Key Takeaways
- Dmitry Orlov said his reduced role with the Carolina Hurricanes left him feeling isolated and mentally drained, especially as his family was split across two states.
- He admitted the hardest part was realizing he wasn’t part of the Canes’ long-term plans, despite being told “everything was fine.”
- Now headed to San Jose, Orlov views the move as a reset — a chance to find stability, take on a leadership role, and reconnect with the joy of playing hockey.
Orlov in action (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
This summer, Russian defenseman Dmitry Orlov entered free agency and signed a two-year contract with the San Jose Sharks worth $6.5 million per season. The 33-year-old was coming off a deal with the Carolina Hurricanes and now heads to the Western Conference for the first time in his NHL career — a change he calls a much-needed reset.
“It was a family decision,” Orlov told RG in an exclusive interview. “We looked at the offers from different teams. I won’t go into details, but we felt this was the best option for this stage of my career. You could say it’s a restart. The last two years were tough, especially mentally. Now everything will be new: a new team, a different conference, longer flights. I’ll need to adapt. It’s a young team that finished last season in last place — but that can be fixed. The most important thing is that management supports us and sees the way forward. I’m excited for the challenge. I’ll be the oldest player on the team, and my role might change. It’ll be interesting to see how the next two years go.”
Orlov has already begun offseason training and plans to travel to San Jose with his family in early August to find a home and adjust to the new environment.
“We usually came to San Jose once a season and played just one game there. It’s hard to form a real opinion based on that. So we’ll go and see what life is like. I’ve heard the climate is great, but it’s too early to say anything for sure.”
A Patient Approach to Free Agency
Orlov signed his deal on the third day of free agency. He emphasized that he took a careful, deliberate approach to negotiations.
“I wasn’t in a rush. I watched how the market developed and stayed in constant contact with my agents. I’m not young anymore, but I’m also not old. Some teams weren’t ready to offer long-term deals. So I signed for two years, but I still feel I have a lot left in the tank. I’m healthy and in great shape — and every year I focus more on my conditioning.”
On July 1, fellow Russian defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov signed a seven-year, $49 million deal with the New York Rangers. Orlov said he wasn’t focused on what other players were getting.
“I honestly didn’t pay much attention to that. That’s more for the agents — they understand what the market looks like. They kept me updated, but I wasn’t obsessed with it. I focused on my own situation.”
Asked whether San Jose made the most generous offer, Orlov kept his answer vague.
“I’d rather not get into that. Some things should stay behind the scenes. There weren’t that many options, and even fewer teams where I really wanted to play. It doesn’t make sense to name them — hockey changes quickly. I never thought I’d end up in Carolina, but I spent two seasons there.”
Orlov has already had conversations with Sharks general manager Mike Grier and head coach Ryan Warsofsky, but said they didn’t get into specifics about his role yet.
“For now, it’s just been introductory conversations. I’m sure we’ll have more detailed talks once I arrive. Coaches can say one thing, but the reality is you have to prove yourself every day. Nothing is guaranteed. I just want to enjoy playing hockey again and help the team win. The last two years were tough mentally. I want to reset, find peace, and enjoy the game.”
Reflection on Carolina And The Mental Toll
Orlov spent the last two seasons in Carolina after signing a two-year deal in 2023 worth $7.75 million annually. In May, he said he hoped to stay with the Hurricanes, especially after his difficult departure from the Washington Capitals.
He admitted that his time in Carolina was not satisfying overall.
“My family was split between two states, and I spent a lot of time alone. And of course, the ice time — when you’re not playing as much as you know you can help, and when you feel overlooked, it’s tough. Especially after playing big minutes your whole career. I think the hardest moment was realizing I wasn’t part of their plans.
They’d say everything was fine, but I didn’t agree. It was a difficult but valuable experience. I tried to stay mentally strong, but that’s always hard when things aren’t going well on the ice. My family really helped. In the end, I had to pull myself out of it. You have to stay mentally tough and learn how to support yourself.”
Orlov said having Russian teammates like forward Andrei Svechnikov and goalie Pyotr Kochetkov made things easier, but everyone had their own challenges.
“We supported each other, of course. But everyone had their own things to deal with. Sometimes just knowing you’re not alone helps.”
Before signing with the Hurricanes, Orlov said he had spoken with the front office about expectations.
“There was a conversation during the signing process. But things didn’t work out the way I imagined. That’s life. I’ve moved on, learned from the experience. Sometimes things don’t go according to plan, and that’s okay. It was a lesson I hope will help me going forward.”
During the playoffs, Orlov was not only an important piece on the ice — he also helped defenseman Alexander Nikishin adjust after joining from the KHL mid-playoff run.
“The playoffs are a totally different game. The intensity is higher, and there’s no room for mistakes. The biggest challenge is adjusting to the system quickly. But Sasha adapted well. The language barrier is tough, but I think he’ll be fine. The key is trust — he needs to get ice time. The more he plays, the faster he’ll find the rhythm and grow as a player.”
Florida’s Poise And The Pain of Defeat
For the second time in three years, Carolina was eliminated by the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference Final. Florida went on to win its second straight Stanley Cup.
“Florida is a great team. There were a lot of factors. Both teams played aggressively with a lot of pressure. I won’t go into details — I was part of Carolina and want to keep that inside. Maybe we weren’t fully ready mentally. In the last game, we were up 2–0, and I looked at their bench — they were completely calm. We were jittery. That’s the difference. Florida made the Final three years in a row and won two Cups. That’s no accident.”
Asked whether the easy series wins over Washington and New Jersey gave the Hurricanes a false sense of security, Orlov said:
“No, I don’t think so. In fact, we needed the rest — our style of hockey is very demanding. The break helped. But Florida had three lines that could all play like a first line. No other team had that kind of depth. And the fact they kept that championship core together says a lot.”
Orlov also faced criticism after a rough game where he finished minus-4, but took it in stride.
“I don’t really read the criticism. Yeah, I had one game where I was minus-4. It happens. It’s hockey. I bounced back with a strong performance in the next game. In the playoffs, the key is to move on quickly — learn from your mistakes and be better next time. The series moves fast and you can’t dwell on the past.”
As for whether that game hurt his contract negotiations, Orlov was confident:
“No, I didn’t think about it. I played well in the first two rounds, and our team looked strong. In the end, we all share the blame for losing to Florida. I know when I make mistakes — no one needs to remind me.”
