Capitals Yank the Yo-Yo, Re-Sign Orpik after Trading Him

So much for the Colorado Avalanche being the Stanley Cup favorites next season.

Now, look for the Washington Capitals to repeat.

Truth be told, Bovada has the Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning as co-favorites at +750, but they're taking a huge human factor out of the equation.

And that would zero in on who's been wearing the rings.

 

That would be seasoned blueliner and clutch performer Brooks Orpik.

It's beyond clear that the Cup goes where he goes.

How could a hardcore hockey fan come to any other conclusion?

 

The Pittsburgh Penguins' first-round draft choice -- and 18th player taken overall -- 'way back in 2000, Orpik helped bring a Cup to the Steel City in 2009.

Now, he's done his bit for the Washington Capitals. Big time.

 

No one's ever gonna confuse his shot with a snipe from Alex Ovechkin, but it looks exactly like one of the Crushin' Russian's in the box score.

Orpik's better known for other things, like this epic display when he was with the Pens:

 

Dude spent 11 seasons doing that sorta stuff for the 'Burgh.

The Caps were well aware of it, too.

 

Even Stanley Cup champions need to shuffle rosters at season's end, and the 37-year-old Orpik wound up being a casualty.

Washington dealt him and backup goaltender Philipp Grubauer to Colorado in order to free up cap space.

 

There were better uses for that cash, like signing Brooks Orpik.

The Avalanche did one of those NBA-style trade-&-waive cap moves themselves, keeping Grubauer and releasing Orpik.

That meant the Capitals, who dumped Orpik's $5.5million salary in the deal, could now offer him a $1million wage for the upcoming season.

 

And he even brought that finger with him.

So, the ol' gang's reassembled again with the lone exception of fourth-liner Jay Beagle. Dude's taking his one ring to Vancouver.

Bovada's got the Nux at +12,500, which is probably generous. Washington's at +1200, and Orpik now needs a ring for that battle-tested finger.

Tall order, though. The Leafs and Lightning have fingers of their own, and they're pointed in the Caps' direction.