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After a decade-long run with the Winnipeg Jets, it seems that Nikolaj Ehlers is poised to discover new alternatives. In line with NHL insider Elliotte Friedman on the most recent episode of 32 Ideas, Ehlers is predicted to check the free agent market this summer season.
Nikolaj Ehlers will check the open market this summer season, per Elliotte Friedman.#NHLJets #GoJetsGo #NHL
— JetsNation (@NHLJetsNation) June 15, 2025
“Listening to he’s the identical as Marner — he’s going to July 1 after which we’ll see,” Friedman mentioned.
Whereas Friedman’s phrasing leaves a crack within the door for a possible return, NHL historical past suggests that after gamers hit the open market, they not often come again.
Ehlers has lengthy been a subject of commerce hypothesis, and now that he’s set to develop into an unrestricted free agent, a number of groups are reportedly . The Carolina Hurricanes have been linked to Ehlers for a while, and Sportsnet’s Ryan Dixon has talked about the Utah Hockey Membership, Boston Bruins, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Montreal Canadiens, and Los Angeles Kings as doable touchdown spots.
Regardless of by no means formally hitting the 30-goal mark in a single season, Ehlers has constantly pushed towards that benchmark. He scored a career-high 29 objectives in his third NHL season and appeared poised to develop into a perennial 30-goal scorer. At his peak, the Danish winger was producing at a 37-goal tempo throughout each the 2020–21 and 2021–22 campaigns, however shortened seasons and accidents hampered his totals — he completed with 21 objectives in 47 video games and 28 in 62, respectively.
Most just lately, Ehlers was on a 29-goal tempo regardless of lacking 13 video games, probably in his last season as a Jet.
Accidents have been a recurring theme throughout Ehlers’ time in Winnipeg and may very well be a think about how groups assess his worth on the open market. One other lingering problem has been his utilization. Over the previous three seasons, Ehlers has averaged beneath 16 minutes of ice time per recreation — a shocking quantity given his manufacturing. Throughout that span, 5 Jets forwards (Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor, Gabe Vilardi, Mason Appleton, and Nino Niederreiter) all logged extra five-on-five time per recreation than Ehlers’ 13:18.
Nonetheless, Ehlers has constantly delivered when given the chance. He ranked second amongst Jets skaters in factors per 60 minutes this previous season (2.10), and led the group in that class in every of the earlier two years.
With simply over two weeks till the market opens, common supervisor Kevin Cheveldayoff and the Jets’ entrance workplace are dealing with a number of large choices. Whether or not Ehlers in the end stays or goes, one factor is evident — the clock is ticking in Winnipeg.
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