The Sharks have further added to their defense with two transactions that put them safely over the salary cap floor, signing Dmitry Orlov to a two-year contract and claiming Nick Leddy off waivers from the St. Louis Blues.
Dmitry Orlov's contract carries an average annual value of $6.5 million, a bit of an overpayment but a necessary one for the Sharks for this solid two-way defenseman. Last season with the Carolina Hurricanes, Orlov recorded six goals, 22 assists, and 28 points in 76 games. He ranked third on the Hurricanes in points among defensemen and was Carolina's team leader in hits with 101. He also compiled a career-best six-game assist streak from November 17-27, recorded his 300th NHL point on October 15, and skated in his 800th NHL game on October 31. In addition, Orlov registered four assists and 39 hits in 15 Stanley Cup Playoff games with the Hurricanes in their most recent playoff run to the Eastern Conference Final last season. In total, Dmitry Orlov has 76 goals, 251 assists, and 327 points in 867 games with the Washington Capitals, Boston Bruins, and Carolina Hurricanes, along with four goals, 37 assists, and 41 points in 107 Stanley Cup Playoff games and a Stanley Cup with the Capitals in 2018. He has averaged at least 20 minutes of ice time in six of his last eight seasons and appeared in ten consecutive playoff seasons since 2015-16.
Nick Leddy recorded two goals, three assists, and five points in 31 regular season games with the Blues last season, along with one assist in seven Stanley Cup Playoff games. In 2023-24, Leddy recorded 28 points to finish third among Blues defensemen in points that season. His best season so far came in 2015-16 as a member of the New York Islanders, in which he set career highs of 11 goals, 35 assists, and 46 points. In total, Nick Leddy has 75 goals, 341 assists, and 416 points in 1,042 NHL regular season games with the Chicago Blackhawks, New York Islanders, Detroit Red Wings, and St. Louis Blues. He also has eight goals, 31 assists, and 39 points in 137 Stanley Cup Playoff games, along with a Stanley Cup ring with the Blackhawks in 2013.
Overall, Dmitry Orlov is certainly an improvement for the Sharks on their blue line, and they have more than enough cap space to overpay for his services. It is also worth it for the Sharks to take a chance on Nick Leddy through the waiver wire, as he fills a team need and will definitely earn a bigger role with the Sharks next season than he did with the Blues last season. Both Orlov and Leddy will provide an important veteran presence for the this young, up-and-coming Sharks team next season, especially on defense. Now that the Sharks are over the salary cap floor, these two latest additions should breathe a sigh of relief for this franchise in that regards. It will be interesting to see what else they might have in store between now and the start of training camp in the middle of September.
Source: Sharks + SAP Center App
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