UFA : Another big name wants to leave his team and it's good for Habs
According to information from renowned journalist David Pagnotta, Winnipeg Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers is expected to test the free agent market after the upcoming 2025 season. He has expressed his desire for a change of scenery.
This news is likely to please Kent Hughes, as the pool of talented players who could dream of a spot in the Canadiens' top-6 has been growing in recent weeks.
This is significant because the Winnipeg Jets parted ways with Pierre-Luc Dubois last summer to free up salary cap space, giving them a chance to ultimately extend Nikolaj Ehlers' contract. The larger the pool of talented players, the more interesting the price for a player of this caliber becomes for NHL executives�a universal economic principle that applies regardless of the market.
It's worth noting that Ehlers has been playing a secondary role with the Jets. Kyle Connor was paired with Mark Scheifele and Gabriel Vilardi. Number 81 played with Ehlers a few seasons ago. This decision has impacted the Danish player's offensive production.
For the first time in several years, the 27-year-old Dane played in all of the Winnipeg Jets' games. He had missed regular-season games in each campaign since 2018.
Nikolaj Ehlers doesn't want to sign a new contract with the Winnipeg Jets, which is why he is on the trading block
A swift skater with good hands and excellent game vision, possessing top-tier offensive flair�this is the description of what the former first-round pick of the Jets in 2014 can bring to an NHL team.
- David Pagnotta
Another name added to an already well-stocked list... This bodes well for the future!
Will the Jets risk losing him on the market without receiving any compensation? That would be very surprising! Expect a trade to occur during this summer's or next summer's NHL Draft...
At 28 years old, Nikolaj Ehlers has a relatively slight build at 6 feet and 172 pounds. However, the 9th overall pick in the 2014 draft has amassed 457 points in 605 career NHL games. His speed fits well with the style of play favored by Martin St-Louis.
Even relegated to a second-line role on the Manitoba team, the Dane scored 61 points in 82 games. Additionally, he excels at even strength, as evidenced by his statistics. He is one of the best 5-on-5 wingers in the NHL.
Another case to follow and another potential top-6 forward for Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton.
| POLL | ||
According to you, what will be the value of Nikolaj Ehler's next contract? | ||
| Less than 6 M$ per year | 102 | 30.9 % |
| 6 to 7 M$ per year | 157 | 47.6 % |
| 7 to 8 M$ per year | 60 | 18.2 % |
| More than 8 M$ per year | 11 | 3.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
