Orlov Back From Russia, Hagelin Putting In Work At Capitals Informal Skates

The Washington Capitals are making their way back onto the ice with training camp just weeks away, and more familiar faces were at MedStar Capitals Iceplex on Monday.

Dmitry Orlov has officially returned to D.C. after spending his offseason in Russia and joined the Capitals for informal skates. Per The Athletic’s Tarik El-Bashir, Orlov, as well as Evgeny Kuznetsov, Anthony Mantha, John Carlson, T.J. Oshie, Carl Hagelin, Nick Jensen, Garnet Hathaway, Joe Snively, Alex Alexeyev and Sam Anas, skated together on Monday at the team’s practice facility.

With camp set to begin in about 3 weeks, the #Caps informal skates are picking up. Today, Carlson, Kuznetsov, Oshie, Mantha, Orlov, Hagelin, Jensen and Hathaway are out here w/ Snively, Alexeyev and Anas. pic.twitter.com/Vtjby8c4nj

— Tarik El-Bashir (@Tarik_ElBashir) August 29, 2022

Orlov is coming off a career season that saw him dish 12 goals and 23 assists for 35 points in 76 games. He and Jensen provided a shutdown mentality and a solid puck-moving presence on the second pairing. The 31-year-old is entering the final year of his contract and will be a UFA at the end of the season.

Meanwhile, Hagelin, who is working toward a comeback from a ruptured choroid that took away part of his vision and depth perception, continues to skate. Per El-Bashir, he is wearing an oversized visor. Hagelin also appears to be wearing a powder blue non-contact jersey.

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The Swede hasn’t played since Feb. 28, 2022. He suffered the devastating left eye injury at the end of a March 1 practice and underwent two surgeries. Hagelin said he hopes to return and that he would focus on eye training and compensating with his right eye. General manager Brian MacLellan and the team expected a clearer update on his status in August. And seeing him on the ice is a positive sign.

Alexeyev is also in powder blue. The Russian underwent shoulder surgery in June and was given a 4-5 month timeline. Alexeyev was a favorite for a roster spot this season. Still, based on the timeline, it doesn’t appear that he will be ready for game action by October and could start the year with the AHL’s Hershey Bears. Ultimately though, seeing him on the ice is a positive sign for the Capitals.