"When you score a goal against Washington, everything smokes inside."
Stanley Cup winner Dmitry Orlov, who is spending his 14th year in the NHL, has gone through more changes in the last two seasons than he did in his entire previous career. First, the defenseman was traded to Boston before his contract with Washington expired, and a few months later he signed a nice two-year contract with Carolina, under which he earns $7.5 million a year. It expires next summer.
Orlov's second year in Carolina is better than his first by all accounts. And in terms of performance - after a quarter of the season he already has 3+11, while the previous year's total was 6+20. And in terms of playing time - he has added more than two minutes, and their stable pairing with Jalen Chatfield has turned from third to second. In interviews with Izvestia and Sport-Express, Orlov talked about the balance of power in the league this season, Evgeny Kuznetsov's return to Russia and the most frustrating moment of his career.
Washington has become a second home for me
- There have been more changes in your career in the last two years than in the previous 12. A trade to Boston, leaving Washington, signing with Carolina, and a difficult start there. What was the hardest part?
- Leaving Washington after 12 years. That whole season wasn't easy for me. It was the last season of my contract, and I wasn't sure until the last one whether I was going to stay with the team or be traded. I remember I was on my way to a game when head coach Peter Laviolette called me and told me that there might be a trade today and that's why I wasn't playing today.
I called my wife and parents right away. Until the last minute I thought about going to the game to support the guys, but at 6 p.m. the general manager contacted me and told me that I had been traded to Boston. My feelings were mixed, because, on the one hand, I had spent my entire career with one team before that, and I was shocked and confused about what to do and where to go. And on the other hand, the Bruins were the best team of that regular season, which broke all records, won the President's Cup and was considered almost the main contender for the Stanley Cup....
- This season you made a double in Washington's goal. And you didn't celebrate it at all on the ice. What was going on inside?
- A lot. Every game against Washington is not easy for me morally. Just remember the first one, when my family was at the game and the Cubs showed a warm video that was dedicated to me. I still have it on my phone.
When you know a lot of guys, respect them and the organization, and are grateful to them for a lot of things - of course, it's not easy. I try to abstract my feelings as much as possible and focus on hockey. When you score a goal against Washington, of course, everything is smoking and boiling inside. But I don't think I should be happy about the goal. It's my tribute to the club.
- But how can you control yourself?
- Yes, it's difficult. But you have to.
- Was this double important for you in terms of proving something to someone in Washington?
- No. It's just an important game against a division rival, and Washington, like us, started the season well. You go into a game like this with triple, even quintuple energy, you have to be ready for it both physically and spiritually. It was an important win for the team and for me. Of course, it was nice to score. But to celebrate - no.
- The Capitals recently had two of their 2018 gold medalists return to the Capitals - Jakub Vrana and Lars Eller. So, might as well...
- Kuznetsov, ha ha?
- We'll talk more about Kuznetsov later. You!
- My contract is up in the summer. I don't know if I'll stay in Carolina, but I'm trying to put all these thoughts away, think only about hockey, today and get the most out of it. Especially since last season was quite hard and unusual for me. I analyze what I do well, and what I could do better in certain situations. And I try to be positive all the time. The main thing is that the team is winning, and it allows me to be on the rise.
I have a lot of respect for Rotenberg
- Several times this season I've read insiders that next summer, when your two-year contract with Carolina expires, you'll be coming to play for SKA. And Kuznetsov added fuel to the fire by saying: "I hope to come in a year. That's my wish and one other person's wish." How great are the chances?
- I haven't conducted any negotiations. I still want to play in the NHL and I will try to play in this league as long as I can. So all these news and insiders are not true.
- "Carolina" has already made an offer on a new contract?
- No.
- You've already played over 800 games in the league. Do you set a goal to play 1,000?
- I'd like to, of course. The more I play in the NHL, the better. It's been a lifelong dream. The longer I can stay in this league, the happier I'll be. The results of my hockey career will show what I have and haven't accomplished, but the main thing is not to regret anything.
- The "one more person" who wants to see you in St. Petersburg has a name and patronymic - obviously Roman Borisovich. He also publicly congratulated you on your birthday on social networks. What is your relationship with the SKA head coach?
- Good. And I've had respect for him ever since I crossed paths with him as the general manager of the national team. I think he did a lot for the team in that position. All organizational aspects were solved at the highest level, it was a pleasure to come to the national team, because you did not have to worry about any problems.
The same was true for the family - you always knew that everything would be done clearly for them, everything would work like clockwork. There was never a single hitch - not with tickets, not with the meeting, not with hotels, not with anything else. That's why we always had a good selection of players at the World Championships, everyone came with pleasure, no one refused.
- I still don't understand how it was possible to lose the 2019 World Cup with a completely magical squad.
- Yes, it still hurts to remember the defeat in the semifinals against Finland. That tournament is another proof that everyone wanted to go to the national team! So I have no reason to say anything bad about Roman Borisovich. I think he has done a lot of good things for the national team and for hockey.
