Washington Capitals acquire Nick Jensen from Detroit for Madison Bowey

The Washington Capitals weren’t done wheeling and dealing before the NHL trade deadline arrived Monday.

The Capitals made their second trade in two days, acquiring defenseman Nick Jensen from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for defenseman Madison Bowey and a 2020 second-round draft pick.

The Capitals will also receive a 2019 fifth-round pick from Detroit, originally belonging to the Buffalo Sabres. TSN hockey reporter Darren Dreger was the first to report the trade.

Washington acquires Nick Jensen from Det

— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) February 22, 2019

For Madison Bowey and a 2nd in 2020 https://t.co/DuPj2y3Ifk

— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) February 22, 2019

Caps also get a 5th. https://t.co/W4APW78m6l

— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) February 22, 2019

Jensen, a 28-year-old right-hander, was a top-four defenseman for Detroit with two goals and 13 assists in 60 games this season. This is just Jensen’s third season in the NHL.

“Nick is a reliable modern-day defenseman who we feel can defend well and log valuable minutes for our club,” general manager Brian MacLellan said via a press release. “At 28 years of age, we feel he is just entering his prime.”

Bowey was the Capitals’ seventh defenseman ever since Brooks Orpik and Christian Djoos returned to full health, the odd man out in a group that also included Jonas Siegenthaler for a time. The Capitals chose to send Siegenthaler back to the minors because he was waiver-exempt, whereas Bowey was not. With the trade, Washington got an asset in return for Bowey, whose future with the team seemed unclear.

This is the fifth season in a row the Capitals acquired an NHL-level defenseman by the trade deadline. Last year, it was Michal Kempny and Jakub Jerabek in separate trades, the first of whom was then re-signed and is now a top-four defenseman. The year before, it was Kevin Shattenkirk, who was a half-season rental.

But it is unclear where Jensen will fit in the Capitals’ defensive pairings. It is unlikely he will join the team in Buffalo in time for Saturday’s game at the Sabres. 

The move comes a day after Washington acquired winger Carl Hagelin from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for picks, and two days after the team waived Devante Smith-Pelly and assigned him to the AHL.