Capitals sign Brooks Orpik- 5 yrs, $27.5 million

[Guest]

The Washington Capitals had one clear goal in free agency this season and that was to get some help on defense. It certainly cost them.

The Capitals targeted Brooks Orpik and signed him to a big deal: five years and $27.5 million. That's an awfuly lot of money for a 34-year-old defenseman who has been heading in the wrong direction for a while.

"We are very excited to welcome Brooks to Washington," Caps GM Brian MacLellan. "We feel Brooks' leadership and experience will greatly enhance our defense for years to come. Brooks plays tough minutes against the opposition's best players."

Orpik might play tough minutes but he's been a negative possession player for the Penguins over the past three years, finishing last season with a 46.2 Corsi (a rating that measures shot attempts for/against while a player is on the ice).

Orpik is certainly physical, but he is not the fleetest of foot defenseman in the league and that's not going to get any better with him already in his mid-30s at this point in his career.

Frankly, at that price this deal already looks like a bad one for the Capitals in Year 1, just wait until the contract is a few years in. Orpik is the type of defenseman that is slowly disappearing in the NHL; big and a bit slow. Certainly he won't contribute offense as he has just 13 goals and 119 assists in his 703-game NHL career, all in Pittsburgh.

We'll see how heavily Barry Trotz will rely on Orpik on the back end where they already have Karl Alzner, John Carlson and Mike Green.

http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/eye-on-...rs-275-million

We needed the help on defense, but this could very well go down as the worst contract of the off-season. This looks like the Hamrlik signing from a few years ago all over again. I guess MacLellan and Trotz see a window they can pursue for a few years.

[leaffan]

Eek is all I can say. Not the worst contract of the day (engelland won that one) but this is a scary deal.

[Guest]

This, and the Niskanen signing as well. The good thing going for the Capitals is that they have their position coach from Pittsburgh on staff this year.

Definitely took some risk with both, but the reward is great if it works out. This was our position of need, and I hope they end up working out. If not, we're stuck with them for quite some time.

[Guest]

Ultimately, the Capitals are better today after adding Niskanen and Orpik, but that should never be up for debate when committing close to $11-million annually to two players. What has to matter is how much better they are, whether the money spent is worth it and what the fall-out will be. The Capitals don't have to make any moves --- they are under the $69-million salary cap -- but they have $28,762,500 committed to their defence, according to Cap Geek.

The only teams spending in that neighbourhood for their defence are Philadelphia and Tampa Bay, who have Chris Pronger and Mattias Ohlund, respectively, on long-term injured reserve. St. Louis and Chicago are spending in the $24-million-to-$25-million on their respective bluelines right now, so it's hard to imagine that the Capitals maintain the status quo, leaving a hole at second line centre while sticking with the most expensive defence corps in the league.

We will see what other moves the Capitals have in mind this summer but, right now, it appears that they spent a lot of money to get better in the short-term; signing deals that appear to have more downside risk because of the long terms involved.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=456272

[warrior9669]

Eek is all I can say. Not the worst contract of the day (engelland won that one) but this is a scary deal.

Totally agree with this. Engelland? Just don't get it. Brooks will be good for the caps, just can't believe the money.

[Guest]

Totally agree with this. Engelland? Just don't get it. Brooks will be good for the caps, just can't believe the money.

In FA you have to spend, the average value doesn't kill me so much as the years. Five years will take him to age 39, and we all can tell he's not going to be very effective then because of his physical playing style. Hell, Orpik may even be a buyout candidate.

[leaffan]

In FA you have to spend, the average value doesn't kill me so much as the years. Five years will take him to age 39, and we all can tell he's not going to be very effective then because of his physical playing style. Hell, Orpik may even be a buyout candidate.

Compliance buy outs are done now so if he gets bought out the caps will be sitting with something like 2.5mil for a few years.

The over spending by some teams still gets me. As a fan we sit there and watch these millionaire and billionaires whine and cry over revenue and money then they approve their GMs spending like this. Just seems like they forget what they did before. 6 more years and we'll be at another lock out for sure.

[Guest]

Compliance buy outs are done now so if he gets bought out the caps will be sitting with something like 2.5mil for a few years.

The over spending by some teams still gets me. As a fan we sit there and watch these millionaire and billionaires whine and cry over revenue and money then they approve their GMs spending like this. Just seems like they forget what they did before. 6 more years and we'll be at another lock out for sure.

I know, I think at that age if his body isn't holding up he's either on LTIR or he's bought out if he can skate but just can't perform.

I get the overspending here, the Capitals have been frugal in free agency under McPhee, and in a certain light, I like MacLellan being aggressive here and spending on what we need. I see your point with many other teams giving out bad contracts, and we will be in the same situation again soon enough. It's like the owners don't really care, and it's a shame. I really hope if they do lock out again, the KHL can take a good chunk of players.

[leaffan]

I know, I think at that age if his body isn't holding up he's either on LTIR or he's bought out if he can skate but just can't perform.

I get the overspending here, the Capitals have been frugal in free agency under McPhee, and in a certain light, I like MacLellan being aggressive here and spending on what we need. I see your point with many other teams giving out bad contracts, and we will be in the same situation again soon enough. It's like the owners don't really care, and it's a shame. I really hope if they do lock out again, the KHL can take a good chunk of players.

KHL is really struggling these days. I think they've lost a couple teams due to bad finances.

NHL teams though have been ruthless in terms of spending over the last few years. Toronto is still technically paying for 2 or 3 coaches and just finished paying a player who has been retired for 8 years now. Vancouver will be paying for 3 head coaches for the next 2 years. The Islanders are in the final year of paying 3mil + for yashins bought out contract lol.

[Guest]

KHL is really struggling these days. I think they've lost a couple teams due to bad finances.

NHL teams though have been ruthless in terms of spending over the last few years. Toronto is still technically paying for 2 or 3 coaches and just finished paying a player who has been retired for 8 years now. Vancouver will be paying for 3 head coaches for the next 2 years. The Islanders are in the final year of paying 3mil + for yashins bought out contract lol.

Yashin's contract is on the same level of Bobby Bonilla, it was awful how it's prorated.

[warrior9669]

In FA you have to spend, the average value doesn't kill me so much as the years. Five years will take him to age 39, and we all can tell he's not going to be very effective then because of his physical playing style. Hell, Orpik may even be a buyout candidate.

orpik will be a buyout. love the guy but the money is going to screw them.