The New York Rangers won’t be signing Nicklas Jensen this summer, despite issuing him a qualifying offer a few weeks ago. The minor league forward has signed a one-year contract with Jokerit of the KHL, which also contains an option for the 2018-19 season.
Jensen was a first-round pick back in 2011, but hasn’t been able to crack the NHL on a full-time basis yet. That didn’t slow him down last year though, as he scored 32 goals in the AHL for the Hartford Wolf Pack, easily a career high. Since the qualified him, the Rangers will retain his exclusive negotiating rights for the time being.
- There is buzz around the Montreal Canadiens and free agent defenseman Mark Streit this morning, after a report from Marc de Foy of Le Journal de Montreal said that the team had offered him a one-year deal worth $1.5MM. Though he couldn’t confirm that the team had offered it, Eric Engels of Sportsnet thinks that Streit would be silly not to take that deal if presented with it. Streit will turn 40 this season, but was still a fairly effective point producing defenseman last year with both Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. His role is obviously diminished, but he can still move the puck and contribute on the powerplay.
- Ted Nolan will be heading back to the international coaching ranks, as he’s set to take over the Polish National team. Nolan previously coached the Latvian team, and has had stops as the head coach for both New York (Islanders) and Buffalo in the NHL. Nolan has had huge success coaching young players in the junior ranks, and will try to help Poland grow their team to compete on the world stage.