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Washington Capitals: Brooks Orpik on the radar

By Ron Juckett

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 04: Brooks Orpik #44 of the Washington Capitals attends warm ups before playing in Game Four of the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Final against the Vegas Golden Knights at Capital One Arena on June 4, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 04: Brooks Orpik #44 of the Washington Capitals attends warm ups before playing in Game Four of the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Final against the Vegas Golden Knights at Capital One Arena on June 4, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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The Washington Capitals would like a reunion with Brooks Orpik, but for the right price. Will they land their old defenseman in free agency?

With free agency opening for business on Sunday, the Washington Capitals are in a strange position. They do not have a true shopping list.

Yes, every team has needs including the defending Stanley Cup champions. The projected backup goalie to Braden Holtby, Pheonix Copley, has started one regular season NHL game. That is a concern. (You get massive bonus points for remembering who he played for.)

The other big one is who will fill the third defensive pair. Sorry, this is not 1960 and John Carlson will not skate 40 minutes a night. At least until a triple overtime playoff game.

Will Washington mix and match Christian Djoos, Madison Bowey and keep Jakub Jerabek? They need to sign Jerabek first as he is an unrestricted free agent. Djoos and Bowey are under contract. The Caps tendered Bowey a contract.

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Both under 25, Djoos and Bowey figure to get their share of ice time and grow on the job. The Caps front four is fine. New Head Coach Todd Reirden is a defensive mastermind. This is not a gaping hole.

But, say if Brooks Orpik came back, everyone might breathe easier. You remember him. Traded with Phillip Grubauer before the NHL Draft to Colorado then immediately placed on waivers. Blocked a team-high 168 shots while skating almost 20 minutes a night at 37.

Yeah, that Orpik. Well, he is an unrestricted free agent who Washington would love back at the right price. Say $1.5 million?

It is amazing how the Caps have kept the band together while dealing with the alary cap. If it was not for Colorado taking Orpik’s contract, we would spend Canada Day on pins and needles waiting where Carlson would go. Instead, Carlson can sign a long-term lease on the car of his choice.

With under $10 million left before hitting the cap limit, there is room for Orpik if he wants to take a discount and hunt for his third Stanley Cup overall. Washington is agreeable, but there are other unnamed suitors. If Orpik wants multiple years and $2-3 million, he is playing elsewhere.

There is a market for veteran defenseman with leadership abilities. Orpik is from San Jose and played his NCAA hockey at Boston College. Can you think of contending teams in those markets or in Pittsburgh? You bet.

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The Washington Capitals will be fine if Brooks Orpik goes elsewhere. Although the Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins are not ideal, the Caps got what they wanted off their shopping list already. If he falls into their proverbial shopping cart, well it is all good.

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