Boone Jenner is walking into Washington with a clear idea of what his job looks like. After 13 seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets and a four-year deal signed with the Capitals this summer, the veteran forward is ready to plug into a roster that blends established names with a wave of younger talent.
For Jenner, the appeal is obvious. He sees a group that already has a strong foundation in Tom Wilson, Alex Ovechkin and Dylan Strome, while also giving room for players like Cole Hutson, Ryan Leonard, the Protas brothers and Justin Sourdif to keep climbing.
"I think I can help those guys come along," Jenner said, adding, "Playing against them, you know what kind of players they are and how good they are. At the end of the year, we played Washington, and you had the Protas brothers together and Leonard and Hutson - it was what, his (14th) game? And you can tell he's a heck of a player."
That perspective comes from a player who has already worn the captain’s “C” for the last five seasons in Columbus. Jenner brings a reputation as a steady voice in the room, and Washington expects him to lead by example while filling several different spots up front.
He can line up at center or wing, move around the lineup as needed and take on major penalty-killing responsibilities. In other words, he’s not coming in for one narrow task. He’s coming in to do a little of everything.
And Jenner’s message is simple: he’ll handle whatever role helps Washington win, while doing his part to support a roster he believes has real quality from top to bottom.
In Other News...
Capitals First-Round Pick Is Already Embracing A Tom Wilson Edge
Oliver Suvanto did not need long after going 18th overall in the 2026 NHL Draft to make clear what kind of player he wants to be for the Capitals. The young center talked about his physical edge and said Tom Wilson has shaped the way he thinks about the game, a fitting reference point for a prospect joining a franchise that has long valued players who can do more than just put up points. Washington also sees a pretty specific future for him, with assistant general manager Ross Mahoney saying the club envisions Suvanto as a second-line center in short order.
The appeal is obvious, even if the production is still coming along. Suvanto had 11 points in 48 games with Tappara Tampere in the Finnish Liiga, while also showing well in U18 and U20 competition, giving the Capitals a mix of upside, pedigree and edge to work with. For a team trying to keep adding size and competitiveness down the middle, the idea of a young center who already leans into that Wilson-like mentality is enough to make him one of the more interesting names from this draft class. [Read more 🡒]