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Brooks Orpik

Southern California Becoming A Hotbed For Young Hockey Talent

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Can you name the all-time leading NHL scorer who was born or raised in California? No? It’s long-retired journeyman defenseman Lee Norwood of course with a total of 211 points. Coming in at number two is Brooks Orpik and his 185 career points and Orpik was raised in New York and played his developmental hockey in Massachusetts. The state of California has simply never been much of producer of hockey talent. Not for long. The grassroots movement in Southern California, fueled by the success of its three NHL rival teams, has begun to grow talent at a rate never before seen in the state or in many southern markets. Soon, California natives will be making names for themselves at the highest level.

For a while now, Boston Bruins defenseman Kevan Miller has been the best player in the NHL both born and raised in California. The rugged blue liner from Los Angeles is 30 years old, making him more of an outlier ahead of his time. However, younger pros are beginning to line up behind him for the title of top Californian. Chad Ruhwedel, Ian McCoshen, Matthew Nieto, Beau Bennett, Nic Kerdiles, Eric Comrie and Collin Delia make up the list of other West Coast natives that are getting play time in the NHL.

The above group is still not all that impressive. The point being that the SoCal hockey movement hasn’t hit just yet. It is the next wave that will really start to turn heads. The poster boy is Vancouver Canucks top goalie prospect Thatcher Demko. The San Diego product was an early second-round pick in 2014 and has impressed at every level: the USHL, NCAA, and AHL. Once the Canucks finally give him a legitimate role in the NHL, he could become a top goalie in the league.

Demko was a product of the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League, a nationwide premiere youth league with teams based in major cities across the U.S., some of whom have even adopted the local NHL club’s moniker. Demko played for the Los Angeles Jr. Kings U16 team in 2011-12. To take a look at how hockey has grown since, here are some other names who have suited up for the same team since:

  • Robby Jackson, the leading scorer for St. Cloud State University, the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament in 2017-18. Jackson turned down pro offers to return to school for his senior season.
  • Jake McGrew, a 2017 sixth-round draft pick of the San Jose Sharks who currently plays a top-six role for the Spokane Chiefs of the WHL
  • Cole Guttman, a 2017 sixth-round draft pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning and former top ten USHL scoring leader who heads to the University of Denver this year
  • Murphy Stratton, a point-per-game power forward in the BCHL last year who is committed to the University of North Dakota
  • Sahil Panwar, the 23rd overall pick by the London Knights in the OHL Priority Selection Draft this year and a 2020 NHL Draft prospect

While the Jr. Kings have had quite a run in recent years, the cross-town rival Anaheim Jr. Ducks have been keeping busy of late. In just the past year, the Ducks have had numerous major commitments. Josh Groll, on of the T1EHL’s top scorers last season, is bound for the University of Michigan. Ryan Johnson, who scored the second-most points by a defenseman in league history a year ago, is committed to the University of Minnesota. Just today, the University of Massachusetts received a commitment from forward Ethan Wothers. The top player to watch of them all though is Jackson Niedermayer, son of Hall of Famer Scott Niedermayer, who will join the Penticton Vees of the BCHL this season and promises to be an intriguing name in next year’s NHL Draft.

This is just the beginning of what grassroots hockey may grow to be in Southern California. Beaches and year round warm weather aside, the area has everything it needs to continue to grow the game: popular NHL teams, plenty of wealth to support facilities and training, an opportunity to be noticed, and now a high level of interest among the many young athletes. Kevan Miller may want to watch out, his title of being the best Californian in the NHL might not last much longer.

Free Agent Profile: Troy Brouwer

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Entering the free agent market late is never an enviable position. Hitting the market in August coming off the worst season of your pro career? That’s a really tough spot and the one facing down veteran forward Troy Brouwer this summer.

Brouwer became the latest addition to the unrestricted free agent market on August 3rd, after the Calgary Flames bought out the remaining two years of his contract in the second buyout window awarded in consideration of the team’s salary arbitration status. As if becoming a free agent more than one month after the signing period began wasn’t enough of a difficult situation, Brouwer also entered a quiet market that had seen just two impact UFA signings – Brooks Orpik and Dan Hamhuis – in the previous two weeks. Now two weeks later, there has still not been another major addition and that includes a lack of interest in Brouwer.

