Caps' Nick Jensen says he was asleep when Red Wings drafted him

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article_body => "Nick Jensen is playing some of the best hockey of his NHL career and certainly his best since the Capitals acquired him from the Detroit Red Wings in Feb. 2019.<\/p>\r\n\r\nAhead of the Capitals\u2019 doubleheader between with the Devils, NBC Sports Washington\u2019s Alexa Shaw caught up with Jensen for a round of rapid-fire questions and the veteran defenseman revealed one of the more unique draft day experiences we\u2019ve heard.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\u201cI didn\u2019t really know that I was going to get drafted,\u201d the 30-year-old said.<\/p>\r\n\r\nJensen, then an 18-year-old playing with junior hockey with the Green Bay Gamblers, had some contact with the Detroit Red Wings prior to the draft, but none of his conversations indicated that they\u2019d be taking him that year.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\u201cI didn\u2019t even watch the draft. We just came back from a long road trip as a family. It was like a 15-hour drive, so I was sleeping, when I got drafted\u2026I think I woke up to my junior coach at the time and he said, \u2018hey congratulations\u2019 and I  was sleeping. It was probably like 12:00 in the afternoon and I was like \u2018what are you talking about\u2019 and he laughed and was like \u2018well you got drafted.\u2019 It was pretty amazing when I found out, something I never expected.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\nThe Red Wings selected Jensen with the 29th pick in the fifth round, 149th overall. His journey from Draft Day to the NHL turned out to be a long one. Jensen played three seasons at St. Cloud State University and spent three and a half seasons in the AHL, before making his NHL debut for the Red Wings in 2016.<\/p>\r\n\r\nIn his last six games, he\u2019s recorded 2 assists and his first goal for Washington while helping to keep the Caps defense below three goals allowed per game. Just a little over halfway through the season, he\u2019s posted 33 blocks, 39 hits and 11 takeaways emerging as a vital piece to a Capitals team with Stanley Cup ambitions. Still, his mindset remains the same as it was when he was drafted in 2009.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\u201cI\u2019ve just kind of always had the mentality that every day got to be earned in this league and nothing\u2019s ever going to be given to me. So I kind of keep that mindset that I\u2019ve always developed,\u201d Jensen said.<\/p>\r\n\r\nCatch the full interview with Nick Jensen during Capitals Pregame Live on NBC Sports Washington at 6 p.m. and stay tuned for live coverage of Capitals vs. Devils.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n <\/p>\r\n"
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Capitals

/ by Julius Long

Capitals

Nick Jensen is playing some of the best hockey of his NHL career and certainly his best since the Capitals acquired him from the Detroit Red Wings in Feb. 2019.

Ahead of the Capitals’ doubleheader between with the Devils, NBC Sports Washington’s Alexa Shaw caught up with Jensen for a round of rapid-fire questions and the veteran defenseman revealed one of the more unique draft day experiences we’ve heard.

“I didn’t really know that I was going to get drafted,” the 30-year-old said.

Jensen, then an 18-year-old playing with junior hockey with the Green Bay Gamblers, had some contact with the Detroit Red Wings prior to the draft, but none of his conversations indicated that they’d be taking him that year.

“I didn’t even watch the draft. We just came back from a long road trip as a family. It was like a 15-hour drive, so I was sleeping, when I got drafted…I think I woke up to my junior coach at the time and he said, ‘hey congratulations’ and I was sleeping. It was probably like 12:00 in the afternoon and I was like ‘what are you talking about’ and he laughed and was like ‘well you got drafted.’ It was pretty amazing when I found out, something I never expected.”

The Red Wings selected Jensen with the 29th pick in the fifth round, 149th overall. His journey from Draft Day to the NHL turned out to be a long one. Jensen played three seasons at St. Cloud State University and spent three and a half seasons in the AHL, before making his NHL debut for the Red Wings in 2016.

In his last six games, he’s recorded 2 assists and his first goal for Washington while helping to keep the Caps defense below three goals allowed per game. Just a little over halfway through the season, he’s posted 33 blocks, 39 hits and 11 takeaways emerging as a vital piece to a Capitals team with Stanley Cup ambitions. Still, his mindset remains the same as it was when he was drafted in 2009.

“I’ve just kind of always had the mentality that every day got to be earned in this league and nothing’s ever going to be given to me. So I kind of keep that mindset that I’ve always developed,” Jensen said.

Catch the full interview with Nick Jensen during Capitals Pregame Live on NBC Sports Washington at 6 p.m. and stay tuned for live coverage of Capitals vs. Devils.