Livescore
The best team in the NHL got better. A lot better.
The Bruins made their first move at the 2023 trade deadline, acquiring defenseman Dmitry Orlov and forward Garnet Hathway from the Capitals in exchange for forward Craig Smith and three draft picks, including Boston’s 2023 first-round pick.
Bruins general manager Don Sweeney moved quickly, but efficiently when the news hit that the Capitals were shopping Orlov. Less than an hour after it was announced Orlov would be held out for “trade-related reasons”, Sweeney had put together a suitable package for Caps general manager Brian MacLellan.
Orlov, 31, is a pending free agent this summer. He has 19 points (three goals, 16 assists) in 43 games played this season. He also has 62 blocked shots and 88 hits while averaging 22:43 time on ice.
The 2018 Stanley Cup champion gives Boston a boost on the blue line, making one of the best defensive teams in hockey even scarier on the back end.
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The Sporting News gives out grades to the Bruins, Capitals and Wild for the deal.
Dmitry Orlov trade grades
- Bruins receive: D Dmitry Orlov, F Garnet Hathaway, F Andrei Svetlakov
- Capitals receive: F Craig Smith, 2023 first-round pick, 2024 third-round pick, 2025 second-round pick
- Wild receive: 2025 fifth-round pick (Bruins)
Bruins: A+
There were reports that Boston was looking at sending a first- and third-round pick the Blue Jackets’ way for defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov. If that deal was made, it surely would not have resulted in the same grade. (The Bruins would have been lucky to receive a D+).
Instead, with the pivot to Orlov, the Bruins get a much better player than Gavrikov for roughly the same price. Orlov has a much higher offensive ceiling than the Blue Jackets defender, as he can move the puck up well in the transition game. He can eat up minutes and strengthens the Bruins’ top two defensive pairings.
In addition, the Bruins get one of the best fourth-liners in the game and someone that is sure to make an impact come playoff time in Hathaway.
The 31-year-old is a thorn in the side of every team he plays against. The Bruins know that better than anyone. Hathaway hits, mucks it up, forechecks hard and brings energy night in and night out. The fans in Boston are going to love him.
Boston also dumps the Craig Smith contract, which was critical for the financials of the deal to work. Sweeney said that between the double retention on Orlov’s contract and Smith’s money off their hands, they don’t have to make any corresponding moves to get under the cap. In the salary-cap era, that is massive for a contender.
Capitals: B-
I mentioned how things progressed quite quickly on the Orlov deal. While that worked in favor of Boston, it may have prohibited Washington from getting a better return. Considering the reported price for Gavrikov, it’s a bit disappointing to see the combination of Orlov and Hathaway not go for much more.
Stocking up on draft picks, especially another first-rounder in 2023, is a big get for the Caps. But when looking at other recent deadline moves for defensemen, almost all involved a prospect going back the other way.
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Just look at last year. There was Justin Barron in the Arturri Lehkonen trade between the Avalanche and Canadiens. Ty Smilanic was included in the Panthers-Canadiens deal for Ben Chiarot. There was also Drew Helleson involved when the Ducks traded Josh Manson to the Avalanche.
Washington doesn’t have an extensive prospect pool. Neither does Boston, but the fact that no young players went the Capitals’ way leaves fans wanting a bit more.
I give a B- because I give credit to MacLellan for shifting the team’s deadline plan. The club has been slipping in the standings and at the moment, the best-case scenario was going to be getting in as a Wild Card team and hoping to not have another early exit.
MacLellan can gather picks and players to retool the team for next year with all the free agents he has. It was 11 before the deal with Boston, so now he has nine UFAs he could potentially move. It’s likely not what the fans wanted or expected, but it’s a very good management strategy considering where the team is at.
Wild: B+
General manager Bill Guerin made it known the Wild could use their bank to help be a third-party broke in deals. He did it with the Ryan O’Reilly trade between the Blues and Maple Leafs and did it again in the Capitals-Bruins deal.
Minnesota is taking on 25% of Orlov’s cap hit in exchange for a fifth-round pick from the Bruins. It may not be much, but just remember that the team’s superstar, Kirill Kaprizov, was a fifth-round pick in 2015.
Judd Brackett, the Wild’s director for amateur scouting, has built one of the league’s best prospect pools. Giving him another selection to work with just for money that wasn’t going to be used? That’s a win.
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