(Caps Outsider)

Huge news: Philipp Grubauer and Brooks Orpik were traded to the Colorado Avalanche for a second round pick.

“We would like to thank Brooks and Philipp for all of their contributions to our organization,” said Capitals General Manager Brian MacLellan. “Philipp has been a consummate professional and a great teammate and we wish him all the best. Brooks was a great leader and a tremendous role model for our young players in his four years with our organization. This was a difficult move, but the one we felt we needed to make in order to give some flexibility moving forward.”

Grubauer needed to leave Washington. I can’t think of any player with the Caps who waited as long as he did for his shot, but ultimately ended up in line behind the one Caps goalie – Braden Holtby – who seized the starting job and will likely be there for years to come.

Grubauer came up through the Caps’ system the same way as Holtby, Michal Neuvirth and Semyon Varlamov.

A 4th round pick in 2010, Grubauer developed in the ECHL with both Caps’ affiliates – the South Carolina Stingrays and the Reading Royals – before Holtby moved up and the starting job opened in Hersey.

So when he finally found a spot on Washington’s roster without being shuffled back to the AHL, he was backing up an eventual Vezina Trophy winner. Meanwhile, his numbers, when he did play, were solid, giving up just over two goals a gave and a .923 save percentage.

Those are numbers that any starter would love to have.

Kuddos to George McPhee for drafting Grubauer and giving the Caps options in net that other teams didn’t have to deal with. May Grubauer find success elsewhere. Just not against the Caps.

March 14, 2012: Capitals goalie prospect Philipp Grubauer making the most of his time in ECHL

Nov. 8, 2012: The Sophomore Settles In

Feb 7, 2015: Grubauer Wins With Caps, Then Returns to Hershey

Nov. 25, 2015: Grubauer Wins on His Birthday, in Front of Parents

Jan 3, 2017: Companring Grubauer’s First 50 Games With Other Caps Goalies