Dmitry Orlov #7 of the Carolina Hurricanes hip checks Jonny Brodzinski #22 of the New York Rangers (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
As Dmitry Orlov embarks on his 14th NHL season—and his second with the Carolina Hurricanes—the 33-year-old defenseman has much to celebrate. Just a third of the way into the season, Orlov has already surpassed half of last year’s point total, tallying 14 points (3 goals, 11 assists) compared to 26 (6 goals, 20 assists) the previous year.
His increased ice time—up by over two minutes per game—reflects his growing importance to the Hurricanes’ lineup. Orlov is one of the league leaders with a plus-18 efficiency rating, a significant leap from last season’s plus-4. With Carolina among the Eastern Conference's top teams, Orlov’s contributions have been vital.
Despite his success, Orlov remains focused.
“Because of the February break (for the Four Nations Cup), the schedule is quite tough,” he said in a one-on-one interview with RG. “Right now, for example, we have seven games in 11 days. We all try to take special care of ourselves, to behave professionally, to give our all in every game, especially since the coaching staff always demands the maximum from us. Carolina hockey is very energy-intensive, it requires a lot of strength, so you always need to be in good shape.
In one of his summer interviews, Pyotr Kochetkov said that the team had to do something absolutely incredible to earn a day off from Rod Brind'Amour - for the coach this is a huge rarity. According to Orlov, the situation has changed this season.
“Yes, as far as I understand, this used to be the case,” he says. “But this season, when the team shows a good pattern of play and wins, the coaches reward it with days off. Perhaps this is due to the tough schedule. 15 games in a month is a lot, plus flights. In October and November, we had a long trip to the West, and this has an effect. Thanks to the coaches for letting us recover. The main thing is that we go out and then practice it on the ice. We have a positive atmosphere in the locker room, the team communicates well with each other, which is important for future games.”
Playing in Carolina, Seeing Necas Blossom
The atmosphere in Carolina in recent years has always been expressed, among other things, through special goal celebrations, which is why the Hurricanes were nicknamed “a bunch of jerks.”
Orlov mentions how unusual it was for him to get used to that kind of setting as a player.
"Of course, I saw all these videos, but I wasn't on the team then," said the defenseman. "Now everything is quite simple. After a win, we stand as a group on the center ice and clap with the fans. We can grab someone and hug them as a team, jump a little on the glass. But, I didn't see those times when they went crazy. Last year, the coach would give the “Player of the Game” a jersey after each game. But, this year, it’s a cap with the team's logo. Brind'Amour decides who is the best."
At the same time, the frequency of pranks, like we used to see in the 1990s and 2000s, has dropped significantly. Gone are the days when players had shaving cream smeared inside their boots, ties or jeans cut off, according to Orlov.
"Somehow it has become different," he says. "I wouldn't say it's more boring - it's just different. The new generation, they are different and hockey is different. But I won't say which one I like more. My job is to adapt to what's there, to be needed in the league."
A rare case for a team with a strict system: Carolina player Martin Necas is one of the NHL's top scorers. This was no revelation for Orlov.
"Even though Martin is not the youngest player (25), he is very promising. He has a lot of skill - good skating, good hands, speed, shot. In general, he has everything, a complete set. In addition to all this, he has now gained confidence and is not losing it. It is always nice for the guys who play at such a high level and score so many points. This is only a plus for the team, and I hope Martin will continue to do so."
Kaprizov’s Upcoming Extension in Minnesota
Orlov was the first hockey player from the Siberian city of Novokuznetsk to win the Stanley Cup and bring the trophy to his hometown. This year, the Cup was won by a second Novokuznetsk native - Sergei Bobrovsky and the Florida Panthers. Orlov rooted for both Bobrovsky and his childhood friend, Vladimir Tarasenko, in the final against Edmonton.
In the summer, Orlov and Bobrovsky met in Moscow at the Carolina defenseman's birthday party, where Orlov had the opportunity to personally congratulate his fellow countryman and friend on the victory.
But there is also a younger superstar among the people from Novokuznetsk - Kirill Kaprizov, one of the top contenders in the race for the Art Ross Trophy this season. Kaprizov will be eligible to sign a new deal with Minnesota next summer, and Orlov weighed in on what he thinks Kaprizov should do.
"He will decide for himself what is best for him and his family," Orlov answers. "Of course, I think he wants to win [the Stanley Cup], that's the most important thing for him. We all play in the NHL to win the Cup. And his personal statistics prove every year that Kirill is an elite player, he plays better and better and makes his teammates better. I’m sure Minnesota will do everything possible to sign him, offering him a huge amount of money. They are playing well this season, and that is also important for his view of the future on this team. If he sees that the team is developing and making steps towards winning the Cup, then I think he’ll be interested in staying."
Orlov, with all his experience and Stanley Cup pedigree, can’t find a clear answer as to why the Hurricanes, who have been perennial Stanley Cup contenders, continue to suffer early exits in the playoffs.
