Orlov is a candidate to open the season as a regular member of the Capitals' third defensive pairing.

EDGE Analysis

Since making a splash with the Capitals in his NHL debut season of 2011-12 with three goals and 19 points in 60 games, Orlov has known nothing but frustration since then. Due to the 2012-13 lockout and complications from May 2014 wrist surgery, Orlov has logged just 59 games with the Capitals in the last three years, with none of those coming last season. Now finally healthy and still just 24 years old, Orlov could be a potential breakout candidate for the Capitals, who are hoping he can assume some of the offensive burden left by Mike Green's offseason departure.

Orlov (wrist) will not enter the lineup Saturday against the Rangers, Alex Prewitt of the Washington Post reports. With the Capitals having already secured a playoff spot heading into Saturday's season finale, there was some belief that Orlov might finally get a chance to play after missing the entire season while recovering from wrist surgery. However, since the Capitals are still trying to hold off the Islanders for second place in the Metropolitan Division, it appears coach Barry Trotz will stick with his usual lineup defensively, preventing Orlov from getting a chance to play. Though he's now healthy, Orlov won't be eligible to play during the postseason and will have to turn his sights toward next season before entering the fold again.

Head coach Barry Trotz said he would like to get Orlov (wrist) into a game, but is not certain they will do so in the remaining two regular season games, Chuck Gormley of CSN Washington reports. Orlov has been recalled to the NHL ranks after a brief conditioning assignment with AHL Hershey. Unfortunately for him, the Capitals are fully healthy on the defensive side of their roster and are hoping to secure home ice in the first round of the playoffs, so the time may not be opportune to give the Russian blueliner, who has missed all season recovering from a wrist injury, his first NHL action in almost a year. However, if healthy, Orlov remains a sleeper candidate in deeper leagues next season.

The Capitals have recalled Orlov (wrist) from his conditioning stint with AHL Hershey, the team's official site reports. Per the report, Orlov will return to the Capitals' long-term injury list, with Alex Prewitt of the Washington Post relaying that it's unclear if Orlov will suit up for the team prior to the end of the regular season.

Alex Prewitt of The Washington Post reports "there is a chance" that Orlov will join the Capitals on their upcoming road trip and may end up making his season debut at some point during that trip. Orlov has had a terrible road to recovery following offseason wrist surgery and has only recently begun playing with AHL Hershey after being sent to the minors last week. The Capitals are hoping to have Orlov at the ready for the playoff run, but given the difficulty in his recovery, it is hard to say whether Orlov will be up to the task any time soon. However, should he return to the lineup and remain healthy, it should provide some assurance that he will be ready for next season, and thus improve his draft stock for the 2015-2016 season.

Orlov (wrist) was reassigned to AHL Hershey for a conditioning assignment Friday. The Capitals plan to re-evaluate Orlov after he plays three games for AHL Hershey, but it's not clear that there's a place in the lineup for the 23-year-old blueliner. He should at least provide injury depth in the playoffs, and could emerge as an interesting target next season.

Orlov (wrist) will be assigned to AHL Hershey this week for a conditioning stint, Alex Prewitt of The Washington Post reports. The long-awaited conditioning assignment is the latest chapter in a long and frustrating recovery for Orlov, who first injured his wrist while playing for Russia at the 2014 IIHF World Championships last June. The plan is for Orlov to play in three games for AHL Hershey and then re-evaluate. With a glut of healthy and well-conditioned NHL defensemen ahead of him, his prospects for cracking the Capitals lineup in a meaningful role this season appear slim, but he should be on your draft radar for next season, particularly if Mike Green departs during free agency. At the very least, things appear to finally be looking up for the talented Russian blueliner.

Orlov (wrist) is traveling with the Capitals on their current road trip and is expected to begin a conditioning stint at AHL Hershey next week, Alex Prewitt of the Washington Post reports. Orlov, who is nearly 10 months removed from wrist surgery, finally appears ready to test himself in game action in what has been a painfully slow rehab process. He's expected to play the maximum three games allowed for a conditioning assignment before rejoining the Capitals, assuming everything checks out fine along the way. It's quite possible he could reemerge as a third-pairing defenseman for the Capitals during the postseason.

Orlov (wrist) will likely join AHL Hersey for a conditioning assignment next week, after he travels with the Capitals on an upcoming three-game road trip, CSN Washington's Chuck Gormley reports. Orlov is likely hoping to get a few NHL games in before the end of the season to allow the Capitals to decide whether he can help the team in the playoffs. The Caps' upcoming road trip concludes with Saturday's game in Winnipeg, and Orlov's conditioning stint could be somewhat lengthy.

Coach Barry Trotz said Thursday that Orlov (wrist) would head out on a conditioning stint at AHL Hershey in the near future, Alex Prewitt of the Washington Post reports. Orlov has been out of commission since undergoing wrist surgery 10 months ago. Though Orlov was expected to be ready to go at the start of the season, he's failed to notice much recovery in the wrist while skating and practicing with the Capitals, but Trotz's update suggests the blueliner may have finally turned the corner. The Capitals haven't outlined a target date for the start of the conditioning assignment, but considering how much time he's missed, he would likely require at least a week or two in the minors before rejoining the parent club. His return could provide a boost to the Caps' blue line heading into the playoffs.