Brouwer, who just turned 33, has begun to show his age. While physicality and two-way play have always been hallmarks of his game, Brouwer also did well for himself earlier in his career with seven straight seasons of 33 points or more while playing for three different clubs. He cashed in on that consistency two years ago, inking a four-year, $18MM contract with the Flames as a free agent – the most lucrative deal of his career. The situation in Calgary turned sour quickly, as Brouwer’s speed and production took a noticeable dip in his first campaign. The reliable forward only managed 25 points and, to add insult to injury, struggled on the defensive side of the game as well. Last season, Brouwer’s even strength ice time was cut to a career low and his production dropped again to a career-worst six goals and 22 points.

At $4.5MM per year, Brouwer’s play last season showed the Flames that he was simply a burden they could no longer shoulder moving forward, even if his buyout meant adding a $1.5MM penalty for each of the next four years. Now, the question is whether he can bounce back from a disappointing tenure in Calgary? And will any team even give him that chance?

Potential Suitors

If the offense is really gone from Brouwer’s game, then he is more of your typical fourth-line grinder at this point in his career. He still plays a very solid short-handed game, has always had a knack for stripping the puck, and can check and win battles along the boards with the best. Brouwer has even been known to excel at the occasional face-off in the past. In an energy role where he would be specifically tasked with bothering the opposition and focused more on preventing goals than scoring them, Brouwer could still thrive, maybe even for a few years.

A versatile, two-way right winger could be in demand with several squads. Especially given the fact that Brouwer’s buyout payments should drive the price of his next contract down, he could be a good value pick up for whichever team lands him. The Colorado Avalanche may be the best fit for Brouwer. The Avs’ forward corps is very young and not very deep in two-way players. The roster is also completely devoid of natural right wingers. The veteran grinder could also serve as a good mentor to young Avalanche forward A.J. Greer. There is a clear fit for Brouwer on the Colorado roster more so than any other team in the league.

The Buffalo Sabres also stick out as a prime candidate to give Brouwer a shot. The team’s off-season indicates that they are all-in and looking to do more than just rebuild this season. While the Sabres are actually deep up front, they lack many players that fit nicely into a fourth-line, penalty-killing role. They also don’t have many right-shot players who are true two-way assets. Brouwer could fill that niche role. However, Brouwer would have to win a job against one of Buffalo’s younger fringe forwards.

Don’t rule out a return to the Chicago Blackhawks either. The team has shown a tendency to be interested in former players and with the likes of Matthew Highmore, John Hayden, and Jacob Nilsson currently penciled in to compete for jobs on the right side, there is a lot of reason to think that Brouwer could make a difference in Chicago. The team does have Marcus Kruger back and signed Chris Kunitz, but Brouwer on that line would make for an intriguing veteran shutdown unit.

Projected Contract

Despite some good hypothetical landing spots, the reality is that if there was demand for Brouwer, he would have signed by now. Some expected the veteran forward to be scooped up off the market as soon as he was bought out, but the interest just hasn’t developed. There is no reason to think that it suddenly will either; grit and character are not exactly traits that teams scramble to replace after injuries or realize they desperately need in training camp. Brouwer could still end up with any number of NHL teams and can still be an effective two-way forward for multiple years. However, in all likelihood he will have to earn that next contract on a PTO . He may even be looking at a mid-season contract situation for a contender to add a locker room presence and depth defensive forward with experience like a Brian Gionta or Ryan Carter in recent years. That is the ceiling for Brouwer after a ruinous time in Calgary.

Salary Cap Deep Dive: Washington Capitals

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Navigating the Salary Cap is probably one of the more important tasks for any general manager to have. Teams that can avert total cap chaos by walking the tightrope of inking players to deals that match their value (or compensate for future value without breaking the bank) remain successful. Those that don’t see struggles and front office changes.

PHR will look at every NHL team and give a thorough look at their cap situation heading into the 2018-19 season. This will focus more on those players who are integral parts of the roster versus those who may find themselves shuttling between the AHL and NHL. All cap figures are courtesy of CapFriendly.

