In this edition of Winnipeg Jets rumours, we are looking at a potential trade of Left Wing Nikolaj Ehlers. The difficulty in moving Ehlers appears to be in the requested trade return made by Jets General Manager Kevin Cheveldayoff. Cheveldayoff believes he needs two specific pieces as return for Ehlers, a first-round pick, as well as a young, current NHL roster prospect forward. Essentially, someone to replace Ehlers’ offensive acumen in the now, and down the road possibly too. And really, who can blame him?
The Nikolaj Ehlers Trade Rumours Are Serious and Are Now Evolving
On Nikolaj Ehlers:
“Teams interested in Winnipeg’s Nikolaj Ehlers prefer to have a contract extension in place if they are paying the asking price, believed to be a young NHL forward and a first-round pick.” https://t.co/bOlZEM3CTg
— The Sabre Report (@TheSabreReport) June 28, 2024
Ehlers is set to make $6 million in 2024-25. Moreover, given statistics like his very consistent points/60 minutes, he provides very good value for his club. For example, his Pts/60 over the past four NHL campaigns are 3.0, 3.5, 3.2, and 2.8. What that works out to in results, is in 2023-24, he had 25 goals, and 36 assists for a total of 61 points through 82 games played, logging 15:52 minutes a night. Furthermore, his 2022-23 season was shortened to 45 games, due to a hernia injury. But when he did suit up, he was again productive. In 45 games, he had 38 points. Over his nine-year, NHL career, he has played in 605 career games. In that time, he has 201 goals and 256 assists for 457 career points. He carries a very respectable 10.7 CF% Rel over the length of his career as well.
Why Does Ehlers Feel He Is in This Position?
What has opened up all these trade rumours on Nikolaj Ehlers is the disconnect between player and team. Ehlers fully-well believes he should be given more opportunity, whereas the team doesn’t give him that opportunity. However, at the same time, it is difficult to pinpoint a specific problem with Ehlers, given his consistency in producing. For whatever reason, it just seemed like Head Coach Rick Bowness and Ehlers didn’t get along. And now the only answer in the offseason is likely to trade him, unfortunately, for him and the Jets really, because he can be such an asset offensively.
The one guess boils down to top power play and top-line play. According to moneypuck.com, Ehlers is a very selfless player. If we filter on lines that played 100 minutes or more, Ehlers finds himself on four different combinations with the Jets. In addition, all of them, have an xGoals% of 52.2% or higher. All he does, is go out there and produce.
It is difficult to be a top-flight goal scorer if you do not receive big time minutes on the top power play unit. Case in point, in 2023-24, Connor McDavid played 258 minutes on the power play, Auston Matthews played 276, and well Nikolaj Ehlers? 180 minutes. Even Mark Scheifele had 232 minutes. And, Ehlers played in all 82 games. Whereas his teammate on suited up in 74 games.
We have discussed moving Ehlers previously. However, the purpose of this latest rumour from David Pagnotta of the Fourth Period, is to include the potential return in trade. Ehlers is clearly a proven, NHL goal-scorer, but Cheveldayoff is playing hardball. In fact, he wouldn’t even want to trade Ehlers given how effective he can be, and probably plays into why the steep asking price. The fact that this rumour is evolving to include the return, shows that things are heating up.
Main photo credit: Terrence Lee-USA TODAY Sports
