PuckSleuth
Dmitry Orlov9

San Jose Sharks · Defense · Shoots L

Dmitry Orlov

Age 35 · 5'11" · 215 lb · Born in Novokuznetsk, RUS

Cap hit

$6.5M

6.3% of $104M cap

Term

1 yr

Through 2026-27, then UFA

Clause

NTC

Surplus value

+$670K

vs. $7.17M market estimate

Confirmed by the public signing announcement · source

2026-27 regular season

GP

1

Goals

0

0.0% shooting

Assists

0

0 primary

Points

0

0.00 per game

TOI/GP

17:55

PP 0:29 · PK 1:34

xGF%

28.1

5v5, -20.5 vs. last yr

Game Score

-0.18

per game

Faceoff %

—

Plus/minus

-1

Blocks 3 · Hits 1

Game log

Last 5 games · NHL API

GameGASOGHITBLKTOIPPPKFOOZS%GVTK+/-GS
Oct 1
vs FLA · W 4-3
0011317:550:291:34—5020-1-0.18
Apr 16
@ WPG · W 6-1
0000116:300:001:01—0100+0.02
Apr 15
@ CHI · L 5-2
0112018:292:380:03—6730-2+0.23
Apr 13
@ NSH · W 3-2
0020220:030:300:00—4010-1+0.17
Apr 11
vs VAN · OTL 4-3
0101220:441:160:14—10010+1+0.52

GS = our Game Score (credit for everything he did; goals and assists count most). FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.

Advanced metrics

5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 1,396 min · percentile vs. NHL defensemen

xGF%48.6%

44th percentile

Relative xGF%+2.4

75th percentile

HDCF%46.5%

34th percentile

CF%50.7%

65th percentile

Relative CF%+5.8

96th percentile

FF%49.1%

47th percentile

GF%42.4%

17th percentile

CF/6056.3

53rd percentile

CA/6054.9

70th percentile

ixG/600.22

55th percentile

Goals above expected-2.1

11th percentile

IPP32.1%

40th percentile

PDO97.8

19th percentile

OZS%42.0%

30th percentile

xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.

Play styleOffensive playmaking defenseman

Trait percentiles vs. NHL defensemen · 2025-26

Orlov is an elite passer who drives play with constant pressure and excellent forechecking, making him dangerous in transition. His game relies heavily on playmaking and aggression because his defensive positioning and puck-handling efficiency have slipped noticeably.

Pass-firstHigh-pressureTransition threat
Shooting volume
40
Playmaking
89
Zone entries(est.)
13
Forechecking
93
Physicality
50
Defensive impact
22
Puck management
19
Speed
24

Where he shoots from

Slot 9% · Mid-range 22% · Perimeter 68%(149 unblocked shots)

Strengths

  • Elite forechecking at 93rd percentile keeps opponents on their heels
  • Exceptional playmaking (89th percentile) drives his 34 assists
  • Consistent ice time and involvement reward his offensive tendencies

Watch-outs

  • Rush chances (13th percentile) suggest difficulty creating clean offensive entries
  • Defensive impact (22nd percentile) indicates positioning or coverage gaps
  • Puck management (19th percentile) shows increased turnovers at age 35

Similar style: Brendan Smith, Tyler Kleven (OTT)

Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.

Where his Game Score comes from

2025-26 · 82 GP

Season total +26.1, or +0.32 per game.

Scoring
+23.6
Shooting
+6.8
5-on-5 goals
-2.9
Defense
-0.9
Penalty kill
-0.4
Physical play
+6.3
Puck battles
-4.2
Penalties
-2.3

Game Score gives credit for everything a player does in a game. Goals (1.0) and assists (0.7 primary, 0.5 secondary) count most; shots, blocks, hits, takeaways, penalties drawn, faceoff wins, killing penalties, and holding down the other team's chances add to it. Only mistakes subtract: goals against at 5-on-5, giveaways, penalties taken, faceoff losses, and allowing more chances than an average player would. A player who is there to defend or kill penalties is not marked down for not scoring. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.

Career stats

From the NHL's player records

SeasonTeamGPGAP+/-PIMPPGPPPSHGGWGSOGS%TOIFO%
2015-16Washington Capitals1101102010050.013:18—
2016-17Washington Capitals13033-120000210.021:25—
2017-18Washington Capitals24268+540000484.224:12—
2018-19Washington Capitals7044-240100100.023:23—
2019-20Washington Capitals8033-140100110.024:00—
2020-21Washington Capitals5033-160000120.023:27—
2021-22Washington Capitals6011-42000030.022:02—
2022-23Boston Bruins7088-320400110.023:03—
2023-24Carolina Hurricanes112460140000229.120:57—
2024-25Carolina Hurricanes15044+2100000210.021:42—
Career10 seasons10743741-55007001642.421:45—

Seasons traded mid-year show one row per team.

Usage

Last game: vs FLA, Oct 1

Pair 1 with Luca Cagnoni (13:37 together at 5-on-5) · PP2

From the NHL's shift chart.

Latest news

Headlines from news outlets and team blogs

No news about him in the last 30 days.

Sentiment & chatter

Fans

—

Beat writers

—

Media

—

Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.

Recent Game Scores

Last 10 games · goals above average

Average +0.44 per game over these 10.

Skating · NHL EDGE

2025-26, as of Oct 2

Top speed
21.3 mph
35th pct
20+ mph bursts
16
Hardest shot
92.3 mph
61st pct
Distance
238.6 mi
OZ time
44.1%
84th pct
DZ time
37.9%

Age curve

NHL defensemen · production index

202937

At 35, defensemen typically produce 67% of their peak (age 24).

From 24 seasons of NHL results, adjusted for league scoring and save percentage in each era. Shaded bars are the seasons left on his contract.

Contract by season

1 season left

SeasonTeamCap hit% of cap
2026-27SJS$6.5M6.3%

UFA after 2026-27. NTC. $6.5M in cap hits left. % of cap uses each season's ceiling where the league has set one ($104M this season, $113.5M in 2027-28).