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Penguins Re-Sign Brooks Orpik, 6 Years
by Alanah McGinley on 07/02/08 at 05:09 PM ET
Comments (11)
via press release,
The Pittsburgh Penguins have re-signed defenseman Brooks Orpik to a six-year contract, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Ray Shero.
Update 5:13pm ET: TSN notes that the contract is $22.5 million over 6 years (*link not yet available update: link now available).
Remainder of Penguins press release is below:
Orpik, 27, played 78 games for the Penguins during the 2007-08 season, recording career-highs in assists (10), points (11), along with a career-best plus-11 rating. Orpik ranked fifth in the NHL during the regular season with 239 hits and his hit total was second among league defensemen (Michael Komisarek, Montreal - 266). Orpik ranked third on the Penguins with 125 blocked shots in the regular season and is three game shy of 300 in his career.
“Brooks has become a mainstay of our blue line and played an important role in our run to the Stanley Cup Final,” Shero said. “He provides the kind of physical presence you need on a Cup contender, and his work ethic, preparation, and determination are second to none.”
During the playoffs, Orpik led the entire NHL in hits (102) and blocked shots (61) helping the Penguins advance to the Stanley Cup Final. He averaged 20:47 of ice-time in the 2008 playoffs after averaging 16:57 during the regular season.
The 6-2, 210-pound defenseman was originally selected by the Penguins in the first round, 18th overall, in the 2000 NHL Draft. He has played 297 career NHL games, posting 36 points (four goals, 32 assists). Prior to his professional career, Orpik played three seasons at Boston College helping lead the team to the 2001 NCAA Championship.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Pittsburgh Penguins | KK Hockey | Permalink
Comments
Rich Hammond is now confirming that Orpik was the Kings’ free agent target.
Posted by thelossadjuster from Bakersfield, CA on 07/02/08 at 04:14 PM ET
Penguins fan - added numbers just as you left your comment, I think. 
Posted by Alanah McGinley from British Columbia on 07/02/08 at 04:16 PM ET
Thanks Alanah. Good signing. I’m feeling a bit better now after losing Hossa. Orpik had a great playoffs—hopefully he’ll continue developing his game over the next 6 years.
Posted by penguinsfan on 07/02/08 at 04:18 PM ET
Maybe the first UFA defenseman signing this summer that I don’t regard as overpayment.
Posted by Steve on 07/02/08 at 04:34 PM ET
Steve, Commodore making the same amount seems right on target to me, especially if you check out their stats and experience.
Posted by NHLJeff from Boston, MA on 07/02/08 at 04:45 PM ET
Commodore’s a poor man’s Orpik (though Orpik’s probably a poor man’s Komisarek).
Posted by Steve on 07/02/08 at 04:49 PM ET
Um, except, Commodore has averaged .21 points/game over his career, while Orpik has averaged .12, and Commodore has 2 Cup Final appearances and one win, while Orpik has one final appearance and only 5 other playoff games prior to this year.
Orpik is a -29 over his career while Commodore is only a -4.
They both hit and are both stay-at-home D-men, but if they’re not equal, Commodore almost gets the edge…
Posted by NHLJeff from Boston, MA on 07/02/08 at 04:56 PM ET
So apparently Holland didn’t make an offer to Orpik too, otherwise we’d be reading about his 4yr contract of $12M to play in Detroit.
Posted by BobS on 07/02/08 at 05:15 PM ET
Those statistics are not relevant. Neither player contributes notable offense. Plus/minus, is clearly more of a team stat than an individual stat (unless you’re willing to concede that Marek Malik is an elite defender) and does not apply because Commodore never played for an NHL worst team, something Oprik did on three occasions.
Commodore’s noticeably slower, noticeably worse positionally, and noticeably less punishing of a hitter. That’s all there is to it.
Posted by Steve on 07/02/08 at 05:27 PM ET
I’m with Steve, statistically speaking...when you’re talking about stay-at-home guys, and I think both players are really good guys, but I’d take Orpik’s mobility and outlet pass over Commodore’s step-slower, simpler game--especially when a guy’s signing for $3.75 million a season.
Posted by George James Malik from South Lyon, MI on 07/02/08 at 07:07 PM ET
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Nice, any numbers?
Posted by penguinsfan on 07/02/08 at 04:14 PM ET