Washington Capitals

Current Cap Hit: $78,400,961 (under the $79.5MM Upper Limit)

Entry-Level Contracts

F Jakub Vrana (One year remaining, $863K)

With the team trying to make a Stanley Cup run over the past few years and finally capturing one, youth is in rare supply in Washington as the team has made it clear that it prefers to play its veterans rather than risk mistakes from youngsters. The only player who is still on an entry-level deal is Vrana, who has had a turbulent career so far with the Capitals. After spending a couple of years in the AHL, he finally got a full season with Washington this year, but the former first-round pick was never able to secure a full-time role in the team’s top six as he bounced around on different lines all season. He finished the year with 13 goals and 27 points, but put up another three goals and eight points in the playoffs. He has a chance to take on a full-time role on the team’s second line this season and hopes for a breakout season.

Potential Bonuses

Vrana: $600K

Total: $600K

One Year Remaining, Non Entry-Level

F Andre Burakovsky ($3MM, RFA)
F Brett Connolly ($1.5MM, UFA)
D Brooks Orpik ($1MM, UFA)
F Devante Smith-Pelly ($1MM, UFA)
D Christian Djoos ($650K, RFA)
F Nic Dowd ($650K, UFA)
F Chandler Stephenson ($650K, RFA)
F Nathan Walker ($650K, RFA)
G Pheonix Copley ($650K, UFA)

The Capitals have only a few significant free agents for next season as many of their deals are league-minimum contracts, which is necessary considering the amount of money the team has expended in keeping their roster together. Perhaps the biggest name on their free agent list will be Burakovsky, who many thought might have a breakout season with a bigger role last year. However, Burakovsky’s numbers decreased as his season was plagued with injuries. His 12 goals and 25 points in 56 games was the worst since his rookie season. However, he did post six points in 13 playoff games. If he can stay healthy, the 23-year-old could provide the team with more offense.

Due to the Stanley Cup win, the team was able to find a way to bring back several key role players on cheaper deals. The team assumed they would lose Smith-Pelly to free agency, but the 26-year-old opted to return for another playoff run, while long-time Capital Orpik was traded away, waived and opted to return for another year.

Two Years Remaining

F Nicklas Backstrom ($6.7MM, UFA)
G Braden Holtby ($6.1MM, UFA)
D Madison Bowey ($1MM, RFA)
F Travis Boyd ($800K, RFA)

The team does have to worry about Backstrom in two years. The team’s No. 2 center is still posting excellent numbers as he tallied 21 goals and 70 points last season, the fifth straight season he’s reached at least 70 points. However, the team will have a tough decision to eventually make as the veteran will be 32 when he gets awarded a new contract, which can get into a dangerous area when players hit their early 30’s.

Holtby will be another interesting case. After temporarily losing his starting job to Philipp Grubauer for a few weeks near the end of the season due to poor play (2.99 GAA, .907 save percentage), Holtby snapped out of it and posted dominant numbers throughout the playoffs (2.16 GAA, .922 save percentage) showing he still has what it takes to be a top-of-the-line goaltender. While the 28-year-old should still be in his prime in two years, the team also has top goaltending prospect Ilya Samsonov arriving in North America this season. He’ll likely start the season in the AHL, but he will likely be ready to take the reigns once Holtby’s deal expires.

Three Or More Years

F Alex Ovechkin ($9.54MM through 2020-21)
D John Carlson ($8MM through 2025-26)
F Evgeny Kuznetsov ($7.8MM through 2024-25)
F T.J. Oshie ($5.75MM through 2024-25)
D Matt Niskanen ($5.75MM through 2020-21)
F Tom Wilson ($5.17MM through 2023-24)
D Dmitry Orlov ($5.1MM through 2022-23)
F Lars Eller ($3.5MM through 2022-23)
D Michal Kempny ($2.5MM through 2021-22)

The team decided more than a year ago that they were going for it, which worked out perfectly last season. The team has done a fantastic job locking up its core, although many of the pricetags are quite generous, which could come to hurt them. However, now that the team has won the Stanley Cup, the team is going all out to win another as the team has locked up all of their critical free agents this year, signing Carlson as a long-term answer as their top defender as well as locking in Wilson. That gives them a solid core for the next many years. That should give them two or three years to attempt to capture another title. However, eventually this team will be weighed down by these contracts, much like the Chicago Blackhawks, but Washington is focused on the future.

The team may be forced into handing out another long-term extension to Ovechkin in three years, depending on how the 32-year-old fares in three years, but the deal would unlikely be more than he is already being paid.

