The Boston Bruins may be sitting comfortably in first place overall on the Bettman Tour, but that hasn’t stopped general manager Don Sweeney from adding even more depth to his roster by acquiring Dmitry Orlov. and Garnet Hathaway of the Washington Capitals on Thursday.
In return, the Bruins traded forward Craig Smith and first (2023), second (2025) and third (2024) round picks.
MAIN VIDEO: Alexandre Picard and Jean-Sébastien Giguère comment on the transaction to “JiC”.
The Capitals will withhold half of Orlov’s salary. The Minnesota Wild is also involved in the transaction, having agreed to absorb 25% of the Russian defenseman’s contract in order to get their hands on a fifth-round choice from the Bruins in 2023.
Finally, Russian prospect Andrei Svetlakov, Wild selection in 2017, is also heading to Boston.
A member of the “Caps” since his debut in the National Hockey League in 2011-2012, Orlov is spending the last year of a pact bringing him $5.1 million annually.
The 31-year-old has 19 points in 43 games this season. He played 686 games with the American capital team, amassing 256 points and lifting the Stanley Cup in 2018.
According to the specialized site The Fourth Period, it was following fruitless contract extension negotiations that general manager Brian MacLellan decided to trade Orlov.
“This transaction allows us to add draft picks, rejuvenate our team and replenish our roster,” MacLellan said in a statement. This season has been difficult due to the injuries suffered by our best players. We are thus able to use some of our elements to refuel our team and build a formation that will be competitive in the long term.
Heading into Thursday night’s games, the Capitals were just two points behind the Florida Panthers and the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Hathaway, meanwhile, led the Capitals in penalty minutes (52) and hits (198) this season. He has nine goals and 16 points in 59 games.
Peter Laviolette’s troupe can count on the arrival of Craig Smith to replace him in his support units. The former Nashville Predators’ star has faded since his fifth and final 20+-goal season, in 2018-19. He’s been limited to 10 points in 42 games this season and commands a salary of $3.1 million through the end of the campaign.