Player Discussion: Ehlers

[Buffdog]

Just play the guy 17-19 min per night and all the parties will be happy. Extra shift here or there. 1-2 shifts per game make huge difference.

These 12-14 TOI's are very worrisome and bad... I know that you need to play Lowry line a lot. But using your best or second best winger only 12-14 min is maddening.

There will be games with lots of PKs where his icetime will end up lower than people want. At the end of the day, now that he's on PP1, should we just be looking at his 5v5 time?

 

[surixon]

There will be games with lots of PKs where his icetime will end up lower than people want. At the end of the day, now that he's on PP1, should we just be looking at his 5v5 time?

It's really only home games that are the issue. We hard match too much and it impacts the second line the most. On the road the second line gets enough minutes.

Given our performance on the road when we roll our lines more is juat as good I think our coaching can ease off the matchups a bit.

Top line is also still taking far too long of shifts.

 

[Adam da bomb]

It's really only home games that are the issue. We hard match too much and it impacts the second line the most. On the road the second line gets enough minutes.

Given our performance on the road when we roll our lines more is juat as good I think our coaching can ease off the matchups a bit.

Top line is also still taking far too long of shifts.

Don’t really see an issue I see 11 and 1.

 

[surixon]

Don’t really see an issue I see 11 and 1.

There is never am issue when teams win but if ot stops that is when these things happen. Murat flat out said Ehlers complained about his minutes last year and in the article flat out stated he wasn't happy with 12 or so.

Part of keeping a team winning is keeping your players happy and I'd think keeping Nik happy should be right up there with keeping Mark and KC happy.

 

[JetsFan815]

There is never am issue when teams win but if ot stops that is when these things happen. Murat flat out said Ehlers complained about his minutes last year and in the article flat out stated he wasn't happy with 12 or so.

Part of keeping a team winning is keeping your players happy and I'd think keeping Nik happy should be right up there with keeping Mark and KC happy.

Exactly, Arniel needs to find him minutes no matter what. He can't put up his hands say... "too bad, the matchups got me away from the plan". This is a player in a contract year who is playing well, they should be doing everything to keep him happy.

So far out of 12 games, in 4 games he has been far from 16 minutes. Good thing is that in the last 7 games he has been under 16 minutes in only 1 game, the tampa game but was under 16 mins in 3 out of first 5 games. I hope the recent trend keeps up, Tampa game not withstanding.

 

[Jets 31]

Don’t really see an issue I see 11 and 1.

Exactly, if Ehlers or any player on the Jets for that matter isn't happy right now when we are 11-1 and the best team in the league because they got 40 seconds less ice time i don't think we want players that selfish.

 

[Flair Hay]

I think getting Ehlers the full time PP1 time - as well as the success that unit is having - is a big step in expanding his role and showing how important he is to the team.

Not to mention some time on the ice 5v6 certainly won't hurt - and probably help us even score more in that situation. Easy points he hasn't had access to his entire career. He will appreciate that for sure.

It's okay to take this line combos and 5v5 ice time a bit gradually. No one is unhappy on an 11-1 team in hockey.

This start is really special and you know every guy in the room believes in this season deep down we can win it all.

He is a core player for us and it's nice he is starting to be viewed this way by almost all of our fan base!

 

[Adam da bomb]

I wonder how ehlers feels about being on the 1st pp as he is no longer the central guy. The puck goes through Connor. Even though ehlers was getting less minutes on the second unit he was the guy. The pp was built around him with big bodies in front to tip his shots and create a screen for him. From what I’ve seen this year Kyle is still the vocal point of 1st pp. it is set up so he can score or be the playmaker. Ehlers is essentially just a relay spot. It leads to more points, but, often secondary points. Like morrissey’s goal a few games ago. Connor sees ehlers is open after seeing the d has moved to stop him. Ehlers relays it to schief who gets it back to mo for shot. It was never hmm will Ehlers look for offense.
Ehlers entered the zone with puck on second unit. Mid ice team gets it to Connor to decide how they will enter.

There is never am issue when teams win but if ot stops that is when these things happen. Murat flat out said Ehlers complained about his minutes last year and in the article flat out stated he wasn't happy with 12 or so.

