Photo credit: Sweetest Hockey On Earth’s Kyle Mace

Washington Capitals 2012 first-round pick Tom Wilson has played just two games for the Hershey Bears, but he’s already made a huge impact. After scoring 9 goals (including a hat trick) and 17 points in 12 playoff games with the OHL’s Plymouth Whalers, Wilson scored his first professional goal on Sunday for the Hershey Bears. And it happened because he got under the skin of 2011-12 AHL leading scorer Chris Bourque.

View video of the play here. (GIF by welshhockeyfan)

Early in the second period, Wilson — skating on Hershey’s fourth line — decked the former Capitals draft pick along the boards. Bourque responded by tripping Wilson to the ice, which drew a power play for Hershey.

Video via welshhockeyfan

Bourque and Wilson met again late in the third period. Wilson once again knocked Bourque over after the diminutive forward passed away the puck. Both players got matching minors, Wilson for interference and Bourque for unsportsmanlike conduct (diving).

I nominate this for goal call of the year by the way. It begins at the 4:03 mark. (Video via The Hershey Bears)

When the two penalties expired, the Bears controlled the puck in Providence’s offensive zone. Wilson sprinted towards the net as Julien Brouillette unleashed a shot from the point. Wilson beat the speedy Bourque to the rebound, giving Hershey the lead for the first time and nearly giving Scott Stuccio, the voice of the Bears, an aneurysm.

The goal would have stood up as the game-winner, but the Bears wilted during the stretch, losing to the number one-seeded Providence 5-4 and forcing a fifth and decisive game on Wednesday.

Regardless of the outcome, Hershey Bears Head Coach Mark French was excited about the expanded role Wilson earned in his first two professional games over the weekend.

“I thought Wilson was really good,” French said after the game. “[Saturday] night, his first pro game, we monitored his minutes a little bit. He played about 10. And [Sunday] I thought he looked good again. We elevated him in our line combinations and he responded to that.”

When I asked French about how Wilson, a prospect known for his size, won a foot-race with one of the quickest players on Providence for his goal, French gushed. “I think that’s the reason why people are so high on him,” he said. “He’s obviously got the size and for a big guy he uses it. But as you mentioned, he’s got some underrated speed and puck skills. I think that’s the combination that everybody’s excited about.”

As the game went along, Wilson could also be seen getting into the game another way. Standing on the Hershey bench, Wilson constantly yapped at Providence Bruins players as they came back. He also got in a verbal sparring match with Chris Bourque while in the penalty box. French appreciated the sandpaper Wilson brought to the game.

“He gets involved!,” French exclaimed. “You know, it’s funny because when we had him in Development Camp, there was a part of his game where he liked to get involved in the discussion. I didn’t see it much [Saturday] night, but I assume with him being a little bit more comfortable, he got involved.”

Yes, yes he did. After seeing Wilson’s big night tonight, I would not be surprised if he makes the Capitals out of training camp next season. Despite only being 19-years-old, Wilson is a fiery competitor who skates really well and has good hands. His physical game can be game-changing.

Additional Photos

Photo credit: Sweetest Hockey On Earth’s Kyle Mace

Photo credit: Chris Gordon

When the Washington Capitals let Alex Semin walk last summer, they left a big hole in their top six. That hole has not been permanently filled yet, but there are two talented draft picks who might be a good fit in the future: Evgeny Kuznetsov and Filip Forsberg.

While Kuznetsov is still more than a full season away, Forsberg could be donning a Washington Capitals or Hershey Bears jersey as soon as this year.

A few weeks ago, when restricted free agent Ryan O’Reilly signed an offer sheet with the Calgary Flames, it almost set off a bizarre series of events, revealing how convoluted the NHL’s waiver process is. Since O’Reilly played two games with Metallurg Magnitogorsk after the NHL lockout had ended, the 22-year-old center would have had to go through waivers before joining the Flames. Instead, the Avalanche matched Calgary’s offer sheet and he immediately joined the team.

Forsberg’s situation is much different.

While the 18-year-old Swedish prospect played in 38 games for Leksands IF of the second-tier HockeyAllsvenskan league (half of which played during the NHL season), a Capitals spokesman confirmed he is eligible to come over this year because of something called a European Loan.

“Forsberg is under NHL contract and on assignment to his Swedish team,” the spokesman said. “He is eligible to come over mid-season to play for Capitals or Bears sometime after his season is over in April.”

The three-year entry-level contract that Forsberg signed with the Capitals during Development Camp in July put the Capitals in the driver’s seat regarding when he’d start his professional career in North America. Once Leksands IF’s participation in the Kvalserien ends in a few weeks (a ten game round-robin tournament which determines which teams play in the Elitserien), it’s decision time for George McPhee.

The Capitals could opt for Forsberg to stay at home, rest, and prepare for his second Caps development camp in July. They could also have him join the AHL’s Hershey Bears, a move once made for John Carlson. On November 13, 2008, Carlson signed his ELC and then was loaned to Dale Hunter’s London Knights. Following the OHL playoffs, Carlson joined Hershey during their playoff run and played in 16 games. Because he was in the minors, Carlson did not lose the first year of his entry-level contract.

McPhee also could have Forsberg join the Capitals. While Washington’s roster is cramped right now, the NHL trade deadline is coming on April 5. A transaction before then could open up a spot for the young Swede on the roster. Forsberg can play in only five games — including the playoffs — before burning a year of his entry-level deal, which is exactly what happened with Chris Kreider and the New York Rangers last season. While Forsberg could gain some invaluable experience with the team during their march towards the playoffs, it’d be a waste of his cheap entry-level deal.

This is a big decision for McPhee. Forsberg, who was named the HockeyAllsvenskan’s best under-20 player of the year and an All-Star at the 2013 World Junior Championships, is a very talented forward. His development — along with Kuznetsov’s — could make or break a Capitals’ Stanley Cup run.

