DALLAS — The Colorado Avalanche signed goaltender Philipp Grubauer to a three-year contract worth $10 million and put defenseman Brooks Orpik on buyout waivers the day after acquiring them from the Washington Capitals, according to multiple reports.
The team announced Grubauer’s signing, and multiple reports say the deal is worth $10 million.
Colorado put Orpik on unconditional waivers with the intent of buying out the final year of his contract, according to multiple reports.
Grubauer, 26, will split time with Semyon Varlamov in net this season and could take over as Colorado’s No. 1 goalie in 2019-20.
“We all feel that he’s ready to take the next step and become a No. 1,” Colorado GM Joe Sakic said. “We’re excited to have two No. 1 goalies.”
Assuming Orpik clears waivers, Colorado can buy him out Sunday, less than 48 hours after trading for him.
Sakic told Orpik after trading for him that the team planned to explore a trade or buy out the 37-year-old. Sakic took on Orpik’s $5.5 million salary in the trade to get Grubauer without giving up more than a second-round pick.
“I owed him the respect to let him know that the plan is to buy him out and let him be a free agent,” Sakic said. “I’m sure he’ll have a lot of teams that’ll want to add him to their group.”
Capitals GM Brian MacLellan said Friday night he was open to bringing Orpik back if the price was right. Orpik was a respected leader on Washington’s Stanley Cup-winning team.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.