PITTSBURGH, Pa.—With Dmitry Orlov, Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov sharing the same dressing room, hotel and team bus over the past week, the topic of Orlov’s sticky contract situation in Washington has naturally come up from time-to-time.
“We try to talk to him a little bit, but he has his own mind. He’s a grown man,” Ovechkin said Wednesday at CONSOL Energy Center, where Russia faces Canada in the teams’ final World Cup of Hockey tune-up.
Orlov said earlier this week that he wants to re-sign with the Capitals but the 25-year-old defenseman also acknowledged that he’s not sure how things will unfold. This much, however, is becoming increasingly clear: with Washington’s training camp set to open Sept. 23, there’s a growing sense of urgency.
“I give him my advice,” Ovechkin said. “I think they know whether they are going to sign or not.”
Ovechkin did not elaborate on his conversations with Orlov.
“Obviously,” the Capitals’ captain continued, “I want him to stay on our team because he’s a solid player who is not a rookie and has experience.”
As a restricted free agent, Orlov has limited options if he does not re-sign in Washington, which, according to www.generalfanager.com, has about $3.5 million in cap space. One option could be to play for Moscow CSKA, the KHL team that owns Orlov’s negotiating rights and is believed to have money to spend.
Barry Trotz recently said that he has big plans for Orlov, whom the Capitals’ coaching staff envisions receiving top-4 minutes this season. But for that to occur, Orlov must first put pen to paper. And even his close friends don’t know if that’s going to happen.
“We talk a little bit,” Kuznetsov said. “He ask me questions, I give him questions, that kind of talk. I will always [be] happy if he do sign with us. I want him [to]. But that’s his life.”
Ovechkin added: “I hope he’s going to stay. We have a pretty good team and he’s a big part of it.”
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