Anaheim Ducks place 697-game NHL veteran on waivers

The move comes just four months after the 36-year-old signed in Southern California to bring stability to a young Ducks blue line.

Jensen joined Anaheim on July 1 with a two-year contract carrying a $2.25 million cap hit through the 2027-28 season. The deal includes no trade protection, so the Ducks have full flexibility to move him.

All 31 other clubs now have a chance to claim him. A team that does would inherit his full $2.25 million cap hit and the remaining term on the contract.

If he clears, Anaheim can assign him to the San Diego Gulls of the AHL or keep him on the NHL roster. Neither the Ducks nor Friedman has explained the reason behind the decision yet.

The timing stands out because Anaheim paid for experience. Jensen arrived with 694 NHL games, 172 points and 33 Stanley Cup playoff appearances across stops in Detroit, Washington and Ottawa.

He averaged 17:01 per night with the Senators last season and finished with 17 points in 61 games before knee surgery ended his year.

He was also expected to help a defense group that remains thin on NHL experience, which makes parting with a proven veteran an eye-catching decision for a team leaning on young defensemen.

Waiver claims are typically decided by noon ET the following day, so an answer should arrive Sunday.

A mobile right-shot defenseman with playoff experience and a modest cap number could interest clubs dealing with injuries on the back end.

If Jensen clears, the Ducks will need to decide whether he still has a role in their lineup or whether a minor-league assignment is the next step.

Either way, a veteran who signed a two-year deal this summer is now at the center of an unexpected roster decision, and the next 24 hours will reveal how the rest of the league values him.

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