NHL Trade Rumors: Analyst speculates $42,000,000 Winnipeg Jets forward's future after Hurricanes interest

By Abhishek Dilta

Modified Jul 18, 2024 18:25 GMT

TSN hockey analyst Frankie Corrado discussed the future of Winnipeg Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers amid reported interest from the Carolina Hurricanes. Following the departure of Jake Guentzel to the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Hurricanes are reportedly eyeing Ehlers as a potential replacement.

Although not as prolific as Guenztel in recent years, Ehlher is recognized as a formidable offensive player who could bolster Carolina's competitiveness and contribute to their success in the league.

During the SportsCentre show with Jay Onrait, Frankie Corrado shared his insights on the 28-year-old's future with the Jets. Corrado emphasized the necessity for Winnipeg to seek an offensive upgrade if they opt to move on from Ehlers.

"If you're Winnipeg and you're going to try and move on from this guy, you're going to need an upgrade offensively.

"It's not like you're going to move on from Nick Ehlers and bring in someone bigger or a checker, someone on the back end. If you're going to move on from scoring, this team needs to find a way to score goals," Corrado said (6:08 onwards).

Corrado highlighted Ehlers' consistent performances and suggested that there might be additional capabilities yet to be fully utilized in the forward:

"Ehlers gives you 25 goals and 60-65 points, maybe more on a good year.

"There might even be a little more offense that still needs to be uncovered with Nick Ehlers. The fact that FanDuel thinks he's going to be back with the Jets is great. The Jets could use a player like him. It's a good thing they have him," he continued.

Corrado added:

"If they were going to move on from him, it would be to get an upgrade offensively. If that is not available to them, then it doesn't make sense to move on from that player."

Ehlers is entering the final year of a $42 million contract signed with the Winnipeg Jets in 2018. He will become a UFA at the end of the 2024–25 season.

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How has Nikolaj Ehlers fared with the Winnipeg Jets?

NHL: Stanley Cup Playoffs-Winnipeg Jets at Colorado Avalanche (Image Credit: IMAGN)

The 28-year-old Danish forward was drafted No. 9 overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 2014 NHL draft and has been with them since then.

In his nine-year tenure with the Jets, Nikolaj Ehlers has notched up 457 points through 201 goals and 256 assists in 605 games. In the playoffs, he has collected 14 points (four goals and 10 assists) in 37 games.

According to reports, the Jets wanted the player to be traded during the NHL draft, but they didn't, so fans can only sit and wait for the next move.