If the Boston Bruins intend to keep Dmitry Orlov past this season, it could require some serious roster shuffling in the summer. Orlov has fit like a glove since coming over to the Bruins in a pre-deadline deal, but the defenseman is a pending UFA that is looking at a hefty raise on his next contract. In fact, the ask was rumored to be one of the main reasons the Washington Capitals moved on from the red-hot blueliner in the first place.
According to Kevin Paul Dupont of The Boston Globe: “Word around the Capitals was that Orlov, though well-liked and appreciated, shot too high in asking price and term (between 6-8 years) for a new deal to stay in Washington. He will turn 32 a few weeks after the UFA period opens July 1.”
What Is The Issue For the Bruins?
As Dupont points out, it’s hard to envision the Bruins will have room to fit in what could be a long-term contract worth as much or more than $5.1 million per season. With Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm both signed to rich, long-term deals, there’s not much room for another hefty blue-line contract, regardless of how good Orlov is playing and how well he’s fit since his arrival.
The Bruins have just over $10 million in cap space for next season, but they have goaltender Jeremy Swayman as a 24-year-old pending RFA and also need to sign new deals with six pending UFA forwards and two UFA defensemen. If Orlov comes in at around $5 million (and that might be generous), that will eat half of the remaining cap space the Bruins have to work with. Even if the Bruins can get Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci signed to team-friendly deals again, GM Don Sweeney might have just a shade over $2 million to fit everyone else in.
What Is The Solution for the Bruins?
Dupont suggests that multiple trades might be the way the Bruins have to go if their thought is to keep Orlov around. He writes that when you take a closer look at the blue line corps, the most logical solution might be to trade Brandon Carlo or Matt Grzelcyk. Carlo makes $4.1 million over the next four seasons after this one, while Grezelcyk is owed $3.68 million in 2023-24.
In fact, if the Bruins are looking at keeping Orlov and players like Tyler Bertuzzi and/or Garnet Hathaway, the team might need to move both Carlo and Grzelcyk. One has to ask if that’s a hefty price to pay to keep a 32-year-old around and into the years of his career where he’s…
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