December 27, 2024

Bruins acquire grit in defenseman Dmitry Orlov and forward Garnet Hathaway from Washington for Craig Smith, three draft picks

Orlov #Orlov

The Bruins, who also acquired Russian prospect Andrei Svetlakov (forward) from the Wild, also surrendered four draft picks — including their first-rounder this June, a pick that now belongs to the Capitals.

Washington acquired two other picks from the Bruins — a third-rounder in 2024 and a second-rounder in 2025 — and the Wild picked up Boston’s fifth-round pick in this June’s draft.

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In order for the combined cap hits of Orlov ($5.1 million) and Hathaway ($1.2 million) to fit under Boston’s cap, Washington retained half of the veteran blue liner’s pay, while the Wild took on 25 percent of it.

Svetlakov, who plays for CSKA (Red Army) in Moscow, has not played in the NHL and general manager Don Sweeney, in an early-evening Zoom session with the media, sounded indifferent about bringing aboard the 26-year-old prospect, who was the 178th pick (by the Wild) in the 2017 draft.

The 6-foot-3-inch, 210-pound Hathaway, one of the league’s top agitators, is a prime candidate to play in the bottom six, and boost the group’s overall forechecking and hitting factor. Orlov, who once delivered a crushing blow that helped usher Kevan Miller to retirement, adds real size (5-11, 215) to the left side on defense, a spot that can be a challenge for the undersized Matt Grzelcyk when the game temperature turns up in the playoffs.

“I think we were trying to attack in two different areas in both Dmitry and Garnet,” Sweeney said less than an hour after the Bruins released details of the swap at 6:30 p.m. “I think they bring some attributes that will complement our group. Let’s hope we stay healthy and try to make a run — play our best hockey at the right time. It’s going to be a hard path. It’s a hard path to get in, and even harder to make a run.”

There was no immediate word on how soon Orlov and Hathaway will join their new team. Typically, players are quick to join their new club after a trade, so it is not out of the question that one or both will be in uniform (sweater numbers yet to be assigned) when the Bruins face the Canucks Saturday night in the rink where the Bruins in 2011 clinched their most recent Cup title.

Neither Hathaway nor Orlov were made available to the Boston media prior to puck drop at Climate Pledge Arena.

“They were shocked, you know . . . players are always shocked,” said Sweeney, who spoke with the players after the trade. “In their case, they’ve been locked in a playoff race . . . they’ve overcome a lot of injuries with their team. They’ve been ridiculously competitive and successful as part of the organization . . . so a little bit shocked, but once they hear the excitement in our voice in bringing them on board, I think it quickly shifts to what hockey players are wired to do. And that’s to get back on the ice, where they are most comfortable, and be welcomed by new teammates. Because that’s exactly what’s going to happen.”

Smith, Orlov, and Hathaway will be unrestricted free agents July 1. Sweeney gave up a substantial number of draft picks to acquire both players, so it would make sense he would try to sign them to contract extensions before or after they hit the open market.

“Our roster is battle-tested,” noted Sweeney. “I think when we play against any type of team, we are able to react accordingly, or dictate accordingly. I think [with the trades] we were able to complement and add to that. We know it’s a war of attrition you go through [in the playoffs]. You’ve got to get in. You’ve got to qualify . . . then the playoffs begin. It doesn’t matter who you play. Whoever it is, it’s going to be a ridiculously tough opponent. We try to be consistent in the way we play — and I think both these players add to that.”

On Feb. 11, in their first game back from the protracted break around the All-Star Game, the Bruins faced the Capitals at TD Garden. Hathaway, 9-7—16 this season, charged into the slot and fired a wrister by Jeremy Swayman. As he released the shot, Hathaway was drilled with a heavy hit by Connor Clifton, ending up flat on his back. The prostrate Hathaway, looking dazed, slowly lifted an arm and rotated his hand in celebration as he stared at the Garden ceiling.

The rock-hard winger, a heavier version of ex-Bruin Noel Acciari, will be back in the building when the Bruins play there next, on March 2 vs. Buffalo — the night before the NHL trade deadline.

Kevin Paul Dupont can be reached at kevin.dupont@globe.com.

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