Nick Jensen’s days in the NHL may be numbered.
Saturday, the Anaheim Ducks placed the former Washington Capitals defenseman on waivers after holding him out of the lineup for much of the season.
Signed to a two-year, $4.5 million contract on the first day of free agency, the 36-year-old Jensen has suited up in just three of the Ducks’ first 13 games this season, recording one goal and one assist while averaging 15:20 of ice time. Anaheim has controlled just 23.7 percent of expected goals at five-on-five with Jensen on the ice, according to Natural Stat Trick.
If Jensen clears waivers, the Ducks could assign him to the AHL’s San Diego Gulls, saving $1.225 million in salary-cap space. Anaheim would still be responsible for the remaining $1.025 million of his $2.25 million cap hit.
Jensen being waived comes as defenseman Pavel Mintyukov nears a return to game action. The 22-year-old defenseman has been sidelined with a lower-body injury since October 20. Mintyukov resumed practicing Wednesday but remained unavailable for Thursday’s game against Buffalo, despite NHL.com projecting him to return.
Jensen has also failed to see much ice with the rebuilding Ducks playing younger defensemen like Tristan Luneau, Noah Warren, and AHL call-up Travis Mitchell.
Jensen joined the Capitals in February 2019, when the Capitals acquired him and a fifth-round draft pick from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for Madison Bowey and a second-round pick.
The right-handed defenseman then spent parts of six seasons in DC, recording 89 points (13g, 76a) in 372 games. A reliable puck-moving defenseman and penalty killer, Jensen’s showed some offensive pop in 2022-23, when he set career highs in assists (24) and points (29).
After recording just 14 points (1g, 13a) in 78 games during the 2023-24 campaign, Jensen was traded to the Ottawa Senators, along with a 2026 third-round pick, for Jakob Chychrun on July 1, 2024. Chychrun has since blossomed into one of the NHL’s best offensive defensemen.
Jensen initially enjoyed a productive stint in Ottawa, recording 21 points (3g, 18a) in 71 games during the 2024-25 season. However, he battled a painful hip injury for much of the year and underwent surgery that offseason.
“It was just a horrible feeling, to be honest,” he said to NHL.com.
His struggles continued in 2025-26. Jensen was moved down Ottawa’s defensive depth chart as he worked his way back from surgery, ultimately finishing with 17 points (4g, 13a) in 61 games. A separate knee injury required meniscus surgery in March, ending his season prematurely.