Forsberg’s forechecking and defense is what makes him stepping into the NHL as a teenager a possibility. During Development Camp last summer, Forsberg blocked two shots during the final scrimmage of the week, impressing his coaches.

“After seeing him at Development Camp and World Juniors as well, I think he’s a pretty complete player,” Hershey Bears head coach Mark French told me on a phone call last month. “A lot of the Swedish players seem to be pretty well-rounded.

“I think he has tremendous upside as a two-way guy. You see his god-given skill that he has. He has the ability to make big plays with the puck at high speeds every time he’s on the ice. If it’s a physical game or he needs to play defensively, he seems to be able to answer the bell. I’m not sure we’ll ever get the chance to coach him here [in Hershey]. He looks like he’s pretty NHL ready.”

He’s not the only guy who believes in him.

“Foppa (Filip Forsberg) is probably the most skilled player I’ve ever played with and ever will play with” – Michael Raffl

— Jonathan Larsson (@JLarsson6) March 21, 2013

Michael Raffl is Forsberg’s teammate on Leksands.

Additional reporting by Fedor Fedin.

Photo credit: Justin K. Aller

Players get older; they slow down. Elite goal scorers drop off as they enter their late twenties. It’s time to realize this has happened to Alex Ovechkin. He may have the same name as the guy who scored 65 goals five years ago, but he is far from the same player. And it’s not his fault.

Nine of Ovechkin’s 15 goals have come off the same shot from the same spot: a one-timer from the circles. Seven of those have been on the power play. More remarkably, Ovechkin has not held the puck for more than a second on any of his goals this season save for one. He no longer scores on the rush.

The Washington Capitals invested $123 million dollars in Alex Ovechkin. They cannot have him not score. If he isn’t scoring the way he used to, they will adjust the game plan for him. That’s exactly what first year head coach Adam Oates has done. The new power play he instituted is designed to get Ovechkin the puck at any costs — and it works brilliantly. Ten of his 15 tallies this year (2/3) have come on the power play, the highest ratio of power play to even-strength goals of any player with more than 10 markers. He leads the NHL in man advantage goals.

The power play was one of two changes Oates made at the start of the season in an attempt to reignite Ovechkin. He also shifted Ovechkin from left wing, the position he had played his entire life, to the right side. There were likely a few reasons for this. Oates insists, almost obsessively, that right-handed shooters play on the right side and conversely that lefties play on the left. Anything else, he contends, is unnatural.

“You look back through the history of baseball and every shortstop throws right,” Oates told CBC’s Elliotte Friedman. “How many plays won’t be made because a left-handed shortstop isn’t able to turn, get set, and make the throw with strength or speed?”

That is Oates’s philosophy.

At first, Ovi looked bemused on the right wing. He crashed into teammates twice before he scored a goal this season. After a quick switch back to the left side at Ovechkin’s request, Ovi was at right wing once again. Oates didn’t just want Ovechkin to have a slightly better angle on the net by making switch. Rather, Ovi was getting stale at left wing — defenders knew his moves and how to stop them. The rate at which Ovechkin was poke checked or bumped off the puck after entering the offensive zone on the rush became frustrating.

Ovechkin looks comfortable now on the right, but the goals on the rush still don’t come — has just one this season. He still tries, he still wants to carry the puck into the zone, but he doesn’t score.

The goals must come from somewhere else, and they do. The Caps feed him the puck so he can launch a quick shot from the circles, usually on the power play.

The defense collapses to the right, Ovi is left wide open, happy times.

Unlike last year, Ovechkin is now at the circles, not the point, during the man advantage. This means he is often wide open thanks to Washington’s new 1-3-1 power play. Roughly, that means one player is near the net, one player is in the slot, one player is on each circle, and one player is on the point. When the Capitals move the puck around, the defense reacts, collapsing on the player with possession. If that guy is on the right side, Ovechkin is able release a one-timer before the defense reacts.

“It really puts on emphasis on that weak side position where Ovechkin’s playing,” Hershey Bears head coach Mark French, who oversees a similar power play with his team, told RMNB’s Ian Oland a month ago. “He’s really the guy that’s going to score a lot of the goals because the puck’s going to eventually get to him.”

When executed well, this game plan is deadly. The Caps have the best power play in the league, one that coverts 24.5% of the time. Last season, Washington’s unit was ranked 18th in the NHL. Ovechkin is responsible for almost 40% of the team’s 26 power play goals. Ovi has four assists a man up too, meaning he’s been on the scoresheet for 54% of the team’s power play goals.

Despite the myriad of struggles the Capitals have faced this season, their power play is excellent. What happens, though, when defenses realize it’s worth leaving a man open in front to prevent an Ovi Shot from the Ovi Spot? Eventually opponents will catch up on Washington’s strategy as the tape piles up. Of course, the nature of a power play is that one team has more players than the other. Somebody must be open. If opponents cue on Ovi, another Cap will be left free to shoot in front — maybe Nick Backstrom, maybe Troy Brouwer.

“I guess you pick your poison,” said French.

This power play works. Adam Oates is a good coach. The Capitals may not have a good roster yet, and it’s certainly losing them games, but they do have a smart tactician behind the bench. This team has a solid foundation, but they still need the right players.

January 27 vs. Buffalo

February 23 vs. New Jersey

March 7 vs. Florida

March 14 at Carolina

March 19 at Pittsburgh

March 21 at Winnipeg

March 22 at Winnipeg

Orlov catches up with Mike Green at Hershey’s Outdoor Game. (Photo credit: Kyle Mace of Sweetest Hockey On Earth)

Their defensive depth was supposed to be a strength. The plan for the Washington Capitals was to have nine blueliners with serious NHL experience at their deposal, ready to jump into to a game at any minute. It didn’t work out that way. The pair of Karl Alzner and John Carlson has struggled, giving up a majority of the team’s goals against. The other D-men haven’t been much better. Tom Poti has played three games in two years. Mike Green is scoreless. And then there are the injuries. Jack Hillen went down after playing less than four minutes. Dmitry Orlov has been out indefinitely. The Caps have been forced to call up Tomas Kundratek.

