There have been only some query marks for the Ottawa Senators and their opening evening roster for the 2024-25 NHL season, and a kind of was which participant would find yourself because the fourth-line heart for the season. The competitors was principally between newly acquired Jan Jenik and up-and-coming prospect Zack Ostapchuk, and midway by means of the preseason, a kind of two gamers stood out greater than the opposite, and that was Jenik.
Jenik’s Spectacular Efficiency By means of Preseason
After being acquired in a commerce with the Utah Hockey Membership the place they swapped struggling prospects with the Senators, Jenik was dealt to Ottawa for Egor Sokolov. There was lots of promise in Jenik’s improvement, and for a couple of years, he seemed like he might be a legit impactful NHL participant.
During the last two seasons, Jenik’s efficiency dropped within the American Hockey League, and PHNX Sports activities’ Craig Morgan reported that Jenik had requested a commerce within the 2023 offseason. The shortage of motivation and hope for a commerce may have been a part of what stalled his manufacturing final season as he hoped for an NHL spot.
Now, with the Senators, Jenik has made a wonderful first impression. He began his preseason off with a four-point sport in opposition to the Toronto Maple Leafs, who have been working with a full NHL-caliber group, and adopted that up with a combat in opposition to former Senator Boko Imama, who’s now with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Jenik has been reliably defensively as effectively, which is arguably extra necessary to the membership than a four-point sport and a heavyweight tilt.
Jenik Brings Good Tempo Change From Final Yr
The fourth line final season had two staples, Mark Kastelic and Parker Kelly. Neither participant had mixture of pace and puck talent, and Jenik brings each of these. The Senators’ bottom-six actually struggled to provide, which isn’t the tip of the world if they’re taking part in nice defensively, however they weren’t doing that both.
The tempo of the fourth-line final season was only a hard-hitting group to put on down the opposition whereas the celebs rested on the bench. They weren’t a lot of a menace and would usually be a part of a defensive structural collapse. Individually, the gamers have been nice bottom-six gamers, and can do effectively of their new roles with new groups, however collectively, and having little-to-no construction from DJ Smith, it didn’t work.
Jenik does have some physicality, however not as a lot as Kastelic or Kelly. The remainder of his sport although, appears to be higher than every of the opposite two. He has completed an ideal job of taking part in sensible on either side of the puck and might be trusted in any state of affairs.
Jenik simply turned 24, which is a primary age for a participant to make the bounce to the NHL. He isn’t a prospect that had been written off or something, it was simply time for a change of surroundings.
In two Ontario Hockey League (OHL) seasons, Jenik posted 86 factors in 54 video games, which was a really promising begin. Since turning professional, Jenik has had his style of NHL motion with 22 profession video games, incomes 4 objectives and 6 factors in that point. His 2021-22 season within the AHL was very spectacular, the place he posted 47 factors in 51 video games as an AHL sophomore.
Lots of numerous experiences and having a chip on his shoulder are each belongings that Jenik has taken into coaching camp this yr, and by the appears to be like of issues already, he’s proving that he belongs within the NHL and might be impactful.
