The Washington Capitals have summoned Dmitry Orlov. Orlov has a goal and six points in four AHL games this season. He also has three goals and 20 points in 65 career NHL games.

The Washington Capitals have sent Dmitry Orlov to Hershey of the AHL. Orlov did not have to pass through waivers and that did not help his cause. The defenseman was the Capitals second round pick in 2009. He played 60 games in the NHL in the 2011-12 season but spent time in the minors during the lockout and ended up suffering an upper body injury when the lockout ended, wrecking his season as he only played five games in the NHL. The Capitals are still high on Orlov so expect to see him up in the not-too-distant future.

Defenseman Dmitry Orlov probably will end up starting the NHL's regular season next week at AHL Hershey because the Capitals have a glut of third-pair type defensemen. Jack Hillen, Steve Oleksy and Tyson Strachan all have to pass through waivers (Orlov would not) if the team keeps seven defensemen, so Orlov could be the odd-man out. Orlov was a second-round pick (No. 55) by Washington in the 2009 NHL Draft, and didn't take long to impress people in the organization as a summer-camp standout. He joined Hershey near the end of the 2010-11 season and immediately became a key figure for the Bears. The next season he had 19 points in 60 games for the Capitals and did not look out of place in a top-four role when all-star Mike Green was hurt. He began last season with Hershey because of the lockout, and an upper-body injury left him unable to begin the NHL season. He missed three months in total, only ended up playing five games in the NHL and didn't look like the same smooth, offensively gifted defenseman. But Caps GM George McPhee still has hopes for Orlov, saying: "He's a pretty dynamic player, and he could be a real difference maker."

If Dmitry Orlov can impress at training camp then he could skyrocket his way up Washington's depth chart. He will enter camp behind the likes of John Erskine, Jack Hillen, Steve Oleksy and Tomas Kundratek, but he has the potential to play as a top-four defender this year. Orlov missed time last season with what is believed to be a concussion and he appeared in just five NHL contests. In 2011-12, Orlov skated in 60 games with the Capitals. He registered 19 points, 99 hits and a plus-1 rating over that span. He could be a player to watch.

Washington Capitals reassign Dmitry Orlov to AHL Hershey. Orlov had one assist and was a plus-5 in five games since being recalled March 18. It's possible Orlov could return to the Capitals when rosters expand.

Dmitry Orlov has been called up by the Washington Capitals. Orlov has a goal and 12 points in 22 AHL games this season. He also has three goals and 16 assists in 60 career NHL contests.

Dmitry Orlov (upper body) will miss another month, GM George McPhee said Friday. Orlov suffered the injury Dec. 6 while playing with the Capitals' AHL affiliate in Hershey. This is the first real update we've had regarding a timeline for the 21-year-old defenseman, who had a respectable rookie season with the Caps. Unfortunately, we likely won't see him until sometime in March at the earliest.

Dmitry Orlov (upper body) skated in Hershey on Friday. Orlov suffered an upper body injury Dec. 6 during the Hershey Bears' game at Verizon Center. Bears coach Mark French told Tim Leone of the Patriot-News that he was "progressing". Asked Saturday about the 21-year-old defenseman, Washington head coach Adam Oates had "no updates". Orlov had a very respectable rookie year with the Capitals, notching 19 points in 60 games.

Dmitry Orlov suffered an upper-body injury Friday night, but it doesn't appear serious. The Capitals' defenseman was forced from the game in the second period of the Hershey Bears' 2-1 win. "I don't think it's anything serious. But he obviously wasn't able to return to the game," coach Mark French said. "We'll probably know better once I'm briefed [by medical personnel]." Orlov has nine points in 18 games.

Dmitry Orlov had two helpers as Hershey topped Bridgeport Sound 5-2 on Friday night. For a then-20-year-old at the NHL level, Orlov held his own very nicely last season, with 19 points in 60 games. He has nine points in 16 games in the AHL thus far. Tomas Kundratek had a goal in the win, one spurred by a four-goal third period.