So what happened to Orlov, one of the team’s rising stars? While skating for the Hershey Bears in the AHL Showcase at Verizon Center in November, the young Russian absorbed a hit up high from Emerson Etem. He didn’t appear to be favoring anything when he attempted to play one more shift that night, leading many to believe he suffered a concussion. In an interview with RMNB’s Ian Oland, Bears coach Mark French did not confirm or deny that Orlov may have received a concussion on the hit.

“The only thing we’ve said so far — as far as my understanding — is that it’s an upper body injury,” French told Ian. “It’s above my pay grade and above my qualifications to say any more. It’s certainly an upper body injury.”

“Our hope is that once we regroup as a team following the All-Star break he would be able to skate,” said the coach.

This was second time Orlov has been injured this year. A month and a half before leaving the AHL Showcase, he was slammed head-first awkwardly into the boards from behind, causing him to miss about two weeks. French said the injuries are connected.

“It’s hard to answer without the medical knowledge, but to my understanding of it, they are related,” he said to Ian.

According to French, the fastest coach in AHL history to 100 wins, Orlov is progressing after suffering a set-back the second week of January. That week, Orlov tried skating again for the first time since suffering the injury but didn’t feel “good” and “backed off,” in French’s words. Since then, Dima has been riding a stationary bike to work on his fitness as he makes his way back into game shape. The plan is to have Novokuznetsk native back on the ice again next week after the AHL All-Star Game on Monday.

“I think he is getting better,” French said. “It’s safe to say that once he comes back healthy, there’ll be a conditioning period where we’ll have to get him up to game speed. How long that is, I’m not sure. We certainly would like to see him in a week of practice before getting him back into a game.”

“I would expect once he is healthy and goes through a conditioning period down here, that he would be going right up to Washington,” he continued.

Since coming over to North America in the spring of 2010, Orlov has acquitted himself well. After his Russian team was eliminated from the playoffs, he bolted over the pond to play for Bears in their run for the Calder Cup. In 2011, he started the year with Hershey but by November he was playing in his first NHL game. He became a staple on Washington’s blueline over the course of the year, playing 60 games his rookie season while tallying 19 points.

Around the time Orlov came up, however, the Caps fired their head coach, Bruce Boudreau. Orlov, an offensive defenseman, was more suited to Boudreau’s game then the one implemented by Dale Hunter last season, something that preached defense above all else.

“Dale made it work, but it probably wasn’t the best system for Dmitry’s game,” said French, who called Adam Oates’ system “much more up Dmitry’s alley.”

Orlov’s biggest adjustment, though, hasn’t been on the ice. A 21-year-old from Southern Russia, getting used to the language and the culture has been a big undertaking. But now after almost two years here Orlov’s English is better, to the point where we can have full conversations.

“He never really had a true understanding of what you were really trying to communicate,” French said. “He would acknowledge and shake his head like “Yeah,” but you never knew if he was really grasping it. I think now when you can have that dialogue, you can see that he’s truly understanding what you’re saying and it’s probably been the biggest challenge of his development of all.”

Additional reporting by Ian Oland.

Photo credit: Ian iPad

Over the offseason the Hershey Bears saw several key veterans sign elsewhere, such as future AHL Hall of Famer Keith Aucoin, 2011-12 AHL leading scorer Chris Bourque, and fan-favorite enforcer Joel Rechlicz. The team also had to deal with a peculiar problem due to the lockout: two head coaches, Mark French and new Caps bench boss Adam Oates. Capitals general manager George McPhee mandated that Hershey learn Oates’ new system, so that the organization’s minor league players could be used to it by the time NHL games started being played. All this change has seen the team scuffle to a .500 record through 34 games this season (16-16-1-1).

But now things are starting to look up. Before it was announced that the lockout had been lifted, Hershey had been getting its best goaltending of the year from Braden Holtby, who was recently named AHL player of the month for December. Stan Galiev, who had been struggling with his transition from junior hockey, is starting to look more comfortable on the ice and more worthy of his #29 prospect ranking from Hockey Prospectus. The organization also has a surplus of quality goaltenders in the ECHL knocking at the door of the AHL: Philipp Grubauer and 2012 seventh-round pick Sergey Kostenko.

On Saturday, after the Bears’ 3-1 loss to the Binghamton Senators, I asked French if this is the best he’s seen Braden Holtby play, if the sky is the limit for Riley Barber, and if Caps fans should be worried about Galiev’s early season struggles.

My full Q&A with French is below the jump.

With the lockout ending, do you think there’ll be a lot of turnover on Hershey’s roster. Are you looking forward to getting a guy like Philipp Grubauer back on the team? 

It’ll be interesting. It’ll obviously create some roster instability. I think Phillip has displayed that he can play at the American League level. At the same time we’ll be losing a darn good goalie as well.

Is this the best you’ve seen Braden Holtby play?

Probably consistently. I can think of back-to-back games in Norfolk last year where he was unbelievable. But it’s probably the most consistent I’ve seen him play over a long period of time.

Stan Galiev has been shuttled up and down this year between Reading and Hershey. Even at the beginning of the year, he told RMNB he was still getting used to playing in a new system. Have you seen a big improvement from him lately? Tonight he had a pretty strong game.