Buyouts

None

Still To Sign

None

Best Value: Holtby
Worst Value: Wilson

Looking Ahead

The Capitals are quite used to dealing with little to no cap space and will have to do that again for a number of years to come. However, the team has managed to keep not just the core of their team together, but have also managed to bring back multiple role players at bargain prices to keep this team at a Stanley Cup level. With new deals to players like Carlson and Wilson, should challenge for a few more years, but age and those long-term deals will eventually hold the franchise after that. However, the team has already proven that their tactics are worth it after winning it all last season.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Metropolitan Notes: Capitals, Nelson, Zibanejad, Myers

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If it ain’t broke. Don’t fix it. At least that seems to be what the Washington Capitals believe. After capturing the Stanley Cup last season, the team completed one of its final moves when it locked up forward Tom Wilson to a six-year, $31-year deal. And suddenly, the team miraculously has managed to bring back almost its entire roster for next season, according to J.J. Regan of Yahoo Sports.

While all teams are forced to shake up their roster and allow for the losses of free agents after each season, the Capitals are an unusual situation, considering the number of potential free agents as well as how tight their salary cap has been over the past two years. It wasn’t going to get any better, yet still, the team still was able to re-sign stud defenseman John Carlson (eight years, $64MM) as well as find a creative way to trade defenseman Brooks Orpik to Colorado and then bring him back after the Avalanche waived him. They also managed to hold onto trade deadline acquisition Michal Kempny (four years, $10MM).

Sure, the team did suffer a couple of losses, including the loss of fourth-line center Jay Beagle and backup goaltender Philipp Grubauer. However, the team has people ready to step into those positions, including prospect Travis Boyd, free agent acquisition Nic Dowd as well as place long-time minor leaguer Pheonix Copley to fill in for a year, while the team waits for superstar prospect Ilya Samsonov to develop in the AHL for a year.

  • Andrew Gross of Newsday wonders whether the New York Islanders would consider moving center Brock Nelson for a defenseman, now that the 26-year-old has agreed to a one-year, $4.25MM deal with the team. With quite a bit of youth in the wings and the team in desperate need for blueline help and the fact that Nelson could walk away from the team as an unrestricted free agent next season, a trade might make a lot of sense. Nelson has been quite productive for New York, posting at least 19 goals in his last four seasons.
  • The Athletic’s Rick Carpinello (subscription required) analyzes and grades the season of New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad, who took over the team’s No. 1 center position last season after the team traded away Derek Stepan. Many of the same questions about Stepan not being a No. 1 center now have fallen to Zibanejad. Yet, the 25-year-old definitely took his game up a notch, posting a career-high 27 goals in 72 games, but once again suffered an injury that interrupted his season. It marks the second straight year that Zibanejad has struggled with injuries, which is a concern and the center still must work on his consistency, including the fact that he posted no goals and one assist in the final seven games.
  • Dave Isaac of the Cherry Hill Courier Post writes that if the Philadelphia Flyers are impressed by the play of 6-foot-5 prospect Philippe Myers in training camp this year, that could impact the role of defenseman Radko Gudas, who could then be on his way out as Myers physicality could replace Gudas role as well as the fact that Myers and Travis Sanheim were a great pair when they were together with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the AHL.

Brooks Orpik Signs With Washington Capitals

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After being traded and bought out earlier this summer, Brooks Orpik is heading back to the Washington Capitals. The team announced a one-year $1MM contract for the veteran defenseman, which will also carry up to $500K in performance bonuses.  Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports reports that Orpik will receive $250K once he plays in 20 games and another $250K when he reaches the 40-game plateau.

Orpik, 37, was deemed too expensive to keep around on his previous contract and was attached to the Philipp Grubauer trade with the Colorado Avalanche. That limited the return for the Capitals to just a second-round pick, but also removed Orpik’s $5.5MM contract from the books. That was extremely important given that the Capitals needed to re-sign John Carlson, Michal Kempny and Tom Wilson (among others) this offseason, and may not have been able to fit everyone in under the salary cap. Avalanche GM Joe Sakic was immediately clear that he would either trade Orpik somewhere he was wanted or buy him out to allow him to search for another opportunity, since Colorado didn’t have plans to use him as they continue to get younger and more skilled.

