Orpik back with Caps on one-year contract
The Washington Capitals announced Tuesday that free-agent defenceman Brooks Orpik will return to the team on a one-year contract that carries a salary cap hit of $1 million (all figures U.S.).
The move ensures the Capitals will bring back all six defencemen that played on the Stanley Cup-winning team, including Michal Kempny and John Carlson, who both re-signed with the team earlier this off-season.
The Capitals had traded Orpik to the Colorado Avalanche, along with goaltender Philipp Grubauer, earlier this summer to clear his then
$5.5-million cap hit from their books, in part to help re-sign Kempny and Carlson. The Avalanche elected to buy out the 37-year-old defenceman, making him a free agent.
“Brooks has been a valuable player and a great mentor for our young players, and we are thrilled to bring him back to our organization,” Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan said.
“We feel his leadership and competitiveness on and off the ice will be welcomed back to our group.”
The team has been successful in keeping most of their championship roster in place, save Grubauer and fourth-line centre Jay Beagle, who signed with the Vancouver Canucks.
After the Orpik signing, the Capitals have roughly $7 million in cap space to work with as they attempt to finalize an extension with winger Tom Wilson.