I think his game, right before we went to break, was the best game we’ve seen him play. And tonight, I really liked the intensity he played with. He’s a skilled player, but when we sent him down our message to him was “you need to play more consistently with a higher compete level.” And we wanted him to go down and try to generate a little offensive confidence. I think his two most recent games we’re seeing some results.

Should Caps fans read into the fact that the 29th rated prospect in the NHL started off so slow? Is it going to take him a few years to develop? Did playing in the QMJHL hurt him?

I think it’s a pretty big jump [from the QMJHL]. It’s a change of the system. Certainly a big change in the game. The Q is a good league, but it’s very offensive, so now we’re asking him to pay a lot of attention to different details of the game. I think the problem you have with young guys is they start thinking too much, instead of reacting instinctively. Stan, you like that he’s trying to do these things, but it probably takes away from his game. I think his game is beginning to be a little bit more defined of what he’s going to be as a pro.

How has implementing Adam Oates’ system been going? And if the NHL season starts in a few weeks, what should Caps fans expect?

Some of our success as of late… I think it takes time to implement a new system. Like I talked about with Stan, guys are trying to understand this new system, but they’re not reacting to it. We’re getting to the point where guys know it now, they know what they need to do. So I think it takes some time. I think the NHL player can maybe make the jump a little bit quicker. You know, it’s a proven system. New Jersey used it last year and went a long ways. I think there’s some really good parts. I think it’ll play really well into some of the Capitals more skilled players for sure.

What kind of upside do you see with Cameron Schilling and Mattias Sjogren? Over the next year or two, are they going to be knocking on the door at the NHL level?

Let’s start with Sjogren. We’ve seen an improvement in his game. I think he’s a checking forward. He’s a big body guy. With our team he’s been put in a checking role, and that’s where I think he transitions to at the NHL level. I think he’s more comfortable playing the North American game. With Schilling, he can skate at the NHL level right now. He’s got a real good work ethic and compete level about him. I think he’s just got to mature a little bit. He’s benefiting from his time down here and I can certainly see him as a guy that transitions to the NHL at some point.

Team USA won the World Junior Championships on Saturday. I’m not sure if you can get a guy like Riley Barber on the team this year. But what type of player do you think he is?

I’m like everybody. He kinda jumped out at me during the World Juniors. I think he’s probably going to stay in college a few more years to develop but he’s certainly a guy who can play with pace and got some real good skill to him.

Do you think Barber could grow up to be a Top 6 guy?

I’d have to see him play a little bit more but I was certainly encouraged by what I saw at the World Juniors.

Last question. When I went to Development Camp I got a lot of good reports about goaltending prospect Sergey Kostenko… about how well he played even with a bum shoulder. He told RMNB that he could barely hold his goalie stick before he got surgery. I don’t know how much tape you’ve seen of him– he recently got his first win, but are you guys excited about him as a player?

I think it was good to get him over to North America. I think with Reading especially, if there’s an NHL season, with Philipp getting moved up to the AHL, he jumps into a situation where he’s playing more. Like you, I was pleasantly surprised by what I saw at Development Camp and I certainly — from what Dave Prior and Olie believe — I think he might be a good diamond in the rough.

Dima sits with the other Bears scratches during Saturday’s Bears game. (Photo credit: Katie Stansbery)

When Dmitry Orlov came out of the tunnel for the AHL Showcase game last month, he was excited to see fans back at Verizon Center. It was the reason why, in his opinion, he played the best hockey of his season. The AHL gamesheet says that the 21-year-old defenseman recorded two shots on goal that first period, but Dima remembered it being closer to four or five.

Unfortunately, as he confirmed to me on Saturday night during the first intermission of the Bears/Senators game, Orlov suffered an injury after absorbing a hit from Emerson Etem. Due to team policy, Orlov would not reveal the nature or location of his injury.

After spending two weeks recovering, Orlov has begun riding an exercise bike and lifting weights. According to Hershey Bears head coach Mark French, Orlov is close to getting back on the ice for practice again.

“He’s still not skating,” French told me after the Bears 3-1 loss to the Binghamton Senators. “We hope in the next week we can get him back on the ice and start getting his conditioning to a level that we might see him back in the line-up in the future.”

With the lockout now over, Orlov will most likely return to Arlington for training camp where his status will be further evaluated, just like injured first-line center Nicklas Backstrom, whose agent told us is week-to-week with a “bruised neck.”

When I asked Orlov how tough it would be to skate after a month-plus-long layoff, Orlov squeezed his non-existent belly fat, laughed, and told me in English,”it will be very difficult.” He’s hopeful he will be ready for Opening Night in a few weeks. Fingers crossed.

Photo credit: Ian iPad

Photo credit: Kyle Mace of Sweetest Hockey On Earth

In a move both surprising and logical, the Capitals announced Sunday that Adam Oates would serve as co-coach of the AHL’s Hershey Bears with head coach Mark French for the duration of the lockout. Caps assistant coaches Calle Johansson, Tim Hunter, and Blaine Forsythe and goaltending coaches Dave Prior and Olie Kolzig will — in George McPhee’s words — “be involved at different times” and also help out with the Capitals’ ECHL affiliate, Reading Royals.

To adequately take on lockout-loaded teams like Oklahoma City Barons whose roster now features Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Jordan Eberle, and Justin Schultz, the Capitals have given their farm team the deepest coaching staff in AHL history.

McPhee elaborated even more on the announcement to senior Capitals’ writer Mike Vogel:

“We think it’s a great opportunity for all of our coaches in the organization to work together to learn the nuances of our system of play,” says McPhee. “We also think it’s a great opportunity for our NHL coaches to get to work with our young players and frankly to give them something to do. There’s no sense in them sitting in Washington when they could be active in Hershey.”

