Photo: NHL.com

Washington Capitals defenseman Brooks Orpik will miss the next 4-6 weeks after having surgery on his right leg, the team announced Tuesday morning. Orpik, 38, has missed the past 10 games and was placed on long-term injured reserve earlier this month with a lower-body injury. 

Orpik has one goal and two points in 10 games with the Capitals this season but hasn’t played since October 27 in a 4-3 shootout victory over the Calgary Flames.

He was signed to a one-year contract by the team on July 24 after he was traded along with goaltender Philipp Grubauer to the Colorado Avalanche on June 22. The Avalanche bought out the final year of his contract the following day.

Orpik led the Capitals with a +17 rating and recorded five points in 24 games, including the first game-winning goal in the Stanley Cup Final in Capitals’ franchise history, in last year’s run to the Stanley Cup. He also led the NHL with a +32 rating in 2016-17.

With Orpik out of the lineup, defenseman Madison Bowey has taken his spot next to Christian Djoos on the third defensive pair.

Capitals Release

Washington Capitals defenseman Brooks Orpik underwent a successful outpatient arthroscopic surgical procedure on his right knee. Based on the nature of this procedure, Orpik is expected to miss four-to-six weeks.

By Harrison Brown