Part of keeping a team winning is keeping your players happy and I'd think keeping Nik happy should be right up there with keeping Mark and KC happy.

I don’t know if jets see it that way. He seems number 6 after Helly, schief, Kyle, Josh and Lowry.

 

[surixon]

I wonder how ehlers feels about being on the 1st pp as he is no longer the central guy. The puck goes through Connor. Even though ehlers was getting less minutes on the second unit he was the guy. The pp was built around him with big bodies in front to tip his shots and create a screen for him. From what I’ve seen this year Kyle is still the vocal point of 1st pp. it is set up so he can score or be the playmaker. Ehlers is essentially just a relay spot. It leads to more points, but, often secondary points. Like morrissey’s goal a few games ago. Connor sees ehlers is open after seeing the d has moved to stop him. Ehlers relays it to schief who gets it back to mo for shot. It was never hmm will Ehlers look for offense.
Ehlers entered the zone with puck on second unit. Mid ice team gets it to Connor to decide how they will enter.


I don’t know if jets see it that way. He seems number 6 after Helly, schief, Kyle, Josh and Lowry.

You very well could be correct. I've long thought the org doesn't value him high enough which is why I still have a hard time seeing them agreeing on an extension. Do the Jets value him enough to give him what he'll want to stay.

Interesting thoughts on the PP. I guess if he's unhappy there they could swap him and Cole but the second unit is going through Perfetti so you might have the same issue lol. Noone seems to want to be the bumper. I still maintain its Marks best spot on the pp.

 

[Adam da bomb]

You very well could be correct. I've long thought the org doesn't value him high enough which is why I still have a hard time seeing them agreeing on an extension. Do the Jets value him enough to give him what he'll want to stay.

Interesting thoughts on the PP. I guess if he's unhappy there they could swap him and Cole but the second unit is going through Perfetti so you might have the same issue lol. Noone seems to want to be the bumper. I still maintain its Marks best spot on the pp.

But, going through perfetti looks different. As ehlers is a shooter and Perfetti is less likely to shoot from the blue line. Replacing ehlers with Perfetti does not create the same problems for Perfetti as much. Yes, might not be best use of Perfetti, but, he doesn’t seem to need to have the puck as much to be as impactful. Therefore would probably be more content. There is also the price tags. Perfetti making 4 mil to be a complimentary player is easier on egos and understanding of places than a 6 mil complimentary piece. Perfetti is also used to playing secondary piece to ehlers.

Dont know if its jets not valuing him enough as that’s his value to team. They have decided kc is the top winger and that’s paying off this season. The top centre, the venzina, the Norris’s top ten d hard to fault. Then they value their top shut down guy who could be in the running for the selke over their #2 winger.

Ultimately, Ehlers is the most replaceable if you go with the assumption that kc is ahead of him. After all, perfetti is a pretty great wing not as good as Ehlers, but pretty darn good. You can then replace ehlers with lambert. It’s a step backward, but, imaginable. We do not have any potential replacement for any of the other core pieces, minus replacing kc with ehlers and lambert in spot, but, hard to imagine.

 

[surixon]

But, going through perfetti looks different. As ehlers is a shooter and Perfetti is less likely to shoot from the blue line. Replacing ehlers with Perfetti does not create the same problems for Perfetti as much. Yes, might not be best use of Perfetti, but, he doesn’t seem to need to have the puck as much to be as impactful. Therefore would probably be more content. There is also the price tags. Perfetti making 4 mil to be a complimentary player is easier on egos and understanding of places than a 6 mil complimentary piece. Perfetti is also used to playing secondary piece to ehlers.

Dont know if its jets not valuing him enough as that’s his value to team. They have decided kc is the top winger and that’s paying off this season. The top centre, the venzina, the Norris’s top ten d hard to fault. Then they value their top shut down guy who could be in the running for the selke over their #2 winger.

Ultimately, Ehlers is the most replaceable if you go with the assumption that kc is ahead of him. After all, perfetti is a pretty great wing not as good as Ehlers, but pretty darn good. You can then replace ehlers with lambert. It’s a step backward, but, imaginable. We do not have any potential replacement for any of the other core pieces, minus replacing kc with ehlers and lambert in spot, but, hard to imagine.