The decision has no downside. Oates will have a chance to ply his trade for the first time in the organization, get more familiar with the players, and install his new system from the ground up. He’ll also get to work with potential Capitals starting goaltender Braden Holtby and continue to help develop Russian talents Dmitry Orlov and Stanislav Galiev. In the bigger picture, the added star power should also bring more media attention to the deserving Bears and help them fill seats.

A few months ago, Adam Oates was on top of the world, coaching the New Jersey Devils in the Stanley Cup Finals. A few weeks later, he was named head coach of his own team and inducted into the Hall of Fame on the same day. Now Oates gets to experience the less glamorous side of hockey again: 12-hour bus rides, three-in-threes, and living in and out of hotels. That he’d even consider this position after all his success in hockey speaks volumes of the man’s character and humility.

Dima celebrates his fourth goal of the year (Photo credit: Kyle Mace of Sweetest Hockey on Earth)

Dripping with sweat after a thirty-minute session on a stationary bike, I asked Dmitry Orlov how he was feeling Saturday night after the biggest game of his professional career.

“Not good. We lost.”

Orlov, a 20-year-old offensive defenseman from Novokuznetsk, Russia, could have cared less about his first ever three-point performance, the fact that he rifled three shots on net, or that he was on the ice for three minutes of the game’s five-minute overtime– big-time minutes for a young player.

He also didn’t want to think about his highlight-reel goal in the first period where he took the puck from behind Hershey’s own net, went around two defenders in the neutral zone, and scored on a slapshot from just inside Albany’s blue line – a jaw-dropping individual play. The Bears endured their fourth straight loss, this time to the visiting Devils, and he was victimized on Albany’s second goal, in which he lost a one-one-one battle with Nathan Perkovich in front of the net.

Unlike Dima (Orlov’s nickname), Mark French, the Bears’ Calder Cup-winning head coach, kept perspective in his post-game press conference. “His talent was on display tonight. His first goal — the second goal of the game — was a nice shot, but I thought his skill and his NHL upside was clearly on display.”

Orlov — continuing to grow more comfortable by the day with English — was recalled to the Washington Capitals early Sunday and looks to play in his first NHL game Monday against the Phoenix Coyotes, trying the give the Capitals a much-needed jolt. Mike Green, whose latest groin injury was classified by Bruce Boudreau as “an actual day-to-day thing” nine days ago, has not recovered as fast as team officials would have liked and may not skate until later this week. Green has only played in 13 games since February 1st of last season, a harrowing statistic.

“We just thought we needed a little shake up, just somebody with a little more energy from the back end a little bit,” Boudreau, the Capitals embattled head coach, told the Washington Post’s Katie Carrera. “Supposedly last night in Hershey he was fabulous — he had a goal and two assists, and thought we could use that.”

For those of you who have been reading RMNB for the last two years, Orlov’s quick rise to the NHL should not be a surprise. For those of you who have gotten on the RMNB bandwagon a wee bit late, hey, that’s all good. Let’s catch you up on what you’ve missed.

Dmitry Orlov’s First KHL Goal (11-23-2008)

Dima’s first KHL goal came on November 23, 2008 when he was 17 years, 4 months, and 0 days old. Orlov became the second youngest player defenseman to ever record a goal in the KHL — a league mostly comprised of men and NHL retreads. Only Zakhar Arzamastsev has scored quicker at 17 years and 1 month. Orlov went on to record seven goals and 14 assists in 102 career games in the KHL and Russian Super League.

Dmitry Orlov is Drafted by the Washington Capitals (6-29-2009)

Orlov was selected by the Washington Capitals in the second round, 55th overall of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. He was the second Russian drafted – Dmitry Kulikov was selected 14th by the Panthers. With his debut Monday, Orlov will now be the third Capitals player in the 2009 draft to play in the NHL. Marcus Johansson and Cody Eakin are the others.

Dmitry Orlov Eats Cupcakes at 2010 Development Camp

This isn’t really an accomplishment. This is just a great photo by RMNB’s Chris Gordon. Here Orlov and 2010 first round pick Evgeny Kuznetsov scarf down cupcakes.

Dmitry Orlov Awarded Davydov Trophy (9/16/2010)

During the 2009-10 season, Metallurg Novokuznetsk failed to qualify for the KHL playoffs so they decided to send Orlov down to the Novokuznetsk Bears of the MHL, the KHL’s developmental league. After totaling only four goals and three assists in 43 KHL games, Orlov found his game in the junior circuit, leading the Bears to the MHL Finals. Orlov’s nine goals and 10 assists in the playoffs ranked him third among all players. He was awarded several top honors including the Davydov trophy as the MHL Playoff MVP and was also named the best defenseman of the MHL Finals and Semifinals.

Dmitry Orlov Wins Gold Medal at WJC (1/5/2011)

Orlov, along with fellow Capitals draft pick Evgeny Kuznetsov, led the Russians to a Gold Medal in the 2010 World Junior Championship held in Buffalo. Trailing Canada 3-0 in the Championship game, the Russians scored five unanswered goals in the third period, winning the tournament in dramatic fashion. One of Russia’s assistant captains, Orlov played a key role for the squad finishing with nine points in six games. He also was named to the post-tournament the all-star squad.

Dmitry Orlov Leaves the KHL for Hershey (2/27/2011)

After another losing season in the KHL, Orlov got out of his contract with Metallurg and signed an entry-level deal with the Washington Capitals. On February 27th, Orlov made AHL debut against the Albany Devils. Not only did he register a point in his first game as a Hershey Bear, he also inspired The Patriot-News’s Tim Leone to comment,”That’s the best first 20 minutes from a 19-year-old D I’ve ever seen in this league.” RMNB’s Igor Kleyner caught up with Dima after his first professional game. You can check out the interview here.

Dmitry Orlov Scores His First Career AHL Goal (3/9/2011)

Orlov went on to score his first AHL goal ten days later against the Worchester Sharks. In his first abbreviated season in the AHL, Orlov finished with nine points in 19 games.

