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Washington Capitals Report Card: Brooks Orpik

By Andrew Gillis

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 24: Brooks Orpik #44 of the Washington Capitals pauses after a second period hit by Jordan Martinook #48 of the Carolina Hurricanes in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Capital One Arena on April 24, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 24: Brooks Orpik #44 of the Washington Capitals pauses after a second period hit by Jordan Martinook #48 of the Carolina Hurricanes in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Capital One Arena on April 24, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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Washington Capitals defenseman Brooks Orpik has often been a source of criticism, or inspiration, depending on who you ask.

Brooks Orpik’s last 365 days have took drastic turns, starting when he was shipped with Philipp Grubauer to the Colorado Avalanche for a second round pick. In essence, the Washington Capitals needed cap space and Orpik’s $5.25 million contact was too much for a team still left with John Carlson to sign.

Orpik was immediately waived by the Avalanche and spend a few weeks in limbo over whether or not he’d be picked up. The Capitals stepped up, which was legal as the Avalanche were the team that waived him, and signed him to a one-year deal to “come back” to Washington.

In perhaps the last year of his NHL career, Orpik wasn’t as bad as some might suggest. While the argument that Orpik was ever worth his contract in the first place exists, Orpik was steady in his 53 games played — the lowest since the 2015-16 season due to a knee injury.

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His average ice time of 15:40 per game was also the lowest of his entire career.

Essentially, the Capitals sheltered Orpik as much as possible and kept him on the third-pairing for a majority of the season. He wasn’t a strong possession player, as his Corsi For percentage was 46.8 percent, a relative Corsi of -3.9 percent.

Orpik’s Expected Goals percentage was sixth-best on the team at 50.65 percent. If you take out Nathan Walker and Tyler Lewington who played sparingly, Orpik placed fourth.

After the deadline, though, Orpik struggled possession-wise. He placed 15th on the team in high-danger chances with 41.94 percent, took a dip in expected goals at 45.59 percent (also placing him 15th) and had a Corsi For percentage of exactly 50 percent. For a team that turned on the jets after the deadline, those numbers weren’t strong.

Yet, while Orpik still wasn’t the offensive defenseman (with two goals and seven assists) and he’s still not the fastest player on the ice, his complete and total gaffes weren’t noticeable throughout the season.

At 38 years old, there are questions aplenty about his future in the organization. It’s been mentioned that he could become a part of the coaching staff, or perhaps, a part of the strength and conditioning staff.

Still, it’s hard to complain about Orpik’s season and his career in Washington as a whole.

Grade C+: Of course, these grades are relative to the defenseman. But as mentioned, it’s tough to dislike Orpik’s season. He wasn’t a trainwreck as he could’ve been and he was pretty much what he and the Capitals advertised.

He brought a Cup to Washington in 2018 and played mostly third pairing minutes in what could be his last season as a pro.

Next. Jonas Siegenthaler Report Card. dark

With so many young defensemen on the way to the NHL in the Capitals organization, it looks like Orpik’s time in Washington might be coming to an end.

If that’s the case, happy trails, Brooks. Thanks for the memories.

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