For now, at least, the Capitals have decided to keep rookie defenseman Dmitry Orlov after the latest round of cuts trimmed the blueline to seven players plus injured John Erskine.
Forward Chris Bourque was also returned to AHL Hershey along with defensemen Sean Collins and Patrick McNeill. That’s a bit of a surprise. Orlov, 20, is an offensive defenseman entering his first full North American season. You’d think he needs time at AHL Hershey to develop. Bears coach Mark French said as much earlier in training camp.
“That’s a decision we definitely have to talk to [general manager] George [McPhee] about,” Washington coach Bruce Boudreau said. “You got two trains of thought – is it better for [Orlov] to play or is it better for him just to practice and learn [in the NHL]. It’s something that I’m sure will be discussed.”
This is an issue because Erskine still isn’t healthy after summer shoulder surgery. At about the five-month mark he will be reexamined by team physician Dr. Ben Shaffer. And, yes, Erskine shed his orange no-contact jersey for Thursday’s practice. But there wasn’t really any contact at all the day after a road preseason game in Nashville. Erskine isn’t done with the orange jersey yet. And that leaves an opening for a No. 7 defenseman if he isn’t cleared soon.
“It takes time to heal and it’s not fully healed yet and ready for contact,” Erskine. “It’s something I’ve got to deal with, and hopefully I’ll be cleared in a couple weeks.”
That seems to completely rule out Erskine for opening night and you have to think at this point he’s a lock to go on long-term injured reserve just given the timing. Opening night is next Saturday. Hard to believe a player could get cleared and back into game action right away. You need a few practices, at least, and maybe a rehab stint with AHL Hershey.
But that doesn’t guarantee Orlov anything, either. The Caps could always go with six defensemen to start the season. Collins would make sense for a No. 7 as a veteran who at least played in the Stanley Cup playoffs last season. He has to clear waivers first, though. We’ll find out at noon tomorrow. Boudreau said Orlov’s presence right now only guarantees that he’s expected to get one more preseason game with the team – likely Sunday against Chicago. But he’s made an early impression.
“Well, I think [Orlov] has a lot of work to do like a lot of young guys do,” Boudreau said. “But we saw something last night – he’s got god-given talent that you can’t invent. We thought he played a lot more secure with the puck and safe against a team that’s one of the better teams that you’re going to see in the NHL.”
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