Mark French Compares Orlov to John Carlson (9/22/2011)

During Caps training camp, I caught up with Hershey Bears Head Coach Mark French and he compared Dmitry to fellow Capital John Carlson. “I think Dmitry’s got a lot of upside. What I really like about him that he has similar to John is he has a real swagger [on the ice]. They both don’t get intimidated by a situation. They both seem to rise to the occasion more than be intimidated by it. I think that’ll make him a very good hockey player.” Read the whole interview here.

Photo credit: Hershey Bears Facebook Page

In early February, when Metallurg Novokuznetsk failed to reach the KHL playoffs, Dmitry Orlov worked out a deal with the team’s management. Instead of being sent down to the MHL to play for Metallurg’s affiliate during their playoff run, Orlov started his professional career in the Capitals’ organization to work towards his goal of becoming an NHL player.

He flew to America, and made his AHL debut with the Bears on February 27th. That night, Dima registered an assist, spent time on the power play, and had a first period so solid that Tim Leone called it “the best first 20 minutes from a 19-year-old D I’ve ever seen in this league.”

Orlov went on to total nine points in the remaining 19 games of the AHL regular season, and he experienced his first ever AHL playoff series, a 4-2 series loss to the Charlotte Checkers.

The six-foot Novokuznetsk native is now back in DC, participating in his first ever NHL Training Camp. I caught up with Hershey Bears Head Coach Mark French — the same man who guided the Bears to an AHL record 60 wins and the team’s eleventh Calder Cup in 2010 — and asked him about Orlov’s rookie season, what he needs to improve to make the NHL, and if Dima has the potential to be a 20-goal scorer in the NHL.

Ian Oland: How do you think Orlov did in Rookie Camp, in particular, the game against the Flyers?

Mark French: He played well. I think there were some areas of his game that we wanted to see improved, and we saw it steadily through camp, and I think it was a culmination in the game. I thought he was a difference-maker in the game. His strengths were his strengths in that game. He was an offensive threat virtually every time he was on the ice.

Ian Oland: What are the things that he needs to improve on to become a star in the NHL?

Mark French: I think we’ve seen the game against the Flyers. The Rookie game was a testament to the fact that he’s a very good player in his age level. I think he needs to do it consistently against men. Last year he started in the KHL and then he came and finished the year in Hershey. Things he gets away with at the junior level against junior age kids he won’t be able to get away with defensively at the NHL level: positioning and discipline. Defensive positioning is so much more important when you get to that level. He’ll need to refine his game and polish his game in those areas.

Ian Oland: What were your initial impressions of Dmitry in his first game with the Bears last year and the progression he showed even in that sixty minutes of play.

Mark French: I think everybody was taken aback — the impact that he immediately had at the American League level. I think the thing that struck me was that he was such a difference-maker. His top-end skill was immediately noticeable.

Ian Oland: Orlov got a lot of praise from the media after that game. Tim Leone was particularly impressed as well.

Mark French: I think those evaluations needed to be tempered a little bit. John Carlson was a pretty good young player that we had in Hershey as well. I think Dmitry’s got a lot of upside. What I really like about him that he has similar to John is he has a real swagger [on the ice]. They both don’t get intimidated by a situation. They both seem to rise to the occasion more than be intimidated by it. I think that’ll make him a very good hockey player.

Ian Oland: This year you guys are without Dmitry Krugyshev who served as a translator last year. How have you been communicating with him?

Mark French: It’s interesting. We obviously used Dmitry Krugyshev as a crutch last year. It was a huge asset for us to have. I think through training camp now, we have Galiev doing a lot of it. Once we get him to Hershey – well, if he ends up in Hershey – without that crutch of another Russian player it’s twofold. We’d love to have another Russian player there to help him out – but I think to go “cold turkey” on it and come to Hershey and not have anybody, I think it’ll force him to get a leg up on the English language a little bit quicker. I think it’ll be a good thing. We’ve seen a difference here already. He’s working with a tutor – an English tutor – which I think is very important. I think that’s the biggest thing. Once he can bridge that gap and he’s forced out on his own, we’ll see pretty big strides.

Ian Oland: If you’re lucky enough to have Dmitry in Hershey this year, do you have any particular player in mind to pair him with?

Mark French: That’s a great question. I think it is important. As much as we can coach from the bench, I think – especially for defensemen – to have a real good solid partner to talk to is really important to their development. To answer your question: no, we don’t. But we’d probably look to a veteran that would be able to shed some experience on the guy. Somebody who’s composed, a guy who can work with a young player real well.

Ian Oland: Do you think it’s possible that Dmitry Orlov could go over that 20-goal plateau someday in the NHL, maybe approach that 30-goal mark and have a year like Mike Green had a few years ago?

Mark French: Yeah. He’s got very, very good offensive instincts. And he’s got a willingness to take those risks. I think we’ve got to temper [our expectations]. As much as we want his game to improve defensively, we know he’s going to be defined by his offensive game. I think he’s got a lot of similarities to some very good offensive defensemen. He’s got an unbelievable skill set.

A little later today, we’ll be posting a companion piece to this post, where Dmitry Orlov responds and expands upon what Coach French said here.

Photo credit: Chris Gordon

A few weeks ago, Dmitry Orlov completed his third Capitals Development Camp, flying back to his hometown of Novokuznetsk immediately after its completion. The 20-year-old Orlov will continue to train in Russia until heading back to Washington in September for his first ever NHL training camp.

Three weeks ago, Sports.ru’s Andrey Osadchenko had a fascinating Q & A with Dima, with the Caps prospect going in-depth on his time in Hershey, who impressed him most at the AHL level, and his goals for the upcoming season. Orlov — who’s been involved in a few altercations during his time in the KHL — also revealed if anyone tried to fight him during his time with the Bears.

