Washington Capitals defenseman Brooks Orpik has decided to retire after 15 NHL seasons and two Stanley Cup championships.
The 38-year-old announced his retirement Tuesday. Orpik says his body is telling him "it is time to move on to something new" after 1,171 regular-season and playoff games.
Orpik won the Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh in 2009 and Washington in 2018. The rugged blue liner was a respected leader in the Capitals' locker room the past four seasons. Teammates nicknamed him "Batya," the Russian word for "Dad."
FILE - In this April 13, 2019, file photo, Washington Capitals defenseman Brooks Orpik (44) celebrates his game-winning goal in overtime of Game 2 of an NHL hockey first-round playoff series against the Carolina Hurricanes in Washington. Orpik has decided to retire after 15 seasons and two Stanley Cup championships. The 38-year-old announced his retirement Tuesday, June 25, 2019. Orpik says his body is “telling me it is time to move on to something new” after 1,171 NHL regular-season and playoff games. (AP PhotoNick Wass, File)
The San Francisco native who went to Boston College was mostly known for his physicality and defense. But Orpik scored the Game 2-winning goal for Washington in the 2018 final on the way to the franchise's first title.
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