The buyout, which was the eventual course of action, means that Colorado is paying Orpik $1.5MM this year and next to not play for their team and will incur a cap penalty of $2.5MM this season. That doesn’t both them, but was an impossibility for the Capitals while still having enough space to sign everyone else. Another impossibility would be re-signing Orpik after the buyout had they done it themselves, as it is prohibited by the CBA. Not when it’s another team who completes it though, meaning Orpik was free to return to the team that he won a Stanley Cup just this season. With his potential $1.5MM salary this season should he hit all of his performance bonuses, Orpik actually isn’t losing a single dollar from the $4.5MM he was supposed to be paid for 2018-19.

His role with Washington though may be greatly diminished. Though Orpik was a key player for the team in their magical Stanley Cup run, the team obviously has intentions of using Madison Bowey and Christian Djoos more going forward, and with Kempny in town for the whole season there will already be a lack of available minutes. Even past that, Orpik had clearly lost a step during the season and posted some of the poorest possession statistics in the entire league. What he will bring though is a ton of experience and the ability to move in and out of the lineup when necessary. The veteran of 982 regular season games and two Stanley Cups will no doubt play a role in the Capitals encore performance, but it might just be that of a part-time player.

Free Agent Market Quiet For Veteran Defensemen

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Over one hundred free agents have signed a contract with a new team already this off-season. Of that group, just three of those signings are defenseman over the age of 30: the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Jack Johnson, the Vegas Golden Knights’ Nick Holden, and the Dallas Stars’ Roman Polak. While veteran goaltenders and forwards continue to garner major interest on the open market and land substantial contracts, it seems defenders of the same age and experience are not being valued similarly across the league. With the NHL trending more toward a speed and finesse game, older blue liners who depend on positional awareness and seasoned checking ability may no longer be able to compete for jobs with younger players at the position with fresh legs and an open mind.

Of PHR’s Top 50 NHL Unrestricted Free Agents, only nine remain unsigned. Two of those nine players – Rick Nash and Kris Versteeg – may not return to playing pro hockey. Of the seven remaining players, three are defenseman over the age of 30: Dan Hamhuis (#24), Toby Enstrom (#37), and Alexei Emelin (#42).  Good veteran defensemen are out there and make up some of the best available players, but are simply not drawing the interest that was expected. Other unsigned names include Brooks Orpik, Johnny Oduya, Kevin Bieksa, Dennis Seidenberg, Kyle Quincey, Paul Martin, Josh Gorges, and Jason Garrison, none of whom have made considerable noise on the rumor mill. 32-year-old Taylor Chorney even moved on to Switzerland due to a stagnant market for older defensemen.

Will several of these names sign an NHL contract prior to next season? Yes, however it’s unlikely that the majority will find meaningful employment if they haven’t already at this point in the summer. Of the remaining names, the most likely to land jobs are those closer to 30 without as much wear and tear on their bodies. The three players who have already found jobs – Johnson, Holden, and Polak – are all 32 or under. Emelin and Quincey at 32 have good odds, as do Enstrom and Gorges at 33. It would also be a major surprise if 35-year-old Hamhuis went unsigned. However, it would not be a shock to see only those five land a deal. This is a free agent market saturated in experienced, capable veteran defensemen, but few who can keep up with the NHL’s current pace of play. As a result, the supply greatly outweighs the demand and the free agent market for older blue liners could continue to remain quiet.

Washington Capitals Interested In Brooks Orpik Return

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The Washington Capitals moved Brooks Orpik earlier this offseason in order to clear enough cap space to re-sign John Carlson. Orpik was carrying a $5.5MM cap hit, so the team attached him to Philipp Grubauer in a trade with the Colorado Avalanche, only to see him bought out by the acquiring team immediately. Now, after the team re-signed both Carlson and Michal Kempny, they’re considering bringing back the 37-year old Orpik as well on a lower salary. GM Brian MacLellan told reporters including Isabelle Khurshudyan of the Washington Post as much today as the team introduced new head coach Todd Reirden.

The Avalanche were clear when they acquired Orpik that they did it just to lower the price tag on Grubauer, a potential starting goaltender that cost them just a second-round pick. Colorado will be paying the 37-year old defenseman $4MM split over the next two years to not play for them, giving him plenty of incentive to return to the place where he just won a Stanley Cup on a very cheap deal. If Washington does bring back the veteran defenseman, it would likely be at a near-minimum contract given their relatively little cap space and need to still sign Tom Wilson and Madison Bowey as restricted free agents.

