While signing a contract is usually a second of pleasure, Capitals defenseman Nick Jensen is discovering it troublesome to rejoice.
Jensen inked a three-year, $12.15 million contract Tuesday, however the deal got here amongst a rash of trades that despatched 5 gamers out of Washington. The Capitals have dealt all of Dmitry Orlov, Garnet Hathaway, Marcus Johansson, Erik Gustafsson, and Lars Eller within the span of a single week, radically altering their roster each on the ice and within the locker room.
Jensen famous the clashing feelings of the second in his first media session after signing his new deal.
“It’s exciting [to sign the contract], Jensen started. “It’s been a tough time here the past week with our team, losing guys that are brothers in your locker room. It’s been tough, so it’s hard to be happy with that stuff going on, but at the same time I’m excited to be here. I’m excited to stick around. I’m excited what the future has in store for us here on this team.”
Though Jensen expressed his delight to remain on the roster, he appeared considerably torn all through his interview. Even when professing happiness, he spoke with a tone that frankly resembled that of a funeral, not that of a profitable contract signing. After over 4 years with the workforce, it’s simple to know why dropping so many teammates can be troublesome to abdomen.
Amidst a lot change, Jensen stays grateful for the chance to stick with the Caps.
“I knew in my mind I wanted to stay,” Jensen mentioned. “It’s not always up to me, though. There’s management that’s looking out for the future of this team and they’re the people that make these decisions. At one point I wasn’t sure. They have to make those tough decisions and they’ve been making them for the past couple of weeks. I’m happy with the decision that they’ve kept me around.”
The Capitals presently sit sixth within the Metropolitan Division and can face an extended street in the event that they need to make the playoffs this season. It’s not the season that Jensen, or any of the Capitals, had hoped for. Still, Jensen has religion in his workforce.
“When I got here, I immediately saw the culture that this organization has built with the guys in the room right now and the guys before here,” Jensen mentioned. “It’s a profitable tradition. As lengthy as we proceed to maintain that tradition right here, I’m excited to be right here.
“Obviously we’re not in the spot we want to be in exactly, this season, but I think overall the culture has remained,” he added. “Guys continue to work for each other. I think it’s going to be a good thing for our team.”
Jensen is certainly one of three Capitals defensemen with a contract for subsequent season, becoming a member of John Carlson and Ramus Sandin. His new deal retains him with the Caps by the 2025-26 marketing campaign.
Headline picture: Alan Dobbins/RMNB
