What can Orlov and Hathaway do for the Boston Bruins’ Cup Chances?

Dmitry Orlov (at 50% retained by the Minnesota Wild) and Garnet Hathaway were shipped off to Boston in exchange for Craig Smith, a 2023 first, 2024 third, and 2025 second round draft pick. As mentioned, the trade went through the Wild, who gave up forward Andrei Svetlakov and received a 2023 fifth round draft pick for their troubles.

Now, it is time to break it down and ask what has this trade accomplished for each team involved?

Washington Capitals Signalling it is Time to Rebuild?

There was a time this season that the Capitals appeared to be hitting a second wind and were a highly competitive team sitting comfortably in a playoff spot. This hot streak coincided with the tail end of a difficult period where a significant portion of the roster was out due to injury. If the team was succeeding while missing a handful of their top players, one would imagine that once those players returned to the lineup the team would be even better.

Unfortunately, that was not the case. Since the end of that hot streak just after Christmas, the Capitals have gone 8-12-2, have fallen out of a playoff spot, and gotten lost in the mix of teams fighting for a wild card spot.

Considering where the Capitals are in their competitive window, now is the time to start to sell to begin building up the prospect pool again.

Orlov and Hathaway were among many names on the team that had begun popping up in trade rumours recently. Both pending UFA’s at the end of the season, it makes sense for the Capitals to try and trade them as deadline rentals.

For the combination of the two, the Capitals made out fairly well. They got a roster player in Smith, included to make the cap space work, and three draft picks. Defenders of Orlov’s ilk have been rumoured to be on the market for a first round and third round pick, which was included. And receiving a second round pick for Hathaway is a fair price.

This trade is a good start for the Capitals in replenishing the team’s prospect pipeline after years of staying competitive.

Will Orlov and Hathaway Help Secure Another Cup for the Boston Bruins?

Much has been made of the potentially historic regular season pace the Bruins are on. In the history of the NHL, the .813 points percentage that Boston has through 44 games is fourth best all-time. But even though the team has been absurdly good in the regular season, playoffs are another beast.

In come Orlov and Hathaway.

In Orlov, the Bruins get a physical, defensive defender who is never afraid to block a shot. Heading into the playoffs, where bumps and bruises and lingering injuries can take a huge toll on a team, adding more depth to the roster, especially someone with his player type, can help the longevity of the team.

Orlov likely slots in on the third pairing simply due to how deep the Bruins are at defense. This gives a fantastic outlook for the postseason being able to have a defender capable of first line duties able to take a third line role and help alleviate some pressure off of the top two pairings.

Hathaway is a player who just screams Boston Bruins. He is an extremely physical depth forward who can kill penalties. With 198 hits, he leads the Capitals and sits eighth in the league. Although he may not have a huge offensive touch with just nine goals and 16 points on the season, the Bruins don’t need him for that. He will slot in perfectly on the fourth line with A.J. Greer and Trent Frederic to create a punishing trio that will wear down the opposition.

The Bruins may have given up a lot for these two players. But with where the team is at within their competitive window, paying a high price to make what might be a final run at the Stanley Cup is well worth it. Many people thought the Bruins would be done this season, but that prediction couldn’t have been more wrong.

Ultimately, Orlov and Hathaway give the Bruins a much stronger roster on paper. The two of them should fit perfectly within the style of hockey that Boston plays. And, they shore up the depth in a meaningful way. They have made the Bruins look even more poised for a deep playoff run this season.

Will Orlov and Hathaway help the Bruins’ playoff chances? Drop a comment down below with your thoughts!

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