Brooks_Orpik_Stanley_Cup_Parade

Photograph credit Geoff Shush-USA TODAY Sports

Brooks Orpik is the only returning member of the Washington Capitals roster that has defended a Stanley Loving cup title.

His first opportunity came later on winning a championship with the rival Penguins in 2009. At present he gets to practise it again ix years subsequently.

Except, it virtually did not happen. If at least one team or others had their manner, Orpik would not be back with the Capitals.

Orpik was traded along with Philipp Grubauer to Colorado shortly after the Caps' title run in June. Information technology was a deal heralded past many in the hockey earth as brilliant by General Manager Brian MacLellan.

Not considering "Mac" wanted to give Orpik up, but considering dealing the 37-year-erstwhile defenseman freed up $5.v million in cap space. The move allowed the Caps to bring dorsum central players, like John Carlson, Devante Smith-Pelly and Michal Kempny.

Colorado, before long afterwards, bought out Orpik's contract at his request, and because of a healthy human relationship betwixt Orpik and Avalanche GM Joe Sakic, Orpik became a gratis agent.

Offers came rolling in, but Orpik chose to render to Washington because "family-wise," Orpik told 106.7 The Fan on Tuesday, it was "where we kinda had to exist."

"I can't really talk about much to be honest with you lot. It's kind of like an agreement with the league that I'yard not really immune to talk much nearly it," Orpik said, citing an NHL investigation into the affair that MacLellan first brought up last week.

"At that place was a lot of stuff behind the scenes that didn't really have much to do with hockey that factored into me coming dorsum hither," Orpik answered honestly. "Mine was more than a family decision, more than information technology was a hockey decision. That'due south something that I kind of had to talk to the league about."

"Financially, there was better opportunities in other places, simply family-wise, this is kind of where we had to be for a couple different reasons," he said. "Obviously we like everything about the area and the squad and the group of guys we have here. Hopefully information technology worked out for the all-time here. Nosotros'll encounter. I guess that'll play out. This is kind of where we wanted to be and both sides fabricated it happen."

Orpik and the Caps looked guilty on the surface, but subsequently a thorough investigation, which included documented proof on both their parts, the NHL was finally convinced there wasn't a nefarious plot to return to Washington at a cheaper cost, circumventing the hard salary cap the league employs.

"They put usa through a tough questioning," MacLellan told reporters. "We did everything above board and we answered the questions honestly. At that place was no repercussions, so I think we're good."

Both the Capitals and Orpik feel that the controversy was initiated by some other team, if not multiple teams. "I would assume at that place are some teams are involved," is all MacLellan would permit.

The hunch hither is that the Penguins were one of those teams. Mayhap former head omnibus Barry Trotz and his new team, the Islanders, were as well?

Either way, Orpik is back in Washington despite not seeming entirely comfy with the fact that he was traded in the start place, later on playing every game in the playoffs and racking up a +17 to pb the NHL.

Orpik played in 81 regular-season games last year, and he'll probable be paired with the young simply talented Christian Djoos, who he was paired with during the Caps' Stanley Loving cup Playoffs run.

"He's super humble. At the aforementioned time, he'southward pretty confident in his abilities," Orpik said of Djoos. "He doesn't really show that, just cause of the kind of a guy he is. For a young guy, he does stuff with the puck that yous really tin can't teach. Especially patience. Usually with younger guys, they get it and it'due south kind of a hot potato – they only want to become rid of information technology right away."

It might be the last run Orpik has in the NHL, despite receiving some multi-twelvemonth offers. Just he says going "year-past-yr is preferable," considering he doesn't want to feel an obligation or delivery to more than than merely the now.

In other words, he doesn't want to be the NFL version of Vontae Davis. He as well doesn't want to be anywhere but here in Washington, and that's good for the Caps.