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Washington Capitals: Brooks Orpik welcomed back with open arms

By Ron Juckett

LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 07: Alex Ovechkin #8 and Nicklas Backstrom #19 of the Washington Capitals watch as teammate Brooks Orpik #44 celebrates with the Stanley Cup after their team defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 4-3 in Game Five of the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena on June 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Capitals won the series four games to one. (Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 07: Alex Ovechkin #8 and Nicklas Backstrom #19 of the Washington Capitals watch as teammate Brooks Orpik #44 celebrates with the Stanley Cup after their team defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 4-3 in Game Five of the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena on June 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Capitals won the series four games to one. (Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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The Washington Capitals brought back their man as Brooks Orpik returns. The grizzled veteran comes back on a one-year contract. Mission Accomplished.

Brooks Orpik is back with the Washington Capitals. The veteran defender signed a one-year deal Tuesday that will count $1 million against the salary cap. With incentives, his total could reach $1.5 million.

For those of you keeping track at home of the dreaded salary cap, Washington has $6.2 million left for Tom Wilson and added depth. Orpik is the 22nd player on the Caps 23-man roster. When Wilson ever signs his extension, the Caps will head to training camp with a full slate.

Not a bad summer of work.

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In bringing back Orpik for his fifth season with the Caps, general manager Brian MacLellan pulled off highway robbery. Remember, Orpik and Philipp Grubauer were traded to the Colorado Avalanche hours before the 2018 NHL Draft. In return, Washington got their second-round pick.

Colorado immediately bought out Orpik’s contract and swallowed a $2.5 million cap hit for the rights to Grubauer. Both sides agreed to a three-year contract at over $3 million a season for the goalie.

With Colorado’s pick, the Caps selected Kody Clark. Son of Wendell. To summarize, Orpik and Grubauer for Clark and Orpik. Oh, and $5.5 million in salary cap room.

Yep, the needed money to keep John Carlson and Devante Smith-Pelly among others. MacLellan, with major help from Avs GM Joe Sakic, shows pure genius here. Stability is what the Caps wanted, and he pulled it off in spades.

How much Orpik plays is another story.

Although the Caps addressed their lack of depth at the end of their defense, Orpik, Christian Djoos and Madison Bowey will share the load. Washington got who they wanted, but now have three players for two active spots.

At 38 in September that might suit Orpik fine.

In the regular season, he logged 19:22 minutes a night over 81 games. Over the 24-game championship run, he skated 16:42 an outing. In 105 meaningful games, Orpik played a whopping 1973 minutes. For a third-pair defenseman in his 15th NHL season, that literally is a ton.

Orpik’s leadership, he has the “A” sewn on his 44 sweater, is the main reason Washington wanted him back. Expect to see him get a healthy scratch in the back-to-back games at a minimum. They will need his maximum effort to secure the division and in the playoffs.

Next: DSP's heroic run

What the Washington Capitals have with Brooks Orpik is another player not afraid to throw checks and block shots. Along with Smith-Pelly and Wilson, it gives the Caps added tenacity. One intangible a team can never have enough of.

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