The Washington Capitals have signed veteran defenceman Nick Jensen to a three-yar contract extension, taking a possible trade candidate off the board days before Friday's deadline.
Jensen's new contract is worth $4.05 million per season, for a total of $12.15 million. He was due to become an unrestricted free agent this summer.
The signing comes after the Capitals swung a pair of trades on Tuesday, acquiring Rasmus Sandin from the Maple Leafs and sending Marcus Johansson to the Wild. Last week, general manager Brian MacLellan traded Dmitry Orlov and Garnett Hathaway to the Bruins, seemingly signalling his team was taking a step back this season and open for business at the deadline. Instead, the Capitals retain a player in Jensen who likely would have had many suitors on the trade market.
Jensen, 32, has a career-high 24 points in 62 games this season, but his value comes in his play away from the puck. The seven-year veteran is third on the Capitals with 20:58 minutes per game and is an important piece on the penalty kill.
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