The Nick Jensen acquisition before the trade deadline proved to be a smart deal. As an underappreciated defenseman for a team that was underachieving, coming to a team like the Washington Capitals helped him elevate his game and now he’s due for a big role in his first full season with the team.
The top two defensive pairs, considering Michal Kempny keeps progressing and is ready in time for opening night, is pretty much a lock with Kempny next to John Carlson. Because of that, expect Jensen to slot into the second pairing.
The question is, who earns that spot next to him and the remainder of training camp and the next three preseason games will help dictate that decision.