Player Discussion Dmitry Orlov

[Raikkonen]

The logical place for Orlov in current roster is 3rd pair RD. In Orpik-Orlov pair.

That's the best 3rd pair with him I can think of (Schmidt-Carlson being the basis for another top-4).

So. This is 2 overpriced guys for 3rd pair, and both with their significant problems.

The writing is on the wall already. You start to fix it with Orlov for numerous obvious reasons (easier to move, value, position on the team, no letter unlike Orpik, worse defense, Bowey).

Barring some miracle its a question of time. We will see what BM thinks soon enough.

 

[Larry Hoover]

Does Orlov Play His Off-Side??

I was looking at Orlov's D pairings this year and saw he played with 3 lefties (Orpik, Chorney and Schmidt). I was just wondering if anyone can provide some insight on who played their off-side in these pairings? Did it rotate, or was Orlov constantly on either his normal (left) or opposite (right) side?

 

[Raikkonen]

I was looking at Orlov's D pairings this year and saw he played with 3 lefties (Orpik, Chorney and Schmidt). I was just wondering if anyone can provide some insight on who played their off-side in these pairings? Did it rotate, or was Orlov constantly on either his normal (left) or opposite (right) side?

Played both sides depending on his partner.

Orlov-Schmidt
Orpik-Orlov
Orlov-Chorney

His natural side is R, that's where he played the most in Russia.

He has an opening in the roster (#2LD) to try to get in, both he and the club want him to get there so it'd be rational to expect him play as LD next season.

On a short contract with Capitals no less

 

[txpd]

Played both sides depending on his partner.

Orlov-Schmidt
Orpik-Orlov
Orlov-Chorney

His natural side is R, that's where he played the most in Russia.

He has an opening in the roster (#2LD) to try to get in, both he and the club want him to get there so it'd be rational to expect him play as LD next season.

On a short contract with Capitals no less

I see no sign that the team wants Orlov to replace Orpik. I think they want Orlov to improve and become more of an impact, but not at 2LD

 

[Larry Hoover]

Played both sides depending on his partner.

Orlov-Schmidt
Orpik-Orlov
Orlov-Chorney

His natural side is R, that's where he played the most in Russia.

He has an opening in the roster (#2LD) to try to get in, both he and the club want him to get there so it'd be rational to expect him play as LD next season.

On a short contract with Capitals no less

His natural side is the right side? Even though he's a lefty?

 

[txpd]

His natural side is the right side? Even though he's a lefty?

he largely played his off side previous to the handedness coach adam oates getting a hold of him. he is a shooting defenseman and uses being on his off side to create much of his offense.

 

[Larry Hoover]

he largely played his off side previous to the handedness coach adam oates getting a hold of him. he is a shooting defenseman and uses being on his off side to create much of his offense.

So you're saying 2013-14 he played on the left side, but in 2015-16 he played the right side?

 

[Raikkonen]

I see no sign that the team wants Orlov to replace Orpik. I think they want Orlov to improve and become more of an impact, but not at 2LD

I see a team with a need of 2LD. Recognizing Orpik's decline I bet they want 2LD without spending assets.

Orlov is one of the options for that.

Other options could be blocked by salary cap btw.

Pretty much they should want it. 2+2.

Orpik can still PK, clear the crease and represent huge chunk of salary exposed for the draft.

 

[HecticGlow]

It's worth remembering that GMBM and Trotz have both reiterated that they see John Carlson as a number 1D - it speaks volumes that in the final regular season Anaheim game, where they boxed their most important players (Ovi, Backstrom, Holtby), Carly and Orpik were both boxed and Niskanen and Alzner not only dressed, but overused as usual. If they didn't see Orpik as a top-4 player for them who they couldn't afford not to lose to injury, they would have played him and given Alzner fewer minutes. Don't underestimate how much they continue to value Orpik - and to an extent, with good reason.

If they do feel the need to move Orpik to the third pairing this coming season (I don't see that happening) they'll either need to bring someone new into the fold to partner with Carly, or break up their elite shutdown pair Alzner-Niskanen. Orlov has shown absolutely nothing to suggest he deserves first pairing minutes, and hasn't yet demonstrated he's good enough at stay-at-home hockey to reliably cover for our best offensive defenceman.

GMBM talking of Orlov potentially being able to step up and take some of Orpik's minutes doesn't mean partnering Orly full time with Carlson or Niskanen. I suspect they'll be more keen to get the third pairing of Orlov-Schmidt-Chorney bigger minutes in the regular season so they can rely on them a little more and not have to overuse Alzner, Niskanen and Carlson.

The Orlov-Schmidt pairing did a great job as a second pair while Orpik and Carlson were out. I think part of the problem is when Orpik and (eventually) Carlson returned those two really needed bigger minutes in order to get them ready for the playoffs and wear off the rust from injury - and at about the same time Orlov started trying to step up his offense in riskier ways to make an impact (having actually been quite reliable while on second pair duties) and Schmidt completely lost his rhythm when he got injured for a couple of games and started being scratched as part of the flawed Chorney/Schmidt/Orlov rotation.

