Brooks Orpik is back in D.C.
On Tuesday, the veteran defenseman signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Washington Capitals, a team he helped to the franchise's first Stanley Cup championship this spring.
The 37-year-old was dealt to the Colorado Avalanche along with goaltender Philipp Grubauer for the 47th overall pick in last month's draft in Dallas. However, the Avalanche subsequently bought out the final year of his contract, which would have paid $5.5 million, making him an unrestricted free agent.
Orpik can make an additional $500,000 in performance bonuses, according to the Capitals, who effectively saved $4.5 million on a player who was one of their top six defensemen.
The Penguins' first-round pick in 2000 and a member of the Pittsburgh's 2009 championship team, Orpik has played the last four seasons with Washington. He had 10 assists and was a minus-9 with 68 penalty minutes last season for the Capitals while serving as an alternate captain.
