The Ottawa Senators made the decision to move on from a player, but that is where the Anaheim Ducks have stepped up. Today, they announced that veteran defenceman Nick Jensen signs a contract. The 35-year-old was on an expiring contract that saw him earn a little over $4 million in 2025-26. The deal is for two years. It carries an average annual value of $2.25 million. Let’s figure this deal out.
The Anaheim Defenceman Nick Jensen Signs
$2.25 M AAV x 2 years for Jensen in Anaheim https://t.co/dztXuN7Wdv
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) July 1, 2026
Jensen was acquired by the Senators in the Jakob Chychrun trade, back in July of 2024. The Sens thought they were getting exactly what the doctor ordered. And originally, they were. Even though giving up a big name like Chychrun was difficult, combined with the log-jam on the left side of the defence, and the possible fit Jensen would provide, it seemed like a very good hockey move. That feeling had continued out of the gate, back in 2024-25. The acquisition of Jensen are re-ignited the fuel in the game of Thomas Chabot. That pairing was Ottawa’s best through the first half of that first season of Jensen in Ottawa.
Unfortunately, Jensen had a hip injury catch up with him. He would eventually require off-season surgery. Moreover, since that time, he just hasn’t been the same. Throughout the 2025-26 season, Ottawa struggled defensively. One of the reasons was attributed to the lack of top-four reliability from Jensen. Now that Ottawa has moved on, it allows them to bring in a major piece to the top four, which would elevate their entire game.
Fortunately for Duck fans, if you watched Jensen, down the stretch in the 2025-26, Jensen had a strong finish. He was skating very competitively. The final results might not have always been there for him, but he was always playing hard. And that is from a Senators fan.
Anaheim has been making moves to try to take the next step after a second-round Stanley Cup Playoff loss to the Vegas Golden Knights last year. That included swapping another defenceman in Radko Gudas to the Florida Panthers for A.J. Greer. So, they did have a hole on the blueline. Having Jensen as a veteran, able to support the young d, is a smart move by general manager Pat Verbeek and crew.
Main Photo Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