That is what I was trying to get at. The Jets and Ehlers likely have different ideas of his value is to the team which imo is why he isn't inked to a contract extension at this point.

I also see a very real scenario where both parties move on and the team promotes Lambert to fill his role as the speedy transition player on that line.

Will be interesting to see how it plays out. Do they sign him, use him as a self rental, or do they deal him in a hockey trade at some point.

 

[Adam da bomb]

That is what I was trying to get at. The Jets and Ehlers likely have different ideas of his value is to the team which imo is why he isn't inked to a contract extension at this point.

I also see a very real scenario where both parties move on and the team promotes Lambert to fill his role as the speedy transition player on that line.

Will be interesting to see how it plays out. Do they sign him, use him as a self rental, or do they deal him in a hockey trade at some point.

I think kc’s improved play really forces the issue. Ehlers has always been the better 200 ft player. Also, it was possible kc’s next salary would have been low enough to keep everyone together.

 

[TS Quint]

I wonder how ehlers feels about being on the 1st pp as he is no longer the central guy. The puck goes through Connor. Even though ehlers was getting less minutes on the second unit he was the guy. The pp was built around him with big bodies in front to tip his shots and create a screen for him. From what I’ve seen this year Kyle is still the vocal point of 1st pp. it is set up so he can score or be the playmaker. Ehlers is essentially just a relay spot. It leads to more points, but, often secondary points. Like morrissey’s goal a few games ago. Connor sees ehlers is open after seeing the d has moved to stop him. Ehlers relays it to schief who gets it back to mo for shot. It was never hmm will Ehlers look for offense.
Ehlers entered the zone with puck on second unit. Mid ice team gets it to Connor to decide how they will enter.


I don’t know if jets see it that way. He seems number 6 after Helly, schief, Kyle, Josh and Lowry.

Connor earned that trigger man spot. Ehlers has 3rd most PP shots, one behind Scheifele and just as many primary assists as secondary. Should Scheifele be upset too? There is nothing Ehlers loves more than to pass and he is contributing to success. It's weird how fragile people think Ehlers is.

 

[GNP]

I think getting Ehlers the full time PP1 time - as well as the success that unit is having - is a big step in expanding his role and showing how important he is to the team.

Not to mention some time on the ice 5v6 certainly won't hurt - and probably help us even score more in that situation. Easy points he hasn't had access to his entire career. He will appreciate that for sure.

It's okay to take this line combos and 5v5 ice time a bit gradually. No one is unhappy on an 11-1 team in hockey.

This start is really special and you know every guy in the room believes in this season deep down we can win it all.

He is a core player for us and it's nice he is starting to be viewed this way by almost all of our fan base!

Good post, and I agree with it. It's very important to keep core players, and Ehlers is an important core player for the Jets. They should try hard to sign him, and I'm sure they would like too.

If it is the case where Ehlers can command $ 8.5 to 9 mil per year as a UFA, do you sign him for equal or more than Helle and Scheifele ? That will be a hurdle that will have to be overcome. Maybe Ehlers takes less, not to rock the boat, but this all depends on how much he likes it here, and wants to stay ?

I think what will happen with Ehlers, is the Jets will see how his year goes just past the New Year, and start making decisions. If he keeps up his current rate of production, they'd have no choice but to pay him, if they want to keep him. I'd like to see him resigned.

 

[surixon]

I think kc’s improved play really forces the issue. Ehlers has always been the better 200 ft player. Also, it was possible kc’s next salary would have been low enough to keep everyone together.

Yeah, an engaged all over the ice KC is a superior player imo. Not sure what it is with some of our players really hitting their stride later in their primes like JoMo, Wheeler and now KC but I'll take it.

If KC pots 50 and 100 points we are going to be paying over $9million very easily.

