FILE - Carolina Hurricanes' Dmitry Orlov (7) controls the puck against the New Jersey Devils during the second period of Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker, File)
July 03, 2025 - 9:43 AM
Dmitry Orlov is heading to the spend-happy San Jose Sharks, who have been active in NHL free agency and made a pickup off the waiver wire Thursday to reach the salary floor.
Orlov, who turns 34 later this month, signed a two-year contract worth $13 million. A Stanley Cup champion from his time in Washington who spent the past two seasons in Carolina, the veteran defenseman will count $6.5 million against the cap through 2026-27.
Orlov is the latest addition for the Sharks, who needed to add $20 million somehow to get to the $70.6 million minimum for player salaries. That counts money owed to captain Logan Couture, whose playing career is over because of a debilitating injury.
San Jose also claimed Nick Leddy off waivers from St. Louis to add to its new-look blue line that includes recently signed veteran John Klingberg, who got $4 million for next season.
“Klingberg was someone we had targeted for a little while now,” general manager Mike Grier said earlier this week. “We need someone who can run a power play. We think, as he showed he was getting healthier and healthier this year and another year out from his hip (surgery), I think he’ll be even better”
Leddy also has a year left on his contract at a cap hit of $4 million, with $3 million in actual dollars owed. Orlov is the only experienced defenseman San Jose has signed beyond 2026.
Orlov's short-time teammate, Brent Burns, agreed to terms with Colorado on Wednesday night to a one-year contract worth $1 million with up to $3 million more attainable through performance bonuses.
Grier said, based on the Sharks' youth movement and building process, did not expect to be involved in any of the big-money free agents this summer. One of the top players available, Danish winger Nikolaj Ehlers, remains unsigned 72 hours into the signing period that opened at noon EDT on Tuesday.
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