My bet, though, is Orlov gets benched at points this coming season. For most of the year, he deserved to be a lot more than Schmidt and Chorney did.

 

[Raikkonen]

Orlov at the end of the season > Orlov in October.

For me it's not even close.

He struggled in playoffs, but previous 2 playoffs he didn't even got to play at all. So that's a progress too.

He's not trending down.

Orpik is though.

Also, I'll say it again: Alzner-Carlson > Alzner-Niskanen.

They need a player compatible with Niskanen. If they can find one - there is one more solid option. Hamhuis/someOther or Orlov - we will see.

 

[txpd]

I see a team with a need of 2LD. Recognizing Orpik's decline I bet they want 2LD without spending assets.

Orlov is one of the options for that.

Other options could be blocked by salary cap btw.

Pretty much they should want it. 2+2.

Orpik can still PK, clear the crease and represent huge chunk of salary exposed for the draft.

I think its possible that Trotz goes Carlson Schmidt and Orpik Orlov again as a way to spread the minutes around. I would not expect that as plan A. I expect Orpik to get 20 minutes of average TOI again next season.

I also think that the Caps love Alzner and Niskanen together.

 

[AOSC]

What do you guys think he gets this summer?

 

[ViD]

What do you guys think he gets this summer?

Zaitsev numbers

 

[AOSC]

Zaitsev numbers

Yeah, in the trading thread I put 4.5Mx5 years because that will bring him to 30 years old.

 

[Jags]

Yeah, in the trading thread I put 4.5Mx5 years because that will bring him to 30 years old.

That'd be good for us, but players don't typically sign long-term unless they're getting top dollar. They usually aim for their last restricted contract to end when they're 28 so they're still in their prime, UFA, and in perfect position to sign the most lucrative contract of their careers.

So if you look at Carlson, Shattenkirk, and Alzner, they all signed solid, somewhat team-friendly contracts on their last RFA deals, and they all expire when they're each 28 and UFA.

When you know you have a marquee guy while he's still restricted, you can go all-in, max-term and save yourself some money in the long run (like we did with Backstrom and Ottawa did with Karlsson, getting guys that likely would have made 8m+ for 6.7m/10yr and 6.5m/7yr, respectively).

I don't think Orlov is one of those guys, so we're likely looking at 4.5m like you said, but I doubt the term will be longer than 2 years because he'll be 26 in a couple months. He's made odd contract moves before, so MAYBE we get 3 years, but I doubt it.

 

[Chukcha]

What do you guys think of him now? Can he get considered as a legit 1st pair defenseman? It seems to me he makes less bonehead plays than his partner Niskanen.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

good #3 IMO

 

[maacoshark]

What do you guys think of him now? Can he get considered as a legit 1st pair defenseman? It seems to me he makes less bonehead plays than his partner Niskanen.

I thought Orlov struggled to start the season. He is playing better recently. His defence partner Niskanen is also starting to play better. Right now I would say Orlov is ahead of Niskanen and is our number 2.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

He's steady defensively and I like that a lot. Rarely caught out of position these days, and he pinches a lot.

 

[SDBondra]

He is legit first pairing in my opinion. So consistent this year. I’m thankful we were patient with him.

 

[twabby]

Like most of the team he struggled a bit to start the season. Maybe just a bit of a hangover from last season.

I’d say he’s an even strength specialist and his TOI certainly supports that (4th most 5v5 TOI in the NHL). He doesn’t fit the PP as constructed and this is really his first season PKing but he and Niskanen dominate the play at even strength. His biggest strength IMO is in the defensive zone, transitioning from defense to offense. He doesn’t quite have the same offensive ability as Carlson but he might have the tools to get there.

Glad he’s locked up long-term.

 

[AlexBrovechkin8]

He looks like the prototype for what you want in a modern day defenseman. He's a terrific skater with a great shot who is physically strong. He's responsible defensively and he can consistently join the rush. His decision making has improved and his pizzas/60 has decreased significantly. Love that he's part of the core moving forward.

 

[Calicaps]

pizzas/60 is officially my favorite fancy stat of all time. I haven't had much time to watch non-Caps hockey this year (or even very much Caps hockey, TBH), but I'd be curious to know who might be the league leader in that category.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

pizzas/60 is officially my favorite fancy stat of all time. I haven't had much time to watch non-Caps hockey this year (or even very much Caps hockey, TBH), but I'd be curious to know who might be the league leader in that category.

Easy answer. The pizza/60 league leader is Subban for sure. He makes great plays but he also turns the puck over a lot.

 

[twabby]

Brent Burns has 5.71 giveaways/60 and leads the NHL in that category.