 

[Flair Hay]

I wonder how ehlers feels about being on the 1st pp as he is no longer the central guy. The puck goes through Connor. Even though ehlers was getting less minutes on the second unit he was the guy. The pp was built around him with big bodies in front to tip his shots and create a screen for him. From what I’ve seen this year Kyle is still the vocal point of 1st pp. it is set up so he can score or be the playmaker. Ehlers is essentially just a relay spot. It leads to more points, but, often secondary points. Like morrissey’s goal a few games ago. Connor sees ehlers is open after seeing the d has moved to stop him. Ehlers relays it to schief who gets it back to mo for shot. It was never hmm will Ehlers look for offense.
Ehlers entered the zone with puck on second unit. Mid ice team gets it to Connor to decide how they will enter.


I don’t know if jets see it that way. He seems number 6 after Helly, schief, Kyle, Josh and Lowry.

I think he is the "wild card" on the PP which actually has worked out amazing. Less static structure, more rotations and more unique looks. And Ehlers changing positions multiple times every PP is the straw stirring the drink. I imagine he is quite happy with how the PP stuff is going, like we all are.

Lowry is a unique case because he is the captain.

But yeah, no doubt the org sees him as a notch below Connor and Scheif on the totem pole. Or at least they have acted as though that's the case in the past. Maybe Arniel sees it differently. I'm not sure.

 

[Adam da bomb]

I think he is the "wild card" on the PP which actually has worked out amazing. Less static structure, more rotations and more unique looks. And Ehlers changing positions multiple times every PP is the straw stirring the drink. I imagine he is quite happy with how the PP stuff is going, like we all are.

Lowry is a unique case because he is the captain.

But yeah, no doubt the org sees him as a notch below Connor and Scheif on the totem pole. Or at least they have acted as though that's the case in the past. Maybe Arniel sees it differently. I'm not sure.

I guess we will have to agree to disagree about the powerplay as I think the difference in the powerplay is that Connor has just taken another step.

I think the team still sees Ehlers as a notch below the two in importance to team. They still see Connor as their superstar and Schief as their number #1 center.

 

[Flair Hay]

I guess we will have to agree to disagree about the powerplay as I think the difference in the powerplay is that Connor has just taken another step.

I think the team still sees Ehlers as a notch below the two in importance to team. They still see Connor as their superstar and Schief as their number #1 center.

I definitely don't want to discount everyone's contributions to PP. Just saying that Nik is probably happy with his role on PP1 and being a contributor to its success.

Agreed on how the team sees this.

 

[Buffdog]

I think he is the "wild card" on the PP which actually has worked out amazing. Less static structure, more rotations and more unique looks. And Ehlers changing positions multiple times every PP is the straw stirring the drink. I imagine he is quite happy with how the PP stuff is going, like we all are.

Lowry is a unique case because he is the captain.

But yeah, no doubt the org sees him as a notch below Connor and Scheif on the totem pole. Or at least they have acted as though that's the case in the past. Maybe Arniel sees it differently. I'm not sure.

The biggest stregth i see Ehlers bringing to the PP is his zone entry wizardry

The Jets really struggled to get the puck in the zone and set up last season (and then still sucked even when they did)

 

[Flair Hay]

The biggest stregth i see Ehlers bringing to the PP is his zone entry wizardry

The Jets really struggled to get the puck in the zone and set up last season (and then still sucked even when they did)

Definitely helps there for sure

 

[Adam da bomb]

The biggest stregth i see Ehlers bringing to the PP is his zone entry wizardry

The Jets really struggled to get the puck in the zone and set up last season (and then still sucked even when they did)

But, I havent seen them use him there yet. He should as he is great at it, but, I saw them using Kc for that. Hopefully, that changes over time.

 

[scelaton]

Exactly, if Ehlers or any player on the Jets for that matter isn't happy right now when we are 11-1 and the best team in the league because they got 40 seconds less ice time i don't think we want players that selfish.

But in fact, Ehlers complains very little publicly about his ice time, especially compared to some of us!

The facts are:
a) we won't be a .900+ winning percentage team for the whole season
b) even the best teams need to try to improve, especially considering the Jets' history of swoons
c) players playing 22+ minutes a game don't leave time for other lines to contribute
d) the first line often stays on too long 5x5 and there is no good reason for it (eye or stats)

Ehlers is not selfish in wanting to optimize his productivity in a contract year while at the same time maximizing his value to the team. Any of us would be the same way if we were lucky enough to have his talent and most of us would be far more vocal.