After the 2024-25 season concluded, one prospect on the Ottawa Senators roster that was due for a new contract was 24-year-old forward Jan Jenik.
Prior to last season, Jenik joined the Senators organization after being traded over in a one-for-one trade in July 2024 for Egor Sokolov. Jenik had spent the past six seasons of his hockey career with the then Arizona Coyotes since being drafted 65th overall in the 2018 NHL Draft, but the team's name was changed to the "Utah Hockey Club" by the time the trade happened.
Last season, Jenik spent majority of the season in the AHL with the Belleville Senators. Jenik was due for a new contract, but no signing was official until this past Monday. However, the potential of Jenik is still solid to grow more with the Senators organization with the newest contract signed.
How Jenik still has potential with Senators organization
This past Monday, Jenik signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Senators. The 2025-26 season will be Jenik's second with the Senators organization. With the season he had last year in Belleville, and the free agency from 2025, there's reason for Jenik to grow more.
Last season, Jenik was solid in Belleville with recording 29 points in 52 games played. In March, Jenik had an incredible stretch with recording 11 points in a six-game stretch. In a two-game span against the Bridgeport Islanders during the month, Jenik recorded eight points, with one of the games being a five-assist game.
Jenik's 29 points for Belleville last season was the seventh-highest on Belleville's roster. This free agency, Belleville lost Angus Crookshank, Cole Reinhardt and Jeremy Davies in free agency. All three players were pivotal in Belleville.
Crookshank finished as Belleville's all-time leading goal scorer. Reinhardt's 32 points was the sixth-highest on Belleville last season. Davies' 48 points was tied for the second-highest on Belleville last season.
With all three players gone, Belleville will need to find new ways of offense. That is where Jenik can raise his game more in Belleville to not only become a better AHL player, but to potentially get more NHL experience.
Since being drafted in 2018, Jenik has only played in 24 NHL games. Jenik has recorded six points in his NHL career.
Last season, Jenik only got to play in two games for Ottawa and recorded no points. Jenik was inserted into the lineup due to injuries at the forward position.
Now with a new contract signed, another Senators prospect is locked up for the upcoming season. With solid stretches last season and key offensive players lost in Belleville, there's reason to believe Jenik can take another step in his game with the productive season he had.
2025's pre-season will be the first step for Jenik to show growth to his game starting on Sept. 21 against the Toronto Maple Leafs.