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With Orpik still out, will Caps try to add defensive depth?

First off, Capitals defenseman Taylor Chorney is feeling better and should be able to go tonight versus the Islanders.

“It was kind of like a quick bug but I was able to get some food and some fluids in me yesterday and I feel a lot better today,” Chorney told NHL.com.

The Caps had recalled d-man Aaron Ness from AHL Hershey just in case Chorney had to sit, but at this morning’s skate, Ness was on a “fourth” pairing with injured d-man Brooks Orpik, who hasn’t played since November.

It remains to be seen when Orpik will be able to return, and also how effective he’ll be when he does.

“Obviously, I haven’t played a game in a while, so I have to get some good practices in,” Orpik told reporters recently. “I couldn’t do much conditioning, lower body-wise, so that’ll take a little bit to come. ... Hopefully, I’m ahead of the curve a little bit, but obviously, it’s still going to take a little bit to get things back going where they should be.”

And on that note, with the Caps primed to make a deep playoff run, it’ll be interesting to see if they attempt to add some defensive depth prior to the Feb. 29 trade deadline.

For what it’s worth, Caps head coach Barry Trotz is familiar with Vancouver defenseman Dan Hamhuis from their time together in Nashville. If not Hamhuis, Carolina’s John-Michael Liles is another pending UFA who could be moved, as is Toronto’s Roman Polak.

Related: Hamhuis, a potential trade target, expected to return Saturday