Bruins bolster roster in significant way with additions of Garnet Hathaway and Dmitry Orlov

Don Sweeney took care of the Bruins’ trade deadline shopping in a 2-for-1 with the Washington Capitals ahead of Thursday’s 10 p.m. start with the Seattle Kraken.

Boston acquired Garnet Hathaway and Dmitry Orlov (50 percent salary retained) from Washington for Craig Smith and 2023 first-round pick, a 2025 second and a 2024 third, in addition to sending a 2023 fifth-rounder to Minnesota for the rights to prospect Andrei Svetlakov and an additional 25 percent retention on Orlov’s salary.

It’s another tidy bit of business done by Sweeney ahead of a trade deadline, addressing multiple needs on the roster and loading up with one move.

“I think we were trying to attack in two different areas, and I think Dmitry and Garnet bring some attributes that will complement our group, you know,” Sweeney said. “Hopefully we stay healthy and try to take a run. Play our best hockey at the right times.”

There were few holes, if any, as things stood with the Bruins. One criticism in recent playoff runs had been that teams wore Boston down physically, sometimes exposing a lack of depth on defense. Hathaway and Orlov help in those areas.

Starting with Hathaway, he has been a thorn in Boston’s side in the past, notably landing this questionable hit from behind on Brad Marchand. 

He has been a versatile foot soldier for Washington, with 16 points (nine goals) in a less-than-glamorous role for the Caps. Notably, he’s last among NHL forwards in terms of offensive zone starts, beginning just 18.25 percent of his shifts in the attacking end, which makes his nine goals all the more valuable. JFresh Hockey ranks Hathaway in the 96th percentile of even-strength defense, too. 

Hathaway’s prowess in his own end could point to why he starts so few shifts in the attacking zone. Per Bruins Stats on Twitter, he ranks in the 92nd percentile of NHL skaters in terms of on-ice expected goals-against per 60. With him on the ice at 5-on-5 this season, Washington held a 51.98 percent share of shot attempts and outscored opponents 27-21, according to Natural Stat Trick. 

There’s the physical element that Hathaway brings as well. Since 2017-18, he ranks seventh in the league with 1,170 hits. His physicality makes him a nightmare for opposing forecheckers or anyone willing to engage in a puck battle with him. 

“In Garnet’s case as a penalty killer, can play probably third or fourth line or middle-six, as I would describe, and adds a dimension to our team to compliment the current guys that we rely on in that regard,” Sweeney said. “I think he’s wired in the same way as Dmitry in that he’s ultra-competitive.”

Looking at Orlov, a 2018 Stanley Cup champion with Washington, he adds another layer of physicality, versatility and puck-moving to Boston’s defensive ranks. 

He’s averaging just under 23 minutes of ice-time this season, and ranks in the 85th percentile for expected goals, according to The Athletic. Orlov (5-foot-11, 214 pounds) isn’t as big as Vladislav Gavrikov (6-foot-3, 221 pounds), another defenseman previously linked to Boston, but he checks in as a better all-around player than Gavrikov and certainly makes the most of his frame.  

Orlov may have just 19 points (three goals) on the season, but he’s extremely effective offensively and when moving the puck, based on his underlying numbers. In transition, Orlov ranks in the 99th percentile in both defensive zone exit success rate and offensive zone entries. 

On the left side, the Bruins have three legitimate top-four defensemen in Orlov, Hampus Lindholm and Matt Grzelcyk. 

“I think Dmitry adds a tremendous amount of versatility in being able to play both sides, contributing offensively and has a physical component to his game,” Sweeney said. “He has a wealth of experience and has won a Stanley Cup.”

Sweeney said Hathaway and Orlov will join Boston on their four-game swing through the northwest. 

In terms of the lineup, Jim Montgomery has options right now.

With everyone healthy, the bottom-six could look something like this:

Taylor Hall -- Charlie Coyle -- Trent Frederic
Nick Foligno -- Tomas Nosek -- Garnet Hathaway

With Hathaway’s versatility, he could also find a home on the third line. He’s also a right-shot, something Boston has lacked on the wing this season. As for the defensive pairings, that’s where it really gets interesting for Montgomery. At first glance, the three pairs could shake out like this:

Dmitry Orlov -- Charlie McAvoy
Hampus Lindholm -- Brandon Carlo
Derek Forbort -- Connor Clifton

Grzelcyk could be capable of playing the right side next to Forbort, or on the left side of that pair with Clifton. 

Boston seems content with Lindholm and Brandon Carlo together on the second pair, so Orlov could slot in on the top pair with Charlie McAvoy. Grzelcyk could also remain alongside McAvoy, with Orlov skating on the third pair with either Connor Clifton or Derek Forbort. Forbort could potentially slide up with McAvoy, too, leaving Orlov, Grzelcyk and Clifton as options for the third pair. Orlov is also able to play both the left and right sides. 

One possibility is platooning Orlov, Forbort and Grzelcyk, depending on matchups on a given night. Boston also now has the flexibility to rest skaters on the backend now. 

Sweeney said, “I think it’s a healthy position to take that every guy wants to play, but we’re now in a situation where we may be able to rest a guy if he is dinged up and playing through something, which we’ve had several guys do or now we’re in a position to be a little more conservative in those situations and just get ready.”

Both skaters are pending unrestricted free agents. Sweeney said there have not been preliminary discussions on extensions, but said, “we’ll look forward to having that.”

Looking at the return, sure it’s setting up to be a historically deep draft, but picks shouldn’t mean a whole lot to the Bruins right now, given the “all-in” mentality of this season. Maybe most importantly, they held on to their two top prospects, winger Fabian Lysell and defenseman Mason Lohrei, as well as another under-the-radar youngster in Georgii Merkulov. 

One way to see the extra draft capital going to Washington, whether it be the second or the third, is to sweeten the incentive for Washington to take on Smith’s contract and retain the salary with Orlov. 

Perhaps most importantly, Sweeney did not subtract much from the B’s current roster. It had become increasingly clear that Craig Smith was the odd man out in Boston, given his lack of production relative to his cap hit ($3.1 million) 

“I can’t say enough of what Craig was as a Boston Bruin and his contributions,” Sweeney said. “We’re very grateful and wish the best.”

It just didn’t click for Smith in a new system under Montgomery, who stresses puck possession and quality over quantity in terms of shots. 

The Bruins are averaging 33.2 shots per game this season, which is generally more or less what they averaged in five full seasons under Bruce Cassidy. But Boston has been more careful in its shot selection this year. In Smith’s first two campaigns with the Bruins, Boston averaged a shot-attempt share of 54.35 percent at 5-on-5 play. This season, that’s down to 51.08. 

Smith scored 13 goals (on a 20-goal pace) in 54 games in the shortened 2020-21 season before putting up 16 goals in 74 games last season. Very much a volume shooter, willing to let the puck go from anywhere, he has just four goals in under Montgomery. The fit just wasn’t there. 

According to CapFriendly, the Bruins’ projected deadline cap space is now at $1.325 million, which is up from just $1 million before this trade. 

Sweeney said Boston does not need to make another move for cap purposes. He’s not sure he’ll make another move before 3 p.m. next Friday.

“You just never know,” he said. “Again, this deal came together relatively quickly. … Not necessarily going to be overly aggressive, but we really like our team.”