Kuznetsov and Deangelo
- Now about another man from St. Petersburg, though a Chelyabinsk resident. "Orel is one of the few people who know the real Zhenya Kuznetsov," an old friend of yours who now plays for SKA at Rotenberg's place said recently.
- That's right. I've known Kuzya half my life! I've played together in the national teams - he's a year younger - and I remember the first time he was called up, there was a tournament in the Moscow region, and they put him right next to me. Since then, we became friends and always communicated.
- When he was called up to the new team for the first time, did he behave modestly?
- Kuzya - modest?! He was always talkative. Then Washington drafted me first, and then him a year later. And we won the World Cup in Buffalo together. It was nice that we went through life together. And many years in "Washington", and the Stanley Cup, and then also "Carolina".
- Why do you think he stopped feeling happy in the Capitals?
- That's something you should ask Zhenka. Of course, we discuss something, share with each other - although sometimes you keep your worries to yourself. But I think it was the relationship with the coach (Orlov probably means the previous Washington coach Peter Laviolette, whose misunderstanding with Kuznetsov later made it into the press. - Ed.). When he trusts you, you see that, and that's very important. But when something bothers you and you withdraw into yourself, close yourself off, dig into yourself, it starts to bother you. Especially for an open-minded guy like Zhenka.
That's why I was happy to see him smile in Carolina. He had a rough season that didn't really pan out. But he came to the Hurricanes with renewed energy, emotion, and focus. He tried to bring his zest to our system game. He's a great skill! He's now gone to Russia, to SKA, and I hope everything goes well for him there.
- Were you surprised by his decision?
- As a friend you have to support your friend - regardless of what you think about it. Yes, of course, we can discuss something and I'll give my opinion. But he did what he wanted to do, what was important to his family. I think the decision was made at the family council. And if that's what the Smiths did - then it's the best choice they could have made. I wish him nothing but good luck, support him and want him and his family to be happy. We're in touch, of course.
- Do you suppose that Kuznetsov will still return to the NHL?
- I don't know. He has a four-year contract with SKA. God willing, that everything worked out well. And then we'll see.
- Another of your teammates from last year, Tony Deangelo, plays with him in SKA.
- I treat Tony well, with respect - both as a hockey player and as a person. He's funny and unusual - just read what he writes on Twitter. At this stage of his career I decided to go to Russia, to play here for a year. And he's doing great, he has great stats. So maybe next season he'll be back in the NHL.
- What did he consult with you about before coming to Russia?
- What our cities are like, what they have. However, everyone already knows how good Moscow and St. Petersburg are, that they have strong teams with decent players. I explained to him that there are a lot of players there with whom and against whom I played in the NHL. And then Kuzya signed with them.
- Does Kuznetsov supervise Deangelo there?
- I think so. Of course, they communicate and Zhenya helps him.
At 3-3 in the Stanley Cup Final, Bobrovsky was a scare
- Vladislav Gavrikov told me at the beginning of the year: "I was already sure I was going to Boston, but one day the guys showed me a news item on the Internet: 'Orlov to the Bruins'. So they were choosing between you and him?
- I don't know the specifics. I also read that Boston was interested in Gavrikov and I think they agreed on an exchange. Then some pause - and a rumor that Washington might trade me. Maybe the Bruins changed their plans because of that, maybe for some other reason - you have to find out from those who were involved in the process.
But Vlad is in LA, so he was traded from Columbus pretty well too. We went to dinner last season, he said he liked everything, he plays a lot, they have a good team. So I think he benefited from that trade.
- You started scoring points in "Boston" just frantically - eight in the first four games. What has changed compared to "Washington" - the first team of the majority?
- Yes, I played in the first team for a few games, but in "Washington" there was no such opportunity. Plus Boston had the best team in the league when I came here, they scored a lot of goals - well, I got my share. But I didn't change anything in my game. I tried to play at both ends of the floor, to shoot, to pass. And I had some luck.
- Do you have an explanation for why Boston lost to Florida in the first round after a fantastic performance in the regular season? How does it even work when clear favorites "burn" to clubs from the eighth place: "Tampa" - "Columbus" in 2019, "Inter Miami" with Messi in MLS - "Atlanta" with Miranchuk?
- I already have three President's Cups - and each time after that in the playoffs did not work out much, did not go further than the second round, or even the first. Perhaps in recent games, having secured the first place, the team plays knowing that it is in the playoffs, and there is a subconscious relaxation. It seems like you're trying, but deep down inside, you can't get what you need out of yourself when the elimination games start.
And the teams that go into the playoffs from the bottom have been in cup mode for a long time. They've been battling all last month like every game is their last, and they're already playing the kind of hockey that gets results. You're on euphoria, on the feeling that everything is going well. In Boston, there were times when the quality of play wasn't right, but we still scored three or four goals and won. Then in the playoffs, there was payback for all of that. And it's probably no coincidence that with Washington, we won the Cup when we weren't the leaders in the regular season.
