Now that the Stanley Cup has been awarded, the league and its fans are focused on the upcoming NHL Entry Draft and offseason. Teams have already started their offseasons as we saw a massive trade which saw two of the Montreal Canadiens divisional rivals swap goaltenders. Now, with the draft just a day away, the Canadiens are gearing up to take the next step in their rebuild. They finished just 26th in goals-for this past season. One player who could help and has seen his name in the rumour mill is Nikolaj Ehlers.
The Canadiens are entering the 2024 NHL Entry draft with 12 picks. Five of which are in the first three rounds including two in the first round. The goal for the Canadiens this offseason will certainly be to improve their offence.
Montreal Canadiens Should Look to Acquire Nikolaj Ehlers
Nikolaj Ehlers has spent his entire nine-year career with the Winnipeg Jets organization. The Jets drafted Ehlers in the first round, 9th overall in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. Now at 28 years old and entering the final year of his contract that carries a cap hit of just $6 million, Ehlers is due for a raise. This has the Jets questioning what to do with the forward. While they could look to keep him, they have some other key free agents that need to be dealt with over the next couple of seasons. This includes Cole Perfetti and Tyler Toffoli this offseason. Gabriel Vilardi and Neal Pionk next season. As well as Kyle Connor after the 2025-26 season. These players, if they all stay, will command raises from their current contracts. Making it tough to keep everyone around.
Bring in the Montreal Canadiens. The Habs are in desperate need of some secondary scoring. While the top line of Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky were outstanding last season, the fourth-highest-scoring forward on the roster was Alex Newhook with 34 points. Yes, he only played 55 games. However, if they want to take the next step, they will need to be much better offensively.
Ehlers Would be the Perfect Fit for the Canadiens
Since entering the league in the 2015-16 season, Ehlers has scored at least 20 goals in all but two seasons. One was his rookie season where he still found the back of the net an impressive 15 times. The other was the 2022-23 season where he only appeared in 45 games. Still, Ehlers was able to score 12 goals and 38 points in those 45 games. He’s also managed to eclipse the 60-point plateau three times over that same span. His ability to produce offence is exactly what the Canadiens need on their second line.
With the return of Kirby Dach for the start of the 2024-25 season, Ehlers alongside Dach and one of Newhook, Brendan Gallagher or potentially another offseason acquisition would give the Habs two solid scoring lines.
Why Would the Jets Move Ehlers?
As mentioned, the Jets have a ton of expiring contracts they have to take care of over the next few years. This makes it harder to re-sign players like Ehlers. Also, with Ehlers’s contract set to expire after the 2024-25 season, they could potentially lose him in free agency. Kevin Cheveldayoff needs to think about asset management this offseason. Moving Ehlers would be the best way for him to do that.
Also, the Jets don’t have a first-round pick in this year’s draft as they traded it to the Habs in the Sean Monahan deal. This makes the Habs an even more enticing trade partner as they can reacquire their own first-round pick as part of the package for Ehlers.
The Jets are also rumoured to be in the market to move one of their top prospects Rutger McGroarty. Which is another name the Habs would surely like to acquire. There is the potential of a blockbuster deal between the two clubs and the Habs surely have the pieces to be able to pull it off.
Extension Would Need to be Signed by Nikolaj Ehlers
Of course, no team is trading for a player without having the contract talks in place first. The agent in Kent Hughes is obviously already thinking about this no matter which player he looks to acquire. According to evolving-hockey.com, an extension for Nikolaj Ehlers on a five-year deal would bring a cap hit of around $7.625 million per season. This would keep him under the dollar amount of both Suzuki and Caufield, which is what Hughes is trying to do with his players. As well, it brings Ehlers to just 33 years old. It’s the perfect length contract that should have Ehlers still playing at a top level as it ends.
Offence Needs to be a Priority This Offseason
No matter who the Habs acquire this offseason, offseason needs to be the focus. Both in acquisitions and in the draft. The Habs have already built a solid pool of defence prospects. It’s time to prioritize the offence. Whether that’s acquiring Ehlers or another name which has been in the rumour mill, rest assured, Kent Hughes will be busy this offseason.
Main Photo: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