Below, RMNB’s Igor Kleyner translates the interview.

Dump and Chase

Andrey Osadchenko: You radically changed your surroundings during the last season. You played half a year for Kuznya, and then you went on to the AHL. Did it create additional complications for your adjustment process to the North American hockey?

Dmitry Orlov: Yes, it wasn’t easy, I needed some time. I did not know much English, so in the beginning I couldn’t even understand the coach. I knew a little bit, but mostly Kugryshev was helping me. Of course later on, toward the end of the season, I could — to a degree — communicate with the coach. We could discuss hockey issues. It turned out that the season for Novokuznetsk ended in February, it was too early. So my agent and I decided to move to America. In the end, I managed to play for two and a half more months and signed a contract with Washington.

Andrey Osadchenko: It was somewhat unusual to see you wearing not the usual number 9, but 27. Why did you pick that number?

Dmitry Orlov: I was given a choice between 27 and 34. I decided to go with 27. There were no other options, including number 9. Because that number belonged to someone else who played for Hershey in the past, and now the number is retired. So I was told:  ’Sorry, but there is no way.’

Andrey Osadchenko: When our goalies move across the ocean, they point out that they have to be more involved in the game because there are more shots on goal. Forwards talk about the difference in the way the attacking play develops and in the number of physical one-on-one battles. What was the biggest adjustment for you, as a defenseman?

Dmitry Orlov: For us, there is also a lot of physical confrontation along the boards, when the puck is dumped into the zone. You need to get to the puck as soon as possible, and then either pass to your partner, or bring the puck out of the zone by yourself. Meanwhile, you have to avoid being hit. I realized that defensemen there are getting hit a lot. In Russia very rarely do you see such physical game against a defenseman. But there, they are getting it even more than forwards.

Andrey Osadchenko: Is there anything in the North American style that you don’t like?

Dmitry Orlov: Not really. Because it was my own choice. I want to play in America. That is my life. How could I possibly not like it? I play the game, and I enjoy it. Certain things are hard, but there is nothing you can do about it.

Andrey Osadchenko: A lot of our players aren’t very appreciative of the great number of fights in the AHL.

Dmitry Orlov: Actually, I wouldn’t say there are that many fights. And about the AHL, the talk is that it’s such a meat grinder, they almost kill there. So, I played there. Yes, there is a lot of hard hitting. Yes, there is fighting. But most of them are between the fighters. I feel all right about fighting. If you can fight – fight. If you can’t – play hockey.

Not afraid to mix it up: Orlov (#9 in white) gets in a fight with Alexander Aksenenko in a January 10, 2010 KHL match against Amur.

Andrey Osadchenko: Has anybody challenged you to a fight yet?

Dmitry Orlov: No, I have not had to fight yet. I am not a fighter, I am trying to play hockey. But if a situation comes up, of course I may have to get into a fight. It’s not that big of a deal. Sometimes you have to stand up for yourself or your partner.

Andrey Osadchenko: In Russia, the North American style is often disparaged as “dump and chase”. Do you agree with that?

Dmitry Orlov: To a degree, yes. There is plenty of dump and chase, but there is also normal hockey. The third and fourth lines mostly just dump and chase. But the first two lines try to be creative. The guys who play on the first and second lines know how to play. I think that is how the game is played everywhere now. Even in Russia. The third and fourth lines are mostly physical, and the top two are more oriented toward creativity and power play.

Rare Interview

Andrey Osadchenko: You came to the AHL with about twenty games to go in the regular season, but still managed to get a micro-injury even in such short period of time. Was it just an unfortunate accident or something else?

Dmitry Orlov: It was just a groin pull. I wasn’t hit, there was no contact. After the game the coaches came to me and told me – if you need to, you better rest it. There was only one or two games left.

Andrey Osadchenko: Have you ever heard any instructions from the coaches that you did not fully agreed with?

Dmitry Orlov: No. Hershey plays the same system as Washington – a carbon copy. We played all right, and the coaching instructions were fine.

Andrey Osadchenko: Are you happy with your stats in the regular season? Nine points in 19 games for a rookie defenseman — those are very decent numbers.

Dmitry Orlov: I would have liked something better. Besides, my plus-minus ended up being minus-seven, I think. At first everything was going well, and then something stopped working — we were constantly scored against during my shift. Although, during the playoffs I managed to rehabilitate myself. By then, my adjustment period was over. And my plus-minus was completely different.

Andrey Osadchenko: Did you keep the puck that you scored your first AHL goal with, or did you not think of it as an important milestone in your career.

Dmitry Orlov: I got the puck. As soon as I scored, our captain skated over, grabbed the puck and gave it to the team doctor. They put tape on it and wrote ‘The first AHL goal scored against such and such team.’ They gave it to me after the game. It’s at home now.

Andrey Osadchenko: In the NHL they usually put it in a pretty frame with a photo.

Dmitry Orlov: Oh, please! This is not the NHL, so… (Smiles)

Andrey Osadchenko: Did you feel a lot of attention from the media in America?

Dmitry Orlov: No. I only have had a couple of interviews so far. The first one – right after I came here. A Russian man (guess who?) came to me right after my first game for Hershey. And the second one, when I was in Washington. I couldn’t go on a road trip to Canada with the team because I did not have visa. I was at the Capitals game with Rangers, and another Russian reporter came to me. And that’s all.

Andrey Osadchenko: Some of our players say that they prefer to interact with the foreign press. Do you in any way differentiate the journalists by their nationality?

Dmitry Orlov: No. If they ask, why not answer. I don’t see any problem with that. It’s a normal situation. If they are interested, we should talk.

Golf – it’s interesting, but hard.

