Mandatory Credit: James Guillory — Imagn Images [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/f0f65c46-7d07-4198-9e18-16deaa019908.jpeg] Mandatory Credit: James Guillory — Imagn Images For former Washington Capitals defenseman Dmitry Orlov, a change of scenery didn't exactly give him the fresh start he was looking for. Orlov had been a lifelong member of the Washington Capitals and staple on the top-4 up until February 2023, when he was traded to the Boston Bruins as part of a trade deadline sell-off. Then, when he hit free agency, he chose to sign with the Carolina Hurricanes, but ultimately, struggled. "The last two years, it wasn't easy for me mentally," Orlov told reporters after signing with the San Jose Sharks earlier in July. "So I kind of just tried to move far away with a new team, basically a new life for me." Orlov said that he took a bit of a step back over his two years with the Hurricanes, as he wasn't playing up to his level while also having to play bottom-pairing minutes at times. "When I signed in Raleigh, kind of expect one thing. When you not showing up or coaches not believing in you, it's always the battle, you know?" Orlov said. The 33-year-old put up respective 26 and 28-point seasons in 2023-24 and 2024-25, along with a solid plus/minus rating and decent advanced statistics. In total, he had 12 goals and 54 points while averaging 18:36 minutes per game over 158 total games with the Hurricanes. However, he couldn't find the consistency he had back when he was in D.C., and ultimately, needed a change. "Everybody has their own story and own career, so I learn on my way and I just need to be more focused as an older guy, more experienced," Orlov said. "I expect one thing but you need to just focus day by day, basically. You can't look too far. It's what I did, and I think it was a mistake." Now, as he starts fresh with the Sharks, he's looking forward to building the foundation for the team as it continues to rebuild, while also getting accustomed to the Western Conference. "It's a new chapter, a new fresh start for me with a new team, a young tteam, too. It's going to be a new experience for me."
