Brooks Orpik: 2018-19 season review

Two-time Stanley Cup champion Brooks Orpik may have already seen the end of his pro playing career. If that’s the case, he will retire a legend.

By The Numbers

Visualization by HockeyViz

About this visualization: This series of charts made by Micah Blake McCurdy of hockeyviz.com shows various metrics for the player over the course of the season. A short description of each chart:

Peter’s Take

Two-time Stanley Cup champion Brooks Orpik had a weird start to the season. The Caps traded him to the Colorado Avalanche to free up cap space, then he was bought out, then he was signed again by the Caps for way less money. His buy-out money and performance bonuses for suiting up in 40-plus games would make him whole compared to his old contract, but a knee injury early in the season sidelined him for nearly thirty games. We should have known better to count him out though– Orpik returned and got that bread.

Here, via hockey-reference, is the pantheon of defenders in their age-38 seasons and how much they played.

There are three groups: the “oh nevermind” cohort at bottom left who didn’t play more than a fraction of the season, the ageless wonders at top right who played tons of games and tons of minutes, and the dudes in the middle. Orpik is one of those dudes. Being left of the trendline means Orpik played relatively low minutes per game.

And he got them against the easier competition available. Orpik faced star forwards on the opponent’s team less often than any defender except Christian Djoos.

The shorter version of all that is that Brooks Orpik was sheltered. In one sense that deployment strategy was successful. Opponents took fewer shot attempts and generated fewer expected goals against Orpik than any other full-time Caps defender. Washington’s biggest defensive troubles occurred when Orpik was on the bench.

But he sure was on the bench a lot. All that rest increased the workload on the top pairing, who were plainly outmatched. The cost of facilitating Orpik’s fine season was the further sinking of Orlov-Niskanen.

Precisely zero percent of the blame for this falls on Orpik. His role as a crease-clearer was always a bad idea (preventing opponents from getting into the crease in the first part would be better), and his assignment as long-term partner for young defenseman stifled their development (Djoos, Siegenthaler) while keeping Orpik statistically afloat. Orpik’s always done what’s asked of him, but what’s asked of him has rarely been wise.

That’s not on him, and by all accounts he is universally beloved by his teammates. The ecstatic reactions to his OTGWG in Game Two are evidence of that.

But time doesn’t care. Orpik, if he plays next season, would be 39 years old. Just 13 defenders have locked more than 20 games at that age since the lockout. The attrition rate is brutal.

If this is the end for Orpik, he’ll go out a legend. He’s seen the league change styles a handful of times, he’s won two Cups (or one Cup twice if you want to be a jerk about it), and he’s become answer to a trivia question that will make your eyes light up forever: who scored Washington’s first ever game-winning goal in a Cup Final?

In 2014 I set the terms for measuring whether or not Brooks Orpik’s tenure as a Capital could be considered a success. Clause A.1 for the affirmative was “if the Caps win the Cup.” They did. And not that it mattered, but Orpik materially helped. His tenure was more than a success; it was a triumph.

Two-time Stanley Cup champion Brooks Orpik is a legend. End of review.

Orpik on RMNB

• Last summer, the Caps traded Orpik to the Avs, then Orpik was bought out, then the Caps re-signed him for less. The NHL asked Orpik not to discuss the whole ordeal because it’s embarrassing for them.
• In October, Orpik snapped a 182-game goalless streak. Unless you count his game-winner in the Cup Final, which probably should count.

• Wicked Local Cohasset (no relation) reported that Brooks Orpik’s high school named him to their hall of fame.
• Also we learned Orpik is down with cannabis. On an investment level.
• In late October, Orpik suffered a knee injury, requiring surgery. He didn’t skate for nearly a month and a half, but returned to the lineup after Christmas.
• In January, Orpik played in his 1000th NHL game. The Caps honored him with a tribute a few days later.

A fitting salute to an amazing player and even better person.

Congrats on 1,000 games, Brooks!#ALLCAPS #Orp1k pic.twitter.com/LuRK0cAzb8

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 19, 2019

• Orpik scored again in January, putting him briefly ahead of Evgeny Kuznetsov in five-on-five goals. Aaaaaawwwkwwwwaaaard.
• In February, Orpik, 78, fought with Matthew Tkachuk, 13, in a wild post-game brawl.
• This fan has a sign that says “Avs Legend Brooks Orpik.” I love fans.

• Batya did a cuss in Russian to Ovi during an interview.
• Clutch playoff hero Orpik did it again in Game Two, sinking the OTGWG. Amazing.

• Holtby on Orpik: “I think if you asked anyone on our team who you would be the happiest to see score an overtime goal, it’s probably Brooks Orpik.”
• Finally, after the Tucker Road Ducks lost their gear in a fire, Orpik donated his own to make them whole. In December, Orpik, still injured entertained the team on a trip.

• Actually, one more finally, lest it go criminally unsaid: there goes a champion.

Your Turn

Anyone else wanna see Orpik become a coach?

Read more: Japers Rink