Brooks Orpik Ends His NHL Career After 15 Seasons

By Jordan Long

Washington Capitals’ defenseman Brooks Orpik decided to retire from the NHL after 15 seasons.  He played with two franchises, the Washington Capitals and the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

                Orpik was drafted by the Penguins 18th overall in the 2000 NHL Draft.  He wouldn’t play in his first NHL game until the 2002-2003 season and appeared in 6 games.  He didn’t have a goal or an assist.  In 2003-2004 Orpik established himself as a tough defenseman who would not only score from the blue line but also check opponents off the puck.  He scored 1 goal and added 9 assists for a total of 10 points.   He would stay in Pittsburgh 9 more years.  His top season in a Pittsburgh sweater came in 2010 when he scored 2 goals and added 23 assists for a total of 25 points, the most in his career. 

                Pittsburgh made the postseason 8 times with him.  They advanced to the Stanley Cup Final twice with Orpik and even won the Stanley Cup in 2009.  Skaters want to perform in the postseason.  Orpik was no different.  In 92 playoff games for Pittsburgh Orpik struggled to help his team with 2 goals and 13 assists for a total of 15 points.  It wasn’t his offense that helped Pittsburgh but his defense because he could knock opponents off the puck when they skated into the defensive zone.  He was able to block shots from  the goaltender.

                In the 2014 offseason, he was an unrestricted free agent and could pick any team to continue his NHL career with.  He agreed to a 5-year $27.5 million contract with the Washington Capitals.   This was in hopes of boosting the Capitals’ chances of making it to the Stanley Cup Final.  In 5 years with the Capitals he scored 5 goals and added 57 assists for a total of 62 points.  The Capitals went to the postseason with him every year.  Orpik totaled 2 goals and 9 assists in 64 playoff games.  Washington won the cup with him in 2018.

                This past season Orpik suited up in 53 games, the lowest since 2016.  He was productive with 2 goals and 7 assists.  It was clear he couldn’t play the NHL game at a high level anymore.  According to ESPN, Orpik said, “I’ve been extremely lucky to have the best job in the world for many years, but my body is telling me it is time to move on to something new.”

                He leaves the game with 18 goals and 176 assists for a total of 194 points in 1,035 games.  Orpik won 2 Stanley Cups.  There was nothing left for him to prove.  He is retiring on his own terms.