Orpik’s play has deteriorated in recent seasons, but he played well in the playoffs for the Capitals and could still be a valuable veteran option for the bottom pairing. With young players like Christian Djoos ready to take on a bigger role, bringing in someone like Orpik as a part-time player may make a lot of sense. Obviously if there are any other teams involved—and it sounds like there is at least mild interest from a few—Orpik could instead go somewhere he’s expected to play every game. If he can’t find that, or if he just wants to go back where he won his latest Stanley Cup, the Capitals seem like they’d be more than willing.

Free Agent Rumor Round-Up: Roussel, Calvert, Hickey, Rieder, Perron, And More

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The Vancouver Canucks are closing in on an agreement with one of their top free agent targets. After Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman revealed that the Canucks were talking to two-way winger Antoine Roussel, colleague Rick Dhaliwal did some digging and discovered that the two sides were close on a long-term deal. Dhaliwal expects Roussel to sign a four-year deal worth more than $3MM per year with Vancouver. The former Dallas Stars brings grit and energy to the Canucks and has previously teased 30+ point potential. If the 28-year-old Frenchman can reach those levels of production while maintaining his notorious physical game, this could be a great signing by GM Jim Benning. However, it is well above what many would have expected Roussel to sign in both term and salary and could just as well be a disaster for Vancouver. Roussel is ranked 38th on PHR’s Top 50 Free Agents list with an estimated contract of two years and just over $2MM AAV.

[RELATED: PHR’s 2018 Top 50 NHL Unrestricted Free Agents]

  • Friedman has also linked the Colorado Avalanche and forward Matt Calvert. TSN’s Darren Dreger is among a few sources who have also heard about that pairing. Calvert, 28, has played his entire career for the Columbus Blue Jackets, but Dreger seems convinced that he is definitely on the move. The versatile, two-way winger would be a nice fit as a bottom-six regular who can fill gaps in the top-six, much like the role that Blake Comeau played for the team.
  • Dreger also reports that interest is high in defenseman Thomas Hickey. A shallow defense market is likely boosting the value of the serviceable defenseman, who is a tough defensive match-up and a dangerous off-the-puck play-maker, but prone to mistake when moving play. Many speculated that the Islanders would turn their attention to re-signing Hickey once the John Tavares situation had sorted itself out, but with Tavares dragging his feet and Hickey in talks with numerous teams, New York may not get that chance. We predicted that Hickey would land with the Montreal Canadiens on a multi-year deal in PHR’s Top 50 Free Agents list.
  • Another player getting a lot of attention is winger Tobias Rieder and the status of his suitors is changing quickly as the price rises. Just earlier today, the Vancouver Canucks were the first team confirmed to be in on Rieder and by now that list has increased dramatically. TSN’s Ryan Rishaug reports that the Calgary Flames, Montreal Canadiens, and Ottawa Senators are also in the running and that the price has gotten so high as to drive the Edmonton Oilers out of the bidding. The Athletic’s Craig Custance confirms the interest from the Canucks, Flames, and Habs and adds the New York Rangers and Florida Panthers to the list of interested parties. All this for a player that the Los Angeles Kings deemed unworthy of a qualifying offer.
  • As expected, David Perron is also one of the hottest names on the free agent market and his former team, the Vegas Golden Knights, are seemingly out of the running. Friedman calls it “very unlikely” that Perron returns to Las Vegas, where he set a career high with 66 points this season. For an idea on the price for Perron, he landed at #5 on the PHR Top 50 Free Agents list with a projected six-year, $32MM contract, which could be a conservative guess.
  • One team that is somewhat surprisingly in talks with Perron is Arizona. Craig Morgan of Arizona Sports details the off-season so far from the Coyotes and lists Perron, James van Riemsdyk, and Michael Grabner as Arizona’s top targets. Morgan also says that the team has not ruled out bringing back veteran forward Brad Richardson as well.
  • The Boston Bruins are moving on from Anton Khudobin and reportedly working fast to find his replacement. Beat writer Matt Kalman and The Boston Globe’s Kevin-Paul Dupont both hear that the team is very interested in Kari Lehtonen as the new backup to Tuukka Rask. With many talented goalies on the market, Lehtonen has flown under the radar somewhat despite incredibly comparable numbers to Khudobin in more starts and superior numbers to the likes of Jonathan Bernier, Cam Ward, Robin Lehner and others. Lehtonen also had the highest Quality Start rate of any of that group in 2017-18. Even here at PHR we may have underestimated Lehtonen, making him our sixth-best goalie among the Top 50 free agents.
  • Unsurprisingly, TSN’s Pierre LeBrun notes that the Washington Capitals have checked in with defenseman Brooks Orpik. A veteran leader and key contributor to their Stanley Cup run, the Capitals faced little choice but to trade Orpik away earlier this off-season in order to clear cap space to maintain their championship roster. Now that he has subsequently been bought out by the Colorado Avalanche, Orpik is fair game and could return to D.C. at a much more affordable rate. However, LeBrun warns that other teams are also in the running and Orpik may not take a discount rate in Washington over more legitimate offers.

