The expectation is that Hurricanes defenseman Dmitry Orlov will test the open market next month, reports Pierre LeBrun in his latest column for The Athletic (subscription link). The 33-year-old was somewhat of a surprise signing two years ago when he joined Carolina, eschewing a longer-term offer to accept a two-year, $15.5MM deal, one that was above-market at the time. Orlov averaged 20 minutes a game this season while chipping in with six goals and 22 assists, making it nine straight years that he has eclipsed the 20-point mark. While he likely won’t beat his most recent price tag, he should generate some strong interest in free agency.
More from the Metropolitan:
- While the Flyers have been suggested as a possible team interested in Golden Knights defenseman Nicolas Hague, Kevin Kurz of The Athletic relays (Twitter link) word from a team source that this is not the case. Hague is a pending restricted free agent and with the expectation that he’ll be looking for a fair bit more than his $2.7MM qualifying offer, he has become a speculative trade candidate. Philadelphia already has four left-shot blueliners signed for next season with Cameron York, another lefty, becoming a restricted free agent next month.
- Pending UFA defenseman Mac Hollowell won’t be hitting the open market to see what North American options he might have. Instead, the 26-year-old has signed with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of the KHL, the league announced. Hollowell has been a productive player in the minors but outside of six appearances with Toronto in 2022-23, his NHL opportunities have been limited so he’ll try his hand overseas now. He had a goal and 30 assists in 56 games with AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season after a 44-point showing with Hartford in 2023-24.
If you watched any playoffs games. Letting Orlov leave makes sense.
Waddell gave Orlov almost 16 million? Yikes! How do some of these GMs keep getting jobs?
That’s nothing. He offer sheeted Kotkienimi then extended him on a stupid contract.
True, I remember Waddell’s first job as GM in Atlanta, He really ran that team into the ground.
I feel like he has gotten a lot better since then. I’d say that this and the KK contract were his only two major whiffs–I can’t think of any major trades or signings that blew up in his face. At least not off the top of my head.
I will say…his drafting was very clutch.