Washington Capitals: Top 25 best draft picks in team history

#24 Dmitry Orlov

The Capitals selected Dmitry Orlov in the second round at 55th overall in the 2009 NHL Draft. He’s still on the Caps to this day and is a key part of their defense. In his first season he played in 2011-12 and had three goals and 16 assists for 19 points.

Orlov only played in five games in the 2013 lockout shortened season. In 2013-14 he played in 54 games and recorded 11 points with three goals and eight assists.

He finally started playing full 82 games the next there seasons. Orlov had eight goals and 21 assists for 29 points in 2015-16, six goals and 27 assists for 33 points in 2016-17. Then he had 10 goals and 21 assists for 31 points in Washington’s Cup winning season.

Orlov struggled after that for a little. He had just three goals and 26 assists for 29 points then next season. Those numbers dipped to four goals and 23 assists for 27 points in the COVID shortened 2019-20 season. In 2021’s odd season he had eight goals and 14 assists for 22 points.

This past season Orlov had a carer high 12 goals and 23 assists for 35 points. Those 35 points are also a career high.

In 10 seasons with the Capitals and 643 games Orlov has recorded 57 goals and 180 assists for 237 points. He is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season but it is highly likely the Caps will extend him.