- Florida, who beat you, first reached the finals, and this year they won the Cup. You said you were rooting for them because of fellow countryman Sergei Bobrovsky.
- Of course. And I wrote to Sergei right after the victory. It was unreal cool. I didn't have a chance to watch the seventh game, but I followed what was going on. Of course, it was scary for Bobrovsky when 3-0 in the series turned into 3-3. The stress, no doubt, was immense. But all's well that ends well.
- He was at your birthday party in Moscow in the summer. Did you visit Novokuznetsk, your hometown, this summer?
- Of course, but before that. I missed it, it was nice to see my hometown. After the season, my family and I, when we have the opportunity, try to fly there right away. I always want to go to my homeland! My wife and I have all our relatives there.
- A documentary about the 2024 Finals showed Connor McDavid crying in the locker room after the seventh game. Have you ever cried over hockey?
- Yes. When we lost the final of the 2009 World Junior Championship in Fargo, U.S., to the U.S. national team 0-5 in the final. My close friend Vova Tarasenko and many others were on that team. It's always a shame to lose in the deciding game.
- Have you ever seen Ovechkin crying?
- No.
Kochetkov likes to talk, but on game day he doesn't say a word
- In the summer, after Boston, what other options were there - was there no possibility to re-sign with the same Washington? Why did you choose Carolina?
- Since I signed with them for two years, there's no point in going back to it and telling something in hindsight. I made that choice myself. Last year was not easy for me both in terms of adaptation and playing time. But what was, is past, I analyzed what I need to improve, made conclusions.
- What is it?
- Just to believe in myself more. Somewhere I lost the thread of confidence in my game, and it was not easy to cope with that. But the second half of the season was better, and the playoffs were pretty good. It didn't help much in terms of results, we got knocked out in the second round, so we still could have done something better. We were disappointed that we started the series with the Rangers poorly, losing it 0-3. We could have come back, made it 3-3 and gone to the seventh game. We led in game six, but gave it away in the third period. It was sad and frustrating. But now we have new emotions and new aspirations, especially since the season started well for us.
- Despite the fact that a lot of strong players left Carolina.
- Yes, the quality of hockey hasn't deteriorated. After all, we have a system, all the players try to fulfill it and work it out to the end. Thanks to that, even a number of games that weren't easy, we were able to win. It's very important for the spirit and confidence of the team and the atmosphere in the locker room.
- Are you allowed to speak Russian in the locker room? Thankfully, there is someone to talk to.
- We are asked to communicate in English with Andrei Svechnikov and Petya Kochetkov. But when we are alone, of course, we always speak Russian. Petya continues to learn English. He is good, he has improved a lot during the last season. We knew Andrei before, we have the same agent - Mark Gandler. And we met Kochetkov last summer, and I saw how he talked then and how he talks now - the difference is huge. I understand that when you have several Russian players on the team, it prevents you from learning English faster. But he made a big jump.
- The characters of goalies is a separate topic. Is Kochetkov as emotional in life as he is on the ice, where he once attacked Brad Marchand?
- Petya likes to talk! But not on game day. On game day, he doesn't talk.
- Does he shut down completely?
- Well, not completely, but he keeps his emotions in check. He's a good guy, we hit it off from the first day we met. Like with Andrei, too. We try to communicate and help each other all the time. I'm glad that Petya has good statistics this season, so he is gaining confidence. The less stress he has, the better for both Kochetkov and us, and the more chances to win.
- How would you characterize Svechnikov's role in the team? Don't you think that with a different coach, who gives more opportunities for improvisation, he would have a lot more points?
- I'm not ready to judge that. But his role is important, if only because he gets on the ice in all situations. He can play both on the rush and in front of the goal. He's good at pressing and always works on defense. Basically, Andrei has all aspects of the game and understanding of hockey to become more and more the leader of the team every year. He had an injury last season, which made it hard for him, but this season he feels more confident. He's physically powerful, and as he matures and gains experience, I have no doubt he'll get even better.
- Svechnikov is tied with Trevor Zegras for the most lacrosse goals in NHL history - they have three each.
- I think Andrei is coaching them - it's no coincidence that he scored his third last season. So I think we'll definitely see him in this one too, even though he hasn't tried it yet.
- Have you ever tried?
- At the training session I tried to score into an empty net. And once in the warm-up Petya scored, ha-ha! When I tried to lift it, Petya gave me such an expressive look! He wasn't happy. In the end we laughed.
- He said in an interview that a goal conceded in lacrosse was a psychological blow for a goalkeeper.
- In general, since I've been in the NHL, a lot has changed here. In the early years, there were a lot of big players and power plays. Now the emphasis is on speed, skating, there is less physical struggle.
- And what do you like more?
- My task is to adapt to what we have. The sooner I do that, the longer I can play in this league.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
