Carolina Hurricanes sign defenseman Dmitry Orlov on two-year contract at $7.75 million AAV

Daily Faceoff’s No. 1 free agent is off the board. The Carolina Hurricanes have nabbed coveted UFA defenseman Dmitry Orlov on a two-year contract carrying a $7.75 million cap hit. Orlov, 31, cashes in for the largest payday of his career but sets himself up for another big one in two years when the salary cap will be significantly higher.

Orlov had a banner stretch run to his 2022-23 season after the Boston Bruins acquired him from the Washington Capitals leading up to the trade deadline. Orlov, earning the nickname ‘Orr-lov,” quickly endeared himself to the Bruins faithful, busting out for 17 points in 23 games as part of team that won 65 games, the most by any team in the regular season in NHL history.

Despite Orlov’s offensive explosion, he hasn’t carried a reputation as a dominant offensive defenseman during his 11-year NHL career. He’s better known for his well-rounded contributions as a blueliner who lacks any particular weakness. He brings some decent mobility and puck movement, landing between 22 and 36 points in each of his eight seasons. Orlov plays with some physicality and is a fairly prolific shot blocker to boot. He won a Stanley Cup with the Capitals in 2017-18, playing on a shutdown pair with Matt Niskanen.

Orlov joins what appears to be a stacked and crowded D-corps in Carolina, which already boasts Jaccob Slavin, Brent Burns, Brady Skjei and Brett Pesce. The Canes are already an elite defensive team; this past season, they allowed the fewest shots and scoring chances in the NHL at 5-on-5. With Max Pacioretty leaving to sign with the Capitals and Andrei Svechnikov still working his way back from a torn ACL, the Canes would appear to still have some holes to fill at forward. Time will tell if GM Don Waddell makes any more significant moves.