The Ducks have sent veteran defenseman Nick Jensen to waivers, and he’s already cleared.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported on Oct. 31 that Anaheim placed Jensen on waivers, and Friedman later confirmed on Nov. 1 that he successfully cleared.
It’s a notable turn for a player the Ducks brought in to steady their blue line. Anaheim lost a sizable portion of its back end from last season - John Carlson, Jacob Trouba, Radko Gudas, and Olen Zellweger - and responded by signing the 36-year-old Jensen to a two-year, $4.5MM deal on the opening day of free agency in July. The expectation was that some younger defensemen, including Tristan Luneau and Noah Warren, would take on larger roles, while Jensen would provide veteran stability and handle meaningful defensive minutes.
That hasn’t been the reality so far. Jensen has been a healthy scratch more often than not this season, appearing in only three of Anaheim’s first 13 games.
He has managed a goal and an assist in those three outings, but his ice time has dipped to 15:20 per game, well below his career average of 18:40. The underlying numbers haven’t helped his case, either, and if he does get a bigger role, it may come with AHL San Diego.
Jensen has now played 11 NHL seasons and is three games away from 700 in his career. He has suited up for four organizations and has totaled 27 goals and 147 assists, along with 895 blocked shots and 723 hits.
Even with his right-shot profile - usually a sought-after trait - there’s a good chance he slips through unclaimed. Injuries slowed him last season in Ottawa, and his rough start in Anaheim, plus the fact that he still has another year left on his contract, could keep teams from making a move. Clubs have until 1 PM CT on Sunday to submit a claim.
In Other News...
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Tomas Suchanek also gave the Gulls exactly the kind of goaltending performance that can change a night for a young team, turning aside 32 shots in his season debut and helping San Diego survive to the skills competition. The shootout ended with captain Ryan Carpenter delivering the deciding goal, a result that mattered not just for the standings in the American Hockey League, but for the kind of confidence Anaheim wants to see from its prospects and depth players as the season moves along. [Read more 🡒]
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Quenneville Just Sent The Ducks A Message They Couldnt Ignore
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Quenneville framed the decision as an opportunity, but it also fits the larger picture of a team still trying to steady itself in its own end. Luk Dostl and Ville Husso have both been part of the recent struggle, and the Ducks have been searching for something that can slow the bleeding and restore a little confidence before the situation gets any more crowded in the standings. [Read more 🡒]