s biggest impact has been off the ice
The Washington Post’s Isabelle Khurshudyan notes that Orpik’s ability to keep all players accountable is what led to a culture change in Washington, and culminating with last season’s Stanley Cup win.
Reaching 1000 games is an incredible feat that few players ever reach, and it speaks to Orpik’s longevity as a player. Congrats, Batya!
Headline photo: Elizabeth Kong
