The Capitals reportedly traded Orpik, who was due to make $5.5 million in the final year of his contract, because they needed to free up space under the NHL salary cap to re-sign free agent defenseman John Carlson, who signed an eight-year contract with an average annual value of $8.0 million June 25.
That day, the Avalanche bought out Orpik's contract, leaving him free to sign anywhere else.
"I think from the hockey standpoint I completely understood why [the Capitals] did it," Orpik said. "From an emotional standpoint it would've ... like I said, I probably wasn't as prepared for it as I should've been because when you win, it's kind of the last thing you're thinking about."
After weighing his options, he decided to sign back with the Capitals as a free agent, getting a one-year, $1 million contract on July 24 that includes $500,000 in potential performance bonuses. Orpik, who had 10 assists in 81 regular-season games and five points (one goal, four assists) in 24 games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season, said he doesn't know if his role with Washington will change.
"Every year is a little bit different," he said. "We've got pretty much the same team coming back, so we've got a lot of good young [defensemen] coming. ... My approach will be the same, and then kind of however they want to use me, that'll be the thing."
But Orpik can expect his teammates to lean on him for advice this season; he is the only Capitals player to win the Cup more than once, also winning it with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009.
"Everyone's gunning for you, that's for sure," Orpik said. "Regardless, there's no easy games. Obviously, when you're the defending champion, it's that much tougher. I think the one thing I learned is everyone kind of puts it in your head that you're going to be so tired from the run, this and that. Everyone's in such good shape now, I think you're never as tired as you think you are. So that's one of those things that you've got to kind of block out. You saw Pittsburgh won back to back (in 2016 and 2017). That's obviously really hard to do, but you've got to know that the fatigue the next year isn't any different."
