Hurricanes sign Orlov to 2-year deal with $7.75M AAV

The Carolina Hurricanes landed arguably the biggest free agent available, signing defenseman Dmitry Orlov to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $7.75 million, the team announced Saturday.

Orlov recorded 12 goals and 23 assists in 76 games between the Washington Capitals and Boston Bruins last season, averaging 22:33 of ice time per contest. He was excellent in the postseason despite Boston's surprising first-round exit, tallying eight assists in seven games.

He's only 5-foot-11, but he's 214 pounds and doesn't shy away from physicality, registering 137 hits in 2022-23. Orlov also posted terrific underlying numbers over the last few seasons.

Dmitry Orlov, signed 2x$7.8M by CAR, is top-pairing puck-moving two-way left defenceman. He's equally happy carrying or passing the puck in transition and is elite at setting up linemates in the offensive zone. Plays differently than Canes defenders usually do. #LetsGoCanes pic.twitter.com/7bhYZZptKf

- JFresh (@JFreshHockey) July 1, 2023

Orlov joins a Hurricanes blue line that already features Jaccob Slavin and Brady Skjei on the left side and Brent Burns and Brett Pesce on the right. Skjei and Pesce are both entering the last year of their deals, and Pesce, in particular, has been the subject of trade rumors. Orlov shoots left, but he can play both sides.

The 31-year-old spent 11 seasons with the Capitals after the club selected him in the second round of the 2009 draft. He won a Stanley Cup with Washington in 2018.

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