After undergoing a hip procedure last month, there was considerable concern about whether veteran Ottawa Senators defenseman Nick Jensen would be ready in time for the start of the 2025–26 season.

The full extent of the injury was never made public, but given the nature of some hip procedures, there were worries that his recovery could extend well into the fall, potentially forcing Ottawa to hit the market and explore depth options on the blue line.

However, those concerns appear to be easing. On Wednesday, Jensen’s wife, Jenner, shared a video on Instagram that offered a promising glimpse into his recovery. In the clip, Jensen is seen rollerblading through a park, not only skating with strong, smooth strides, but also pushing one of their children in a stroller, effectively adding some resistance to the workout.

With training camp just a few months away, the video was a welcome sign that Jensen may be on track to be ready for opening night. That would be huge for the Senators, who are counting on Jensen’s veteran presence and don't really have anyone ideally suite to backfill for him as one of Ottawa's top four D. In a perfect world, the team would like to address that this summer.

The hip problem hampered the 34 year old Jensen in the second half of last season, frequently causing him to miss practices. But he still managed to play in 71 games and all six playoff games.

Jensen has quietly put together a reliable NHL career since being drafted in the fifth round (150th overall) by the Detroit Red Wings in 2009. After three standout seasons at St. Cloud State University, he turned pro with the Grand Rapids Griffins in the AHL and eventually cracked Detroit’s NHL roster. Jensen became known for his strong positional play, and calm presence under pressure.

He was traded to the Washington Capitals in 2019, where he spent several seasons playing in a top-four role. In the summer of 2024, Jensen was acquired by Ottawa along with a third round draft pick for Jakob Chychrun. It was a move designed to add experience and stability to the Senators’ young defense corps.

In his first season with Ottawa, Jensen scored 3 goals and 18 assists for 21 points, along with a +6 rating. He averaged 20:13 of ice time per game and was a regular presence on the team’s penalty kill and in late-game defensive situations.

Now entering the second year in Ottawa, and the final year of his contract, all signs point to Jensen being ready to resume his role when the new season begins. For a team looking to take another step forward (and start the season on time for a change),  having a healthy and steady top four veteran like Jensen in the lineup on opening night would certainly help.

Banner image credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images

Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa

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