Nick Jensen (born September 21, 1990) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL). Jensen was drafted 150th overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

Nick Jensen
Jensen with the Washington Capitals in 2021
Born (1990-09-21) September 21, 1990 (age 34)
Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 196 lb (89 kg; 14 st 0 lb)
Position Defense
Shoots Right
NHL team
Former teams
Ottawa Senators
Detroit Red Wings
Washington Capitals
National team  United States
NHL draft 150th overall, 2009
Detroit Red Wings
Playing career 2013–present

Early life

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Jensen was born on September 21, 1990, in Saint Paul, Minnesota.[1] His father Jeff played college hockey at Lake Superior State and was a Colorado Rockies draft pick.[2] His uncle Steve Jensen played for the Minnesota North Stars and Los Angeles Kings.[3]

Playing career

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Amateur

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Jensen played college hockey with the St. Cloud State Huskies in the NCAA Men's Division I WCHA conference. In his freshman season at St. Cloud State, Jensen recorded five goals and 18 assists in 38 games.

In his sophomore season, Jensen was the third-leading scorer for St. Cloud State. Jensen recorded six goals and 26 assists in 39 games. St. Cloud State finished sixth in the competitive WCHA. After sweeping Nebraska-Omaha in the first round of the playoffs, the Huskies suffered a season-ending loss to North Dakota in the quarterfinal.[4]

In his junior season, Jensen skated in 42 games for St. Cloud State, and was named the WCHA's Defensive Player of the Year and selected to the NCAA West First All-American Team. Jensen recorded four goals and was second on the Huskies with 27 assists. St. Cloud State finished tied with Minnesota for first in the WCHA and rebounded from a loss to Wisconsin in the WCHA semifinals to reach the Frozen Four. St. Cloud State defeated Notre Dame, 5–1, and Miami, 4–1, to capture the NCAA Midwest Regional before falling to Quinnipiac, 4–1, in the Frozen Four semifinals.[5]

Professional

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Detroit Red Wings

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On May 2, 2013, the Detroit Red Wings signed Jensen to a two-year entry-level contract.[6]

During the 2014–15 season, Jensen recorded six goals and 21 assists in 75 games for the Grand Rapids Griffins, and ranked second among Griffins defenseman in scoring. Jensen finished the season with a plus-30 rating, which was tied for the best plus-minus rating in the AHL. On July 13, 2015, the Detroit Red Wings signed Jensen to a two-year contract extension.[7]

During the 2015–16 season, on January 24, 2016, Jensen was recalled by the Detroit Red Wings. Prior to being recalled, Jensen recorded two goals and six assists in 39 games for the Grand Rapids Griffins.[8] He was reassigned to the Griffins on January 26 without featuring in a game.[9]

On December 19, 2016, Jensen was recalled by the Detroit Red Wings. Prior to being recalled, Jensen recorded one goal and five assists in 27 games for the Grand Rapids Griffins. He made his NHL debut for the Red Wings the following day in a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.[10] On February 27, 2017, the Red Wings signed Jensen to a two-year contract extension.[11]

During the 2018–19 season, his third season with the Red Wings, Jensen recorded two goals and 13 assists, tying his previous season high totals through 60 games with 15 points.

Washington Capitals

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While in the final year of his contract, Jensen was traded by the Red Wings, along with a fifth-round pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, to the Washington Capitals in exchange for Madison Bowey, and a second-round pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.[12] He was then re-signed to a four-year, $10 million contract extension by the Capitals.[13]

During his 109th game with the Capitals, Jensen scored his first goal in a Capitals uniform on March 7, 2021 against the Philadelphia Flyers. At the time of the goal, Jensen had recorded 14 points over 41 games.[14] Prior to the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft, Jensen was left unprotected by the Capitals for Seattle.[15]

During the 2022-23 NHL season, rumors of a potential trade involving Jensen surfaced.[16] However, a few days before the trade deadline on February 28, 2023, Jensen signed a three year, $12.15 million contract extension, which carries a $4.05 million average annual value.[17][18]

Ottawa Senators

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On July 1, 2024, the Capitals traded Jensen, along with a third-round pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Jakob Chychrun.[19]

International play

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Medal record
Representing   United States
Ice hockey
World Championships
  2018 Denmark
World Junior A Challenge
  2009 Summerside

On April 28, 2018, Jensen and fellow Red Wings teammate Dylan Larkin were named to the United States men's national ice hockey team to compete at the 2018 IIHF World Championship.[20] He recorded one goal and three assists in 10 games and won a bronze medal.

