Ottawa Senators trade Egor Sokolov to Utah HC for Jan Jenik
The Ottawa Senators and Utah HC continue to shuffle up their rosters early on this offseason, striking a deal to swap a couple of inexperienced forwards. The trade sees Egor Sokolov wind up in Utah, meanwhile the Senators acquire Jan Jenik.
The #Sens have acquired forward Jan Jenik from Utah in exchange for forward Egor Sokolov.
Les Sénateurs d’Ottawa acquièrent l’attaquant Jan Jenik de l’Utah en retour de l’attaquant Egor Sokolov pic.twitter.com/YtURyWhuIY
Sokolov, 24, was originally a second-round selection by the Senators, 61st overall in 2020. The native of Yekaterinburg, Russia most recently appeared in NHL games back in 2022-23, dressing in five games with Ottawa, recording one goal and one assist. Sokolov spent this past season as one of the American Hockey League’s Belleville Senators’ top-six forwards, where he’d produce 21 goals and 46 points in 71 AHL games. His best AHL season came back in 2022-23 when the shifty winger scored 21 goals and 59 points in 70 games and represented the Senators at the 2023 AHL All-Star Game.
Sokolov is a 6-foot-3 pending restricted free agent and is in need of a contract for next season. Once signed, he’ll join Utah’s organization as general manager Bill Armstrong looks to fill out some organizational depth and create some internal competition for his bottom six. It shouldn’t come as a surprise to see Armstrong add another forward with size. Sokolov will look to make an impression in training camp and hopefully land a roster spot to break camp or at least be in the conversation for a call up should some injuries occur.
As for Jenik, the 23-year-old forward was originally a third-round pick of the Arizona Coyotes, 65th overall in 2018. Jenik also had a stellar season at the AHL level in 2023-24, collecting 16 goals and 36 points in 55 games for the Tucson Roadrunners.
Jenik enjoyed a cup of coffee with the Coyotes last season, appearing in five NHL games, recording one assist. He played just over eight minutes of ice time in his five appearances and showed some versatility playing both left wing and down the middle.
Jenik has some history with Senators’ general manager Steve Staios, playing for Staios throughout his junior career with the Hamilton Bulldogs of the Ontario Hockey League.