Nikolaj Ehlers has by no means scored 30 targets in a season.
It’s a kind of issues that, at the least from afar, form of catches you off guard.
The speedy Dane has appeared like such a harmful scoring winger at instances throughout a decade-long profession that it simply looks like there ought to be a 36 and a 33 someplace in that Hockey Reference objective column.
He’s definitely come shut, notching 29 targets in his age-21 season as a third-year NHLer who appeared on his approach to changing into — at worst — a daily 35-goal man. After all, he additionally buried the biscuit at a 37-goal tempo in each the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 marketing campaign (21 targets in 47 video games) and the following season, an injury-plagued exhibiting in 2021-22 when he netted 28 in 62.
Each the accidents and that gnawing sense there may all the time be a bit of bit extra manufacturing with Ehlers are components to think about as we ponder the place this participant — with one yr remaining on his contract — may skate subsequent yr if, as all indications appear to be, there isn’t an extension to be labored out in Winnipeg.
Then once more, how straightforward will it’s for groups in want of scoring to take a look at these tantalizing stretches of Ehlers’ profession and surprise if a man who remains to be coming into simply his age-28 season may put it (and maintain it) all collectively in a brand new location — particularly if signing to stay round that new burgh for the following half-decade or so is a part of the equation?
If Ehlers’ time on the one crew he’s ever recognized is restricted, no scarcity of golf equipment might be calling the Jets to get a deal with on what it will take to land him. Right here, then, is our shot at a pair offers that might kick off the following chapter of Ehlers’ profession.
Winnipeg receives
F Josh Anderson
D Jayden Struble
D Justin Barron
F Owen Beck
Carolina’s 2024 second-round decide
Carolina receives
F Nikolaj Ehlers
D Jordan Harris
26th total decide from Montreal, beforehand acquired from Winnipeg
Montreal receives
Why the Jets do it: There’s nobody implausible piece coming again, but when issues break the appropriate method you might conceivably fill a whole lot of holes. Anderson is coming off a positively depressing yr and you might argue Montreal would want to pay someone to take the three years remaining on his contract at a cap hit of $5.5 million per season. However this can be a quick energy ahead hockey executives may discover arduous to stop and Winnipeg has traditionally embraced buying guys with a bit of time period. Anderson, who simply turned 30 in Might, has had bother staying wholesome, however he was mainly a 20-goal man in a six-foot-three banger’s body the 2 earlier seasons earlier than this previous one.
Jayden Struble is a bull-strong defenceman who strikes effectively and confirmed actual NHL potential as a rookie this yr, whereas Justin Barron is a coveted right-shot D-man who’s flashed respectable NHL stretches. Put the 2020 first-rounder on a crew together with his brother, Morgan, and hope he finds his greatest self on the still-young age of twenty-two.
Owen Beck is coming off an MVP exhibiting on the Memorial Cup and screams worthwhile professional. If the Jets are fortunate, he may change into a top-sixer after a bit of seasoning.
Why the Hurricanes do it: Carolina is perpetually in want of scoring and Ehlers may present that. After some ups and downs in Manitoba, it’s a must to assume Ehlers — if issues go effectively in Raleigh — would significantly take into account placing down roots in a quiet, heat locale with a strong squad.
Jordan Harris’s identify might not bounce off the web page, however he’s proven himself to be a really sensible D-man in Montreal who can mainly be trusted in all conditions. His flooring is that of an overqualified third-pair man who can play each side of the rink and his ceiling is ultra-reliable No. 4 man on a aggressive squad.
Carolina would additionally now maintain the 26th and 27th picks within the draft; maybe it may bundle them and transfer up the board to pick an attractive prospect.
Why the Canadiens do it: It’s rather a lot going out the door from Montreal, however nothing that looks like a back-breaker. Montreal is loaded with younger defence and blue line prospects, so dropping three younger D-men with NHL expertise — even one as sturdy as Harris — is palatable. Beck is a superb prospect, however the Canadiens are bringing in a 25-year-old, in Necas, who would eat up a top-six slot for the following half-decade, at the least.
The Canadiens have a whole lot of high quality younger items; if their rebuild lacks one thing it’s high-end expertise and Necas possesses that.
Winnipeg receives
Utah’s 2025 first-round decide, top-five protected
Utah’s 2025 second-round decide
Florida’s 2024 second-round decide, beforehand acquired by Utah
Utah receives
F Nikolaj Ehlers
Why the Jets do it: It’s a little bit of a kick-the-can play; purchase draft futures that may be was our bodies down the highway. Winnipeg isn’t usually a free-agent vacation spot for top-end expertise, however there are a selection of workmanlike UFA defencemen accessible this yr the Jets may pursue. Attempt to bolster the blue with Ehlers’ $6 million cap hit off the books and liquidate the Utah picks (or don’t) earlier than the 2025 deadline as you see match.
Why Utah does it: As a result of it actually has 10 second-round picks from 2024 to ’26. Certainly the plan all alongside — whether or not within the desert or mountains — was to show a lot of these into our bodies and the time has come. Carry a brand new participant with goal-scoring chops to your new market, hope he thrives and possibly the match works long-term.
