The sight of Orpik barreling down on opposing forwards in the corner has been a constant since the 6-foot-2, 221-pound defenseman brought his punishing style of play to the NHL in 2003.
Born in San Francisco, Orpik goes by his middle name (his first name is Richard), which was given to him in honor of legendary coach Herb Brooks, who led the United States to an Olympic gold medal in men's ice hockey in 1980. His family moved to New York, where Orpik started playing hockey before landing at Thayer Academy in Braintree, Mass. The high school also produced 1980 United States Olympic team member Dave Silk and former NHL player Jeremy Roenick.
The sight of Orpik barreling down on opposing forwards in the corner has been a constant since the 6-foot-2, 221-pound defenseman brought his punishing style of play to the NHL in 2003.
Born in San Francisco, Orpik goes by his middle name (his first name is Richard), which was given to him in honor of legendary coach Herb Brooks, who led the United States to an Olympic gold medal in men's ice hockey in 1980. His family moved to New York, where Orpik started playing hockey before landing at Thayer Academy in Braintree, Mass. The high school also produced 1980 United States Olympic team member Dave Silk and former NHL player Jeremy Roenick.
Following his sophomore season at Boston College, during which he represented the United States at the World Junior Championship, Orpik was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round (No. 18) of the 2000 NHL Draft. Orpik returned to BC for his junior year in 2000-01 and helped the Eagles win the NCAA championship for the first time since 1949.
The Penguins signed Orpik to an entry-level contract and he started his pro career in 2001-02, playing 78 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, the Penguins' American Hockey League affiliate. Two years later he was a hard-hitting, defensive-minded regular for the Penguins.
As Pittsburgh developed into a perennial playoff team, Orpik grew into a leadership role while assuming a spot among the top four defensemen. During the 2007-08 season, Orpik averaged less than 17 minutes per game in the regular season, but that number increased by nearly four minutes per game in the postseason as Pittsburgh reached the Stanley Cup Final.
In 2008-09 Orpik nearly doubled his offensive production from the previous season with 19 points and his average ice time increased by more than three minutes per game as Pittsburgh returned to the Stanley Cup Final, winning the third title in franchise history and the Penguins' first since 1992.
Following 11 seasons with the Penguins, the unrestricted free agent signed a five-year contract with the Washington Capitals before the 2014-15 season.