Andrey Osadchenko: Hershey is referred to as Chocolate Town because of the world famous chocolate factory. Have you tried the local sweets yet?

Dmitry Orlov: Haven’t had a chance. But you can smell the chocolate in the town.

Andrey Osadchenko: We often hear that in North America our players are almost mandated to consume a lot of protein. Is this also the case at Hershey?

Dmitry Orlov: Yes, the guys do drink protein shakes and various recovery drinks. But I don’t. I don’t need to gain weight. I am doing all right as far as that goes.

Andrey Osadchenko: Hershey is a tiny town. Were you bored on your days off?

Dmitry Orlov: Yes, it is a bit of a problem of course. We spent almost all of our spare time at home, taking naps during the day. Quite boring, there is nowhere to go. Yes, we go out to dinner, lunch, once we went to play golf, went to the movies. That’s where I study the language. When I come to a camp, or anywhere else, everybody tells me to watch movies in English – that it’s very useful. So that’s what I try to do, even during flights. It does help.

Andrey Osadchenko: Everybody says that it is difficult to understand Americans because they talk very fast.

Dmitry Orlov: I agree. I noticed that too. If they speak fast, I can’t tell the words apart, so I can’t understand what they say.

Andrey Osadchenko: There is another Russian playing for Hershey – Dmitry Kugryshev. Have you taught your teammates any Russian words yet?

Dmitry Orlov: (Laughs) Just ‘Hi’ and ‘Bye.’ Nothing else.

Andrey Osadchenko: And how do you like golf?

Dmitry Orlov: I like it. I played for the first time, but I would love to try again. As far as golf goes, Hershey is pretty good. The owner of the local golf course has a good relationship with the team president, so the players go there and play for free. Play as much as you wish, no one will say anything.

Andrey Osadchenko: Do hockey skills help with golf in any way?

Dmitry Orlov: The technique is completely different. Very difficult. But interesting.

“The WJC is won– the season is over”

Andrey Osadchenko: In Hershey, were they nagging you with questions about the scandal after the WJC final?

Dmitry Orlov: Everybody wanted to know. Everybody was asking. Everybody who had heard about it was inquiring, asking questions. What happened? How? The issue was drawing a lot of attention.

Andrey Osadchenko: What did you say?

Dmitry Orlov: I said that everything was normal and calm. We did not misbehave, did not do anything horrible. Just calmly boarded the flight. Perhaps, someone did not like something. I have no idea what. Honestly, I don’t even want to remember all that.

Andrey Osadchenko: Have the emotions from the victory calmed down, or do you still get goose bumps when you think about it?

Dmitry Orlov: Of course I think about it. Whenever I see the video – I get goose bumps. After the WJC, for a long time I could not calm down. There was such a feeling of euphoria, it was even difficult to go on the ice. I couldn’t even think about it. It felt like the end of the season. We won the world championship – and that’s it, the season is over. But that was not the case. Then I realized that I have to think about hockey, the season was still going on. I understood not to live in the past.

The task – to fight my way into Washington this year.

Andrey Osadchenko: Sheldon Souray played for Hershey last year. They say his shot is even harder than Chara’s. Did you notice?

Dmitry Orlov: Yes, we played as a pair. He really does have an awesome shot. There is a good reason he has played in the NHL. Someone to learn from.

Andrey Osadchenko: You also have a hard shot. Did you ask Souray for any pointers on how to improve your shot?

Dmitry Orlov: No. Some just have a gift for it. He is really-really big. And the shot really depends on that a lot.

Andrey Osadchenko: Among the AHL players, who made the biggest impression on you?

Dmitry Orlov: A defenseman from Connecticut named Wade Redden. Just like Souray, he plays for the farm-club, but his salary comes from the Rangers. He is a very good player. I don’t understand what he is doing in the AHL.

Andrey Osadchenko: Are you surprised that the Capitals decided not to sign Semyon Varlamov to a new contract?

Dmitry Orlov: Well… I think if they had made him a good offer, he would have stayed. But since they could not agree on something, trade. Which is normal. Now Semyon has signed with Colorado, and I wish him the best. Yes, I would like for Washington to have more Russian players, but that’s how it worked out. He is a good goalie. He was just unlucky with injuries.

Andrey Osadchenko: Having spent half a year in Canadian Juniors, Maxim Kitsyn returned to Metallurg. Why did you decide to follow a different path and coming back to the AHL.

Dmitry Orlov: He has a contract, but I was released.

Andrey Osadchenko: Last summer you said that you had two more years to go on your contract with Kuznya. Did you have to buy it out?

Dmitry Orlov: No, they let me go. They said: ‘We are giving you a chance. Go, prove yourself. If it doesn’t work out, come back to us. Our doors are always open for you.’

Andrey Osadchenko: Do you think you have a better chance of making it to the NHL via the AHL, rather than the KHL?

Dmitry Orlov: That’s what I decided. I want to test myself there. Washington has been calling for me for three years already. They told me, sorry, but we are not going to wait for long. It was not a spontaneous decision. I have wanted it for a long time. I asked for it, and they let me go, gave me my chance. Now I have to prove that it wasn’t all for naught. Whether I get to stay with Washington, or they send me back to the farm club, we’ll see after the camp.

Andrey Osadchenko: There is a great deal of competition in Washington now for the roster spots on defense. Are you afraid?

Dmitry Orlov: What do I have to fear? If they send me back to the AHL, I’ll play there. I will be proving that I deserve to play in the NHL. I didn’t sign a three-year contract for nothing. I don’t give up. I will fight for it.

Andrey Osadchenko: Do you set a target for yourself as to when you need to make the main team?

Dmitry Orlov: Of course I do. I have my goals for the season, and I want to meet them. For example, to make it to Washington – this year. I will give my best effort to achieve that.

Additional reporting by Ian Oland.