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  6. article_body => "<p>Friday's trade with the Colorado Avalanche seemed to mark the end of Brooks Orpik's time with the Washington Capitals. But that may not actually be the case.<\/p>\n<p>Trading away Orpik also meant trading away his $5.5 million cap hit. That is not an insignificant amount of money especially for a team trying to re-sign defenseman John Carlson to a big-money contract.<\/p>\n<p>But Orpik will not be playing out the final year of his contract in Colorado. The Avalanche placed Orpik on unconditional waivers Saturday for the purpose of a buyout, <a href=\"https:\/\/nhl.nbcsports.com\/2018\/06\/23\/free-agency-looms-for-orpik-as-avalanche-ready-buyout\/\" target=\"_blank\">according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CapFriendly\/status\/1010567440936337408\/photo\/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&amp;ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhl.nbcsports.com%2F2018%2F06%2F23%2Ffree-agency-looms-for-orpik-as-avalanche-ready-buyout%2F\" target=\"_blank\">CapFriendly<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CapFriendly\/status\/1010567440936337408\/photo\/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&amp;ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhl.nbcsports.com%2F2018%2F06%2F23%2Ffree-agency-looms-for-orpik-as-avalanche-ready-buyout%2F\" target=\"_blank\">&nbsp;has the details of the buyout<\/a>. The Avalanche will pay Orpik $3 million and take a cap hit of $2.5 million in the 2018-19 season and $1.5 million in the 2019-20 season.<\/p>\n<p>So why would Colorado agree to take Orpik just to buy him out and take on dead cap space? Because by acquiring him, it lowered the cost of the Grubauer trade.<\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/twitter.com\/FriedgeHNIC\/status\/1010299613033607168\n<p>What this means for Brooks Orpik is that he will become a free agent, free to sign with anyone for the upcoming season. Including Washington.<\/p>\n<p><blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Caps?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Caps<\/a> GM Brian MacLellan says \u201cwe\u2019re open to\u201d bringing back Brooks Orpik if <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Avs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Avs<\/a> buy him out and the cost is right.<\/p>&mdash; Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SWhyno\/status\/1010363192390938624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 23, 2018<\/a><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n<p>For a 37-year-old defenseman who does not boast great mobility or speed, a $5.5 million cap hit was a bit too steep for the Caps who were very close to the cap ceiling last season and who need that extra money to re-sign their free agents. But the team did value Orpik's leadership and that could be especially important as young defensemen Madison Bowey and Christian Djoos continue developing plus prospects Jonas Siegenthaler, Lucas Johansen and Connor Hobbs all try to work themselves into contention for a spot on the NHL roster.<\/p>\n<p>If Orpik does return, it will be&nbsp;a masterstroke for general manager Brian MacLellan. MacLellan freed up a lot of cap space to re-sign Carlson without having to buy out Orpik's contract, but could still possibly keep him on the roster at a much-reduced cost.<\/p>\n<p>After a strong playoff performance, there may be other teams vying for Orpik's services next season. Getting traded&nbsp;to get bought out likely isn't a good feeling, but considering he just won a Stanley Cup in Washington, the defensive guru Todd Reirden is expected to be promoted to head coach and that re-signing with the Caps would mean not moving his family for what could very possibly and will very likely be the last contract of his NHL career, there are a lot of reasons why it would make sense for both the team and the player if Orpik stayed with the Caps.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>MORE CAPITALS NEWS:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>So close:&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/capitals\/gm-brian-maclellan-capitals-are-close-re-signing-john-carlson\" target=\"_blank\">MacLellan says Caps close on&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/capitals\/gm-brian-maclellan-capitals-are-close-re-signing-john-carlson\" target=\"_blank\">new<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/capitals\/gm-brian-maclellan-capitals-are-close-re-signing-john-carlson\" target=\"_blank\">&nbsp;deal for Carlson<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>The new guy:<\/strong>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/capitals\/capitals-go-whl-again-select-defenseman-alex-alexeyev-first-round-pick\" target=\"_blank\">Caps draft Alex Alexeyev<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>Blockbuster:<\/strong>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/capitals\/capitals-deal-philipp-grubauer-and-brooks-orpik-ahead-draft\" target=\"_blank\">Caps trade Grubauer, Orpik<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>The new guys:&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/capitals\/2018-nhl-draft-caps-add-7-prospects-4-whl\" target=\"_blank\">Meet the Caps' 2018 draft picks<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n"
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Capitals

Capitals

Friday's trade with the Colorado Avalanche seemed to mark the end of Brooks Orpik's time with the Washington Capitals. But that may not actually be the case.

Trading away Orpik also meant trading away his $5.5 million cap hit. That is not an insignificant amount of money especially for a team trying to re-sign defenseman John Carlson to a big-money contract.

But Orpik will not be playing out the final year of his contract in Colorado. The Avalanche placed Orpik on unconditional waivers Saturday for the purpose of a buyout, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.

CapFriendly has the details of the buyout. The Avalanche will pay Orpik $3 million and take a cap hit of $2.5 million in the 2018-19 season and $1.5 million in the 2019-20 season.

So why would Colorado agree to take Orpik just to buy him out and take on dead cap space? Because by acquiring him, it lowered the cost of the Grubauer trade.

https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1010299613033607168

What this means for Brooks Orpik is that he will become a free agent, free to sign with anyone for the upcoming season. Including Washington.

 

For a 37-year-old defenseman who does not boast great mobility or speed, a $5.5 million cap hit was a bit too steep for the Caps who were very close to the cap ceiling last season and who need that extra money to re-sign their free agents. But the team did value Orpik's leadership and that could be especially important as young defensemen Madison Bowey and Christian Djoos continue developing plus prospects Jonas Siegenthaler, Lucas Johansen and Connor Hobbs all try to work themselves into contention for a spot on the NHL roster.

If Orpik does return, it will be a masterstroke for general manager Brian MacLellan. MacLellan freed up a lot of cap space to re-sign Carlson without having to buy out Orpik's contract, but could still possibly keep him on the roster at a much-reduced cost.

After a strong playoff performance, there may be other teams vying for Orpik's services next season. Getting traded to get bought out likely isn't a good feeling, but considering he just won a Stanley Cup in Washington, the defensive guru Todd Reirden is expected to be promoted to head coach and that re-signing with the Caps would mean not moving his family for what could very possibly and will very likely be the last contract of his NHL career, there are a lot of reasons why it would make sense for both the team and the player if Orpik stayed with the Caps.

MORE CAPITALS NEWS: