2023-24 predictions for Nick Jensen
Next up on our Washington Capitals player predictions is Nick Jensen. We got some defensemen to tackle and we’ll try to get a lot of them done soon. We’ll have at least five and then when that number six is locked up, we’ll do that winner.
Jensen was good last season. Some people thought he was good enough to get a trade during the Caps fire sale. Instead the Caps went with dealing Dmitry Orlov and Erik Gustafsson.
As for Jensen he got a contract extension. He should solidify the top four on the second pair. It looks like the way things are, Rasmus Sandin and John Carlson are up top. Jensen should be in the middle with Martin Fehervary.
On the third pair it looks like Trevor van Riemsdyk is a lock for sure. That final spot and sixth defenseman is currently up for grabs with Joel Edmundson’s injury.
Jensen has had five goals in back to back seasons which came the last two seasons. This year I think that number goes up to six. He’ll have 25 assists for 31 points when all is said and done.
What the Caps need most from Jensen is to stay healthy. Last year pretty much everyone on defense got banged up with some missing more time than others. Jensen only missed five games during all the chaos. Props to him for that.
John Carlson missed three months of time. Now Joel Edmundson will be out four to six weeks to begin the season. That makes good health for the other defensemen including Jensen paramount.
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The Metropolitan Division is better up and down the board. It’s going to be tricky to return to the playoffs. But if new coach Spencer Carbery knows what he is doing and the defense in front of Darcy Kuemper plays good, anything is possible.