Capitals Add Boone Jenner After 13 Seasons in Columbus. Here’s What He Brings.

Washington’s front office has been busy. It feels like the kind of offseason where it’s not done yet either.

The Capitals added Boone Jenner when free agency opened, pulling a longtime Columbus Blue Jacket out of the only NHL locker room he’s ever known. Jenner spent 13 seasons in Ohio, and this was the first time in his career he hit the open market. It didn’t take long for him to find a new home.

The guy is 31 years old and plays a specific brand of hockey. He hits. He gets to the net. He kills penalties. In 67 games last season he had 13 goals and 25 assists. That’s 38 points, which is fine but it’s not really why teams line up for him. Jenner is one of only six NHL players since 2013-14 with at least 200 goals and 1,800 hits. The other five? Alex Ovechkin, Tom Wilson, Brady Tkachuk, Vincent Trocheck and Brayden Schenn. That’s the kind of company the Capitals are paying for.

The free agent thing was new for him

Jenner held every significant Columbus franchise record for games played. He suited up 808 times for the Blue Jackets and put up 421 points over that run. In 37 playoff games he chipped in 15 points. The Blue Jackets and Jenner both seemed ready to move on, and the timing worked out for Washington.

The Capitals already brought in Jordan Kyrou and Alex Tuch earlier this offseason. The forward group is starting to look a little deeper than it did last year. It wouldn’t be shocking if they add somebody else before training camp either. The organization hasn’t exactly been subtle about trying to win while Ovechkin is still chasing the goal record.

Speaking of Ovechkin

The one big question mark hanging over the whole roster right now is whether Ovechkin plays another season. Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reported recently that a decision could come sometime in July. The Capitals have kept the lines open with him since the season ended. Everyone apparently wants to make sure Ovechkin is 100 percent locked in before he makes any announcement, one way or the other.

If he comes back, the forward group looks legit. If he doesn’t, well, that’s a different conversation entirely. Either way, Jenner slots into the middle-six somewhere and gives the team a physical presence that fits the DNA of the room.