Photo: On Tap Magazine
According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Freidman, the Washington Capitals might have made defenseman Nick Jensen available at the trade deadline. He also mentioned that the team could have interest in former Capitals and current Detroit Red Wings defenseman Mike Green.
“I’ve heard that Jensen might be available,” Friedman says on the “31 Thoughts” podcast. “It just hasn’t worked there as much as they’d like. You just added Dillon, and your top four is gonna be Carlson, Orlov, Kempny, and Dillon. I think Washington might have some interest in [Mike] Green. Jensen’s extended for four years at two and a half million. That’s a big number. I just don’t think it’s worked there as much as everybody hoped, so I could see Jensen potentially being moved.”
After the Capitals acquired Jensen from the Red Wings in exchange for defenseman Madison Bowey and a 2020 second-round pick on February 22 of last year, the 29-year-old has struggled with just 10 assists and a -3 rating in 78 games with the team. He was a healthy scratch for the first time earlier this month. His -6 rating this season is the second-worst on the Capitals ahead of only captain Alex Ovechkin (-14)
The Capitals expected him to play in the top-four and step in for Matt Niskanen, who was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for defenseman Radko Gudas on June 14.
After the Capitals acquired defenseman Brendan Dillon from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for a 2020 second-round pick and a conditional 2020 third-round pick on Tuesday, Jensen could find himself out of the lineup. Add in the impressive play of rookie Martin Fehervary when up with the Capitals this season and Jensen’s time in Washington may not last for much longer. Jensen signed a four-year contract extension that carries a cap hit of $2.5 million right after the Capitals acquired him.
Green, who can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, has a -30 rating this season, the fourth-worst in the NHL. He also has three goals and 10 points in 47 games.
Selected by the Capitals 29th overall in the 2004 NHL Draft, the 34-year-old has 150 goals, 500 points, and a -13 rating in 877 career games with the Capitals and Red Wings. In 575 career games with the Capitals, Green has recorded 113 goals, 360 points, and a +58 rating.
He left the Capitals as an unrestricted free agent on 2015 and has been an All-Star twice in his NHL career.
By Harrison Brown
Look at Green’s Corsi, Fenwick, and PDO — no way in hell.
Just remembering his time in Washington is a hell no. That’s not the style of play the caps need – might as well just keep Jensen.
This would help explain how the Caps are having interest in Kreider and see a possibility in it all coming together. I hope both trades happen…. Especially if there is the chance of extending him (I’m not a big fan of selling the 1st round picks for rentals only).
I saw they’re looking for 1st, prospect, player / lesser prospect / picks. the first two I hope are 1st round and LuJo…. though I’m just a touch worried Fehervary or Alexeyev will be in the conversation. I don’t really know what other prospects the caps have that hold enough value for this kind of trade. All this being said if there is even a chance to get Kreider….
I like the idea of extending him. But let’s take our time with that, make sure he’s a good fit. The immediate Jensen extension still boggles the mind. Alexeyev still needs a lot more time, maybe an entire additional year in Hershey. Dillon might be a good fill-in. GMBM is really struggling because both Lucas Johansen and Connor Hobbs are not planning out. I’m sure he had one penciled in Caps lineup by this point.
Totally agree on seeing if he’s a good fit first. If there is a chance re-up him that adds value for the caps. If he’s just gonna pull a Panarin and do the whole ‘I gotta hit Free Agency and have every one bid on me” thing, I think for me that changes the narrative behind the value of the trade.
The Jensen extension was indeed strange. I just have a feeling that was maybe forced somehow by some underlying issue. Maybe Detroit had a deal in place for Jensen and the caps needed to offer that higher deal to Jensen’s agent upon trade. Just speculating here…
Might be available? LOL