"The Neutral Zone" Staff Report
NEW YORK – New York Rangers General Manager Jeff Gorton announced Tuesday that the team has agreed to terms with RFA defenseman Mat Bodie and forward Nicklas Jensen.
Bodie, 26, skated in 76 games with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL) this past season, registering seven goals and 29 assists for 36 points, along with a plus-five rating and 38 penalty minutes. He established AHL career-highs in several categories in 2015-16, including games played, goals, assists, and points. Bodie, who served as Hartford’s captain during the final month of this past season, was one of two players – and was the only defenseman – who skated in every game with the Wolf Pack in 2015-16. He tied for the team lead in assists and ranked fourth in points during the past season. In addition, Bodie led Hartford defensemen in assists and points, ranked second among team defensemen in goals, and tied for third among team defensemen in plus/minus rating in 2015-16.
Bodie, a 6-0, 175-pounder has skated in 151 career AHL games over two seasons, both with the Wolf Pack, registering 12 goals and 56 assists for 68 points, along with a plus-16 rating and 80 penalty minutes. Bodie has led Hartford defensemen in games played and assists in each of his two seasons with the team, and he has posted a plus-five rating or better in each season. In 2014-15, Bodie led AHL rookie defensemen in assists (27) and tied for first among AHL rookie defensemen in points (32).
Bodie, a native of East St. Paul, Manitoba, native was signed by the Rangers as an undrafted free agent on April 15, 2014.
Jensen, 23, skated in 68 games in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Utica Comets and Hartford Wolf Pack this past season, registering 19 goals and 18 assists for 37 points, along with a plus-10 rating and 32 penalty minutes. He established AHL career-highs in games played, goals, assists, points, and plus/minus rating in 2015-16. In 41 games with the Wolf Pack, Jensen registered 25 points (15 goals, 10 assists) and a plus-seven rating. He tallied a goal while making his debut with Hartford on January 9, 2016 vs. Bridgeport. Jensen posted three consecutive multi-point games from March 18, 2016 vs. Portland to March 20, 2016 at Springfield, including a hat trick on March 18, 2016.
In addition, Jensen recorded five goals and two assists for seven points, along with six penalty minutes in eight games while representing Denmark at the 2016 IIHF World Championship. He was selected as one of Denmark’s three best players in the tournament. Jensen tied for first among all skaters in the tournament in game-winning goals (two), and he led Denmark in goals and points.
Jensen, a 6-3, 217-pounder has skated in 24 career NHL games over parts of three seasons, all with Vancouver, registering three goals and three assists for six points, along with 10 penalty minutes. Jensen made his NHL debut on April 1, 2013 at San Jose and he registered his first career NHL assist/point on March 10, 2014 vs. the NY Islanders.
Jensen has skated in 207 career AHL games over parts of five seasons, registering 54 goals and 40 assists for 94 points, along with 111 penalty minutes. Over his last three seasons in the league (2013-14 – 2015-16), he has recorded 86 points (48 goals, 38 assists) in 181 games (0.48 points per game over the span).
Jensen, a Herning, Denmark, native was acquired by the Rangers from Vancouver along with a sixth round pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft in exchange for Emerson Etem on January 8, 2016. Jensen was selected by the Canucks in the first round, 29th overall, of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.
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