The former Capitals teammates reunited in the District as both face tough decisions this summer.
Countrymates Evgeny Kuznetsov and Dmitry Orlov shared an emotional goodbye back in February when the Washington Capitals traded Orlov to the Boston Bruins, but with both in the midst of the offseason and pondering their respective futures, they have reunited for the summer in D.C. and are making the most of it.
The two have been spending plenty of time together since Orlov's return to the area, as Kuznetsov is also staying in North America following an early end to the 2022-23 campaign. Their time has been filled with daily outings around the area and exercise both on and off the ice.
Kuznetsov and Orlov kicked things off in style with some beer league action at SkateQuest in Reston, Virginia, surprising fans and taking photos afterward.
After Kuznetsov's birthday on Friday, the two got together on Saturday morning to bike the Mount Vernon Trail and get some ice cream. On Sunday, the duo then headed to a playground, where Kuznetsov rode on a rocking pony ride.
Evgeny Kuznetsov riding a playground pony ride. (orlov_09/Instagram)
Both Kuznetsov and Orlov face uncertainty going into next season.
Kuznetsov's future in D.C. is in flux following reports of a trade request (though Kuznetsov denied it) and comments from longtime friend and hockey agent Sergei Fedotov saying that No. 92 is disinterested in Washington and doesn't have the "buzz" he once did with the club.
The 31-year-old switched agents, who will reportedly meet with general manager Brian MacLellan to discuss his future with the Capitals. All signs, though, are pointing to a trade.
Meanwhile, Orlov said that he would explore his options as he approaches unrestricted free agency for the first time in his career. He didn't rule out a return to Washington, though he admitted he wouldn't know if there's a fit, given the team dealt him to Boston, where he thrived with 17 points in 23 appearances to close out the regular season.