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."