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Could Jensen Be A Trade Target?

January 17, 2019, 5:52 PM ET [2 Comments]
Bob Duff
Detroit Red Wings Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Quietly, and without any fanfare, defenseman Nick Jensen’s development this season has proven to be one of the pleasant surprises for the Detroit Red Wings.

He’s not going to garner a spot on anyone’s Norris Trophy ballot, or ever be under consideration for an invite to the NHL All-Star Game, but Jensen has taken steps toward developing into that steadying presence along a blueline that every team needs.

“You put yourself in all the situations where you can learn and succeed,” suggested Jensen to Mlive.com. With 2-9-11 numbers in 47 games, Jensen could make a run at toppling all of his career highs - four goals and 13 points in 2016-17 and 15 assists last season. His 20:44 of ice time per game is third among Detroit defenders this season.

“His strengths are his ability to skate and close on people,” Detroit coach Jeff Blashill said. “He uses his skating as a defensive weapon. He’s done that on a pretty consistent basis. He’s been a real good penalty killer. I think he’s played to his strengths. Obviously with injuries, opportunity has arisen and I think he’s made the most out of that opportunity.”

At times this season, Jensen, 28, has logged top pairing minutes while Detroit’s defensive corps was savaged by injury. That’s not the best home for him. On a good team, he’s an ideal third-pairing performer and a reliable penalty killer. His decision-making with the puck wasn’t always astute, but that aspect of Jensen’s game has improved by leaps and bounds with the experience he’s gained this season via the additional playing time.

“I think it gets you in the game a lot more,” Jensen said of the additional ice time. “Obviously the more minutes you get to play, the more experience you gain and the better overall play you have. I think the more experience you have, the more little things you learn and the better you adjust to the game at this level.”

The 2018-19 campaign opened with a rude awakening for Jensen. He was a healthy scratch for the season opener against Columbus, a wake-up call that he took to heart.

“I think my mindset then is the same as it is now and is the same as it probably will be the rest of my career,” Jensen said. “It’s you always have to show why you deserve to be in the lineup and it’s a day by day process. So every day, like today in practice, you’ve got to make sure you show up. You can’t take days off. Game day is the same thing. You’ve got to make sure you show up every day thinking that someone’s going to take your spot.

“That’s kind of the mentality I had at the beginning of the year. Obviously I took that first game, I was a healthy scratch, and I kind of used that as fuel. I knew next time I got the opportunity, I was going to play that game like it was my last game. Every game from there on out, I take that same mental approach.”

Naturally, on a rebuilding Wings team with a number of defense prospects queuing up for playing time, Jensen could prove an attractive addition as a depth defenseman to a contender at the NHL trade deadline. The fact that he’s in the last year of his contract could also play into this scenario.

“I don’t think there’s been any of any formal contract (negotiations) or anything like that,” Jensen said. “We’ve got time still. I’m just more focused on playing hockey right now. I love it here. Obviously I’d want to be back here, but there hasn’t been any talk that I know of.”

De La Rose Uncertain
Forward Jacob De La Rose sat out Thursday’s practice with an undisclosed ailment but at this point, is expected to be available for Friday’s game at Calgary.

“I expect de la Rose to be ready for tomorrow,” Blashill said. “We’re just right now holding him out of some practices.”

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