"I'm only in my second year with the team, so I haven't spent enough time here to find the answer to this question," he says.
"But if we take last year's playoffs: allowing the Rangers to take a 3-0 lead in the series was too big a mountain to climb. It was hard to get back into the series, although we tried very hard and were close to even the series. I know from my time in Washington how many details have to come together for you to win. I even played in Boston after we won the Presidents' Trophy and setting a record for points in the regular season, but apparently that was not the year to win the Cup.
“I think everyone should analyze their game and their mistakes – and I do that. Those who don’t make mistakes, don’t play. But you have to review your shifts, games, and think about what you have to change to avoid repeating those mistakes. It’s important to be mentally strong and not to doubt your abilities. Then your chances of winning the Cup will be higher.”
Potentially Playing with Alexander Nikishin
SKA St. Petersburg defenseman Alexander Nikishin, who many call the best hockey player in the world outside the NHL, is set to finally make his way to North America.
The Hurricanes' draft pick's KHL contract expires at the end of this season. He will most probably join the Hurricanes organization and sign his entry-level contract.
For Orlov, the idea of playing with one of the best Russian defensemen is a pretty attractive proposition.
At the same time, Orlov is very pleased that he has been playing with Jalen Chatfield for the second season, emphasizing that they have a great understanding both on and off the ice; cracking lots of jokes with each other in the locker room.
According to Orlov, Carolina owner Tom Dundon is actively involved in the team's life, which is similar to how Washington owner Ted Leonsis runs the Capitals:
"Yes, we talked [with Dundon]. He called a couple of times, in particular, when I signed my contract. Prior to last season, Andrei Svechnikov, Justin Williams and I went to dinner with him. He often flies in, attends games, goes into the locker room, and talks to the coaching staff. He is involved in hockey affairs, in the life of the team. It is interesting to him, especially since the team plays well, I think the organization is making good money too."
Chasing a Stanley Cup in Carolina
Orlov’s two-year deal with Carolina is set to expire by the end of this season, and the veteran defenseman has confirmed that his camp has not engaged in extension talks with GM Eric Tulsky. But Orlov decided early on this season to focus on his game and helping the team winning; leaving the business side of the game until after the season.
"I want to play in the NHL as long as possible and win the Stanley Cup again," Orlov says.
"Maybe in time, I’ll set new goals for myself. It's good that in my career there was an opportunity to win in 2018, but, after experiencing such a victory, every playoff exit is even harder to accept. You remember that feeling from six years ago, you remember the joy of the whole team that sacrificed itself, the whole city, all your family and friends. And you analyze what you did wrong, how you could have done better for the team in the playoffs.
“The older you get, the more you value that moment, those victories. The years fly by – and you understand how you need to value the time you have left and make it as happy as possible. I have a son growing up, he is five years old. He is interested in hockey, already started skating, and even watches games. I want him to see at least one more big victory of mine."
Little Kirill Orlov has never gone out on the ice against his relative Sergei Ovechkin, who is slightly older. Why a relative? Because Orlov's wife Varvara is the godmother of Ovi’s eldest son. They lived very close to each other in Washington, and it was emotionally very difficult for friends, neighbors, and relatives to part when Washington traded Orlov to Boston.
They continue to communicate closely as families. For example, when Ovechkin went down with an injury a few weeks ago, Orlov immediately reached out to the Great 8 to make sure he was okay. Orlov watched the game live and called Ovi that same evening, learning about the unfortunate outcome before the news broke out.
Despite the setback, Orlov hopes that Ovi will recover quickly and break Gretzky's record this season. The two are, in fact, closely interconnected.
As for Orlov himself, one thing is for sure - he wants to stay in the NHL after the end of his current contract. Unlike his long-term teammate in Washington, Carolina and the Russian national team, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Orlov has no plans to go back to Russia.
So, whether he decides to stay in Carolina or move to another club – the veteran defenseman still has a lot left in the tank.
Igor Rabiner has written for Sport-Express, the biggest Russian sports website, since 1994. He has covered seven FIFA World Cups, seven Winter Olympics, and three Summer Olympics. He is the author of 28 books with total sales of over 500,000 copies. He won an AIPS Sport Media Award for best column and interviewed exclusively Pele, Wayne Gretzky, Franz Beckenbauer, Alex Ovechkin and many other soccer, ice hockey, and tennis superstars. From 2016 to 2021, he has regularly contributed to the Russian version of NHL.com. Has contributed to The Guardian, British soccer magazine The Blizzard, and other world publications. One of the authors of the encyclopedia 'Kings of Ice," which came out in North America in 2002. From 2013 to 2021, Rabiner was a co-owner and teacher in a private sports journalism school in Russia. He has 56,500 followers on X and over 25,000 readers on Telegram, Facebook and Instagram.
