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