Dmitry Orlov isn’t expected to be back with the Carolina Hurricanes next season.
According to The Athletic’s James Mirtle, Orlov is likely to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 after playing two seasons with the Hurricanes. The 33-year-old defenseman signed a two-year, $15.5 million contract with Carolina during the 2023 offseason.
“The Hurricanes are obviously going to be in the Marner sweepstakes, as adding a superstar is their top need and they were pushing hard for him at the deadline,” Mirtle writes. “But they’ll also have a hole for a top-four defenseman, given Dmitry Orlov isn’t expected back and Brent Burns is a 40-year-old unrestricted free agent.”
Orlov recorded 28 points (6g, 22a) in 76 games for the Hurricanes last season, following up a 26-point (6g, 20a) performance during the 2023-24 campaign. He played on average 20:00 of ice time per game under head coach Rod Brind’Amour this past season, ranking third among the team’s defensemen and fourth on the team overall.
The Hurricanes are Orlov’s third NHL team after he spent his first 12 seasons in the league with the Washington Capitals before being traded to the Boston Bruins at the 2023 trade deadline. Orlov’s best offensive season came during the 2021-22 campaign, when he posted 35 points (12g, 23a) in 76 games for the Caps.
Per @AFPAnalytics, Orlov’s next contract is projected to be a three-year deal worth $5.8 million per season against the salary cap. The Hurricanes are set to have just over $26.7 million in cap room this summer, but have multiple highly touted young defenders, like Alexander Nikishin and Scott Morrow, ready for bigger, full-time roles next season.
According to Orlov’s Russian agent, Shumi Babaev, the veteran blueliner has no intention of departing for the KHL. Babaev told Match TV’s Vladimir Pushkarev that Orlov will be seeking a deal with another NHL team. CSKA Moscow holds Orlov’s KHL rights, having acquired them from Metallurg Novokuznetsk in 2013.