Personal life

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Jensen and his wife Jenner both played sports at Rogers High School. She was an All-State basketball player who scored 1,634 points during her career.[21][22] Jensen and his wife had their first child together on March 17, 2020.[23]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2006–07 Rogers High School USHS 21 20 17 37 6
2007–08 Rogers High School USHS 14 14 13 27 8
2008–09 Green Bay Gamblers USHL 52 5 17 22 27 7 0 1 1 2
2009–10 Green Bay Gamblers USHL 53 6 21 27 35 12 2 6 8 6
2010–11 St. Cloud State Huskies WCHA 38 5 18 23 10
2011–12 St. Cloud State Huskies WCHA 39 6 26 32 4
2012–13 St. Cloud State Huskies WCHA 42 4 27 31 4
2013–14 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 45 0 9 9 8 10 0 1 1 2
2013–14 Toledo Walleye ECHL 3 0 0 0 0
2014–15 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 75 6 21 27 15 16 0 3 3 4
2015–16 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 75 3 16 19 17 9 0 2 2 0
2016–17 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 27 1 5 6 6
2016–17 Detroit Red Wings NHL 49 4 9 13 12
2017–18 Detroit Red Wings NHL 81 0 15 15 27
2018–19 Detroit Red Wings NHL 60 2 13 15 17
2018–19 Washington Capitals NHL 20 0 5 5 4 7 0 0 0 2
2019–20 Washington Capitals NHL 68 0 8 8 13 8 0 0 0 0
2020–21 Washington Capitals NHL 53 2 12 14 14 5 0 0 0 2
2021–22 Washington Capitals NHL 76 5 16 21 21 6 0 0 0 4
2022–23 Washington Capitals NHL 77 5 24 29 18
2023–24 Washington Capitals NHL 78 1 13 14 10 1 0 0 0 2
NHL totals 562 19 115 134 136 27 0 0 0 10

International

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Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2018 United States WC   10 1 3 4 0
Senior totals 10 1 3 4 0

Awards and honors

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Award Year
College
All-WCHA Third Team 2011–12
All-WCHA First Team 2012–13 [24]
AHCA West First-Team All-American 2012–13

References

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  1. ^ "Nick Jensen". Elite Prospects. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  2. ^ "Nick Jensen, son of ex-Laker, signs with Red Wings". The Sault News. May 3, 2013. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  3. ^ Hass, Trevor (January 27, 2016). "Rogers alumnus Jensen gets long-awaited call up to NHL". Star News. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  4. ^ "Nick Jensen prospect profile". hockeysfuture.com. February 3, 2013. Retrieved February 3, 2013.
  5. ^ "Quinnipiac victors in Frozen Four semi-finals". Western Collegiate Hockey Association. April 1, 2013. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
  6. ^ Beam, Todd (May 2, 2013). "Red Wings sign Nick Jensen to entry-level deal". Detroit Red Wings. Retrieved May 2, 2013.
  7. ^ Kujawa, Kyle (July 13, 2015). "Red Wings bring back Callahan and Jensen". Detroit Red Wings. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
  8. ^ "Tangradi, Jensen recalled; assign Andersson". Detroit Red Wings. January 24, 2016. Retrieved January 24, 2016.
  9. ^ Kujawa, Kyle (January 26, 2016). "Andersson recalled, two reassigned". Detroit Red Wings. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
  10. ^ Kujawa, Kyle (December 19, 2016). "Detroit recalls defenseman Nick Jensen". Detroit Red Wings. Retrieved December 19, 2016.
  11. ^ Kujawa, Kyle (February 27, 2017). "Red Wings sign Jensen to two-year extension". Detroit Red Wings. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
  12. ^ "Capitals Acquire Nick Jensen and Fifth Round Pick from Detroit Red Wings". National Hockey League. February 22, 2019. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  13. ^ "Capitals Re-sign Nick Jensen". National Hockey League. February 22, 2019. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  14. ^ Vogel, Mike (March 8, 2021). "POSTGAME NOTEBOOK: Caps 3 Flyers 1". National Hockey League. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  15. ^ Vogel, Mike (July 18, 2021). "Creating the Kraken: Protected Lists Unveiled". National Hockey League. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  16. ^ "Teams are interested in Lars Eller and Nick Jensen: Friedman". February 27, 2023.
  17. ^ "Washington Re-signs Jensen to Three-Year, $12.15 Million Contract Extension". March 2023.
  18. ^ "Capitals Re-sign Defenseman Nick Jensen". March 2023.
  19. ^ "Capitals Acquire Jakob Chychrun from the Ottawa Senators | Washington Capitals". July 2024.
  20. ^ Kulfan, Ted (April 28, 2018). "Red Wings Larkin, Jensen join Team USA for worlds". The Detroit News. Retrieved May 11, 2018.
  21. ^ "All State". Minnesota State High School Coaches Association. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  22. ^ Oland, Ian (April 14, 2020). "Nick Jensen and Jenner Jensen first met when they were 5. Their love story is incredible". Russian Machine Never Breaks. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  23. ^ "Capitals defenseman Nick Jensen becomes a dad on St. Patricks Day". NBC Sports. March 17, 2020. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  24. ^ "Conference Honors 2012-13". collegehockeyinc.com. March 25, 2013. Retrieved March 25, 2013.
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Awards and achievements
Preceded by WCHA Defensive Player of the Year
2012–13
Succeeded by