 

Brooks Orpik Placed On Waivers, Buyout Expected

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Sunday: CapFriendly reports that Orpik has cleared waivers and his contract will be bought out.

Saturday: The Colorado Avalanche were clear about it when they made the deal, Brooks Orpik wouldn’t be playing for them this season. The team has placed the 37-year old defenseman on waivers and are expected to buy out the final year of his contract. Orpik was acquired yesterday along with Philipp Grubauer in exchange for a second-round draft pick. Colorado will have to face a $2.5MM cap hit next season, and a $1.5MM cap hit in 2019-20.

Orpik’s $5.5MM cap hit was just too much for the Washington Capitals to handle any longer, and needed to be moved out in order for them to re-sign John Carlson. Avalanche GM Joe Sakic admitted immediately that Orpik wasn’t a target for them, and he’d give him the chance to find a job elsewhere. Obviously there wasn’t anyone who would trade for him knowing the team would eventually buy him out, but this definitely brings up some interesting possibilities for Orpik.

The Capitals could theoretically bring Orpik back on a cheaper contract, but other teams should also have interest in the Stanley Cup champion. Orpik has plenty of experience and actually played perhaps his best hockey of the season as the playoffs went on for Washington. Though he is by no means fleet of foot, he can still provide a physical presence on the blue line and help log some tough minutes.

Philipp Grubauer Traded To Colorado Avalanche

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Saturday: TSN’s Renaud Lavoie reports that Grubauer has signed a three-year contract extension, like expected, for around $10MM. The deal will be worth an average of $3.33 AAV, worth $3.35MM, $3.9MM and $2.75MM over the three years, according to Pierre LeBrun.

Friday: The Colorado Avalanche have acquired Philipp Grubauer and Brooks Orpik from the Washington Capitals in exchange for a second-round pick (47th overall) in this year’s draft. This move accomplishes big things for both teams, despite the Capitals only receiving a second-round pick. Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reports that Orpik may not be long for Colorado, as the team will either try to trade him or buy him out.

Capitals GM Brian MacLellan was clear that he would look for an opportunity to send Grubauer somewhere he could become the starting goaltender, or at least work in tandem with one. While Colorado still has Semyon Varlamov under contract, he’ll be an unrestricted free agent next summer and has struggled with injury in recent years. Grubauer is a restricted free agent, but is only 26-years old and could be a long-term solution for the team.

The team is already working on a three-year contract with Grubauer according to LeBrun, giving the team some continuity in net going forward. It’s not clear where his salary will end, but you can bet Colorado didn’t make the deal without having some idea of the demands of Grubauer and agent Allain Roy.

This all but guarantees that Jonathan Bernier will not be returning to the Avalanche, but does solidify their goaltending situation. Orpik comes as a pure salary dump by the Capitals, as getting rid of his $5.5MM cap hit will help them offer John Carlson a fair market deal. Orpik played a big part in the recent Stanley Cup Championship, but he’s clearly slowing down and losing his touch as the league gets quicker and quicker.

The Avalanche are committed to speed all over their roster, which makes the flip or buyout of Orpik extremely unsurprising. Led by Tyson Barrie and Samuel Girard on the blue line, there isn’t much room for a bruising defender like the 37-year old Stanley Cup champion.

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