Player Discussion: Ehlers

Adam da bomb

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May 1, 2016
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I would definitely re-sign Pionk and Apples. I think Pionk and Samberg are showing themselves to be a decent top 4 pairing, competitive. And the two are close, so I think it makes sense to keep them.. The Jets defense doesn't have a lot of depth. I see the potential for Salomonsson to jump up on the top pair, and a bottom pairing of Stanley-De Melo has some value, and is proven. Colin Miller may or may not be part of the future of the Jets, he's only signed for 2 years, so I wouldnt bank on him. Losing a d-man would leave the Jets with zero depth on defense. Lundmark is the only guy who would be in the system next year with any value, so it would be plugs, and if you can pass waivers, you are probably not a top 4 potential d-man. Or even a good NHL defenseman. I do think Heinola may get traded this year to address this issue.

Appleton is the underrated guy on the Lowry line. Lowry has had good numbers with him, and the Jets have made the playoffs every year with that duo being healthy. So that's a chemistry thing for me, where the actual value of the player is relative to his linemates and role.

I don't see Chibrikov and a defensively responsible player to offset Appleton. I think he's a guy who maybe gets on a defensively sound 4th line, and adds some offense on the PP, like Iafallo. Could play his way on to the 2nd line as an injury replacement. I think the Jets need to make room for him, because I don't know if he will do another tour in the A or ask for opportunity elsewhere.

Ehlers is the toughest one for me. The Jets run the risk of spending upwards of $30 million in the future on top 6 wingers (if Perfetti gets a nice raise too) and that gets to be dangerous territory because wingers are generally the easiest to replace. Vilardi is important because he is big and physical and the Jets can't be too optimistic about Barlow being able to fill his shoes. KC is the best pure scorer on the team , when he is on that's when the Jets are most dangerous.

I absolutely love the way Ehlers is playing this year, but I don't know if he can sustainably play that way. Seeing him in the crease poking at pucks, taking shots after whistles, I've waited years for that. That's playing to score goals. Zone entries and all that is nice, but scoring goals takes a bit of courage and some lumps. I don't have a solid opinion on this one, I'll watch it play out.

I've really come to appreciate Namestnikov's game. He's even been a fairly reliable centre on the draw, but I like the way he plays away from the puck, I think his versatility is something the Jets would like to keep.

I'm not the boss, just a fan, and I don't know the inside of the locker room, so I'll trust the qualified people to make the decisions.
I think that you are overrating Appleton. Lowry has always been able to elevate the bottom 6 he is with. They were just as good with Copp, Tanev Lowry.

I think Ehlers is the only player we have a ready replacement for in Lambert.

Villardi is unique, would like a bit more meanness and dirtiness in him after all if you aren’t cheating at that level you aren’t trying hard enough. Look how mean Rantanen is.

The team has decided that Connor is the star so getting him to sign is extremely important.
 

voyageur

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Jul 10, 2011
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I think that you are overrating Appleton. Lowry has always been able to elevate the bottom 6 he is with. They were just as good with Copp, Tanev Lowry.

I think Ehlers is the only player we have a ready replacement for in Lambert.

Villardi is unique, would like a bit more meanness and dirtiness in him after all if you aren’t cheating at that level you aren’t trying hard enough. Look how mean Rantanen is.

The team has decided that Connor is the star so getting him to sign is extremely important.
Maybe in regards to Appleton. I think those years where Lowry had to carry Bourque or guys like Vesalainen, Reichel, Poganski made him a substandard 3C. I certainly remember those being the years when people said that the Jets couldn't win with Lowry as a 3C. Who is actually the 2C, in terms of home matchups.

There's also roles to consider. You can't drop all of Appleton, Iafallo and Namestnikov and not replace them with PKers. That's a specific role that everyone's next favourite offensive player can't necessarily replace. Replacing Iafallo with Chibrikov seems feasible, because I would see the PK as Barron-Lowry, Namestnikov-Kupari, Appleton-Connor, with Gus or JAD as an injury replacement, and that's pretty seamless. Take out two more of those guys, without adequate replacements, and I don't see how special teams doesn't suffer.
 

Adam da bomb

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Maybe in regards to Appleton. I think those years where Lowry had to carry Bourque or guys like Vesalainen, Reichel, Poganski made him a substandard 3C. I certainly remember those being the years when people said that the Jets couldn't win with Lowry as a 3C. Who is actually the 2C, in terms of home matchups.

There's also roles to consider. You can't drop all of Appleton, Iafallo and Namestnikov and not replace them with PKers. That's a specific role that everyone's next favourite offensive player can't necessarily replace. Replacing Iafallo with Chibrikov seems feasible, because I would see the PK as Barron-Lowry, Namestnikov-Kupari, Appleton-Connor, with JAD as an injury replacement, and that's pretty seamless. Take out two more of those guys, without adequate replacements, and I don't see how special teams doesn't suffer.
I also think u can replace apple with Barron. And bring in a league minimum guy for that 4th line role. Give ehlers more pk minutes. Get Nino to pk. Ways to make it work if Appleton wants too much.
 
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Crocket

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Jul 14, 2013
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I'd move Ehlers for maximum value now. Package him with Stanley or something.

Nino can be on the 2nd line. Or Lambert and Chib are close.

Unless Chevy knows he can resign him, I'd hate to lose him for nothing. That said, he's valuable for a playoff run.... Or is he?
 

JetsFan815

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Jan 16, 2012
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I'd move Ehlers for maximum value now. Package him with Stanley or something.

Nino can be on the 2nd line. Or Lambert and Chib are close.

Unless Chevy knows he can resign him, I'd hate to lose him for nothing. That said, he's valuable for a playoff run.... Or is he?

Agreed, unless there is a deal penned and signed or ready to sign I'd rather move him for assets by the deadline rather than lose him for nothing. Look how bare that 2nd line looks right now without him. Maybe something like a Hoglander and 1st type of trade where the player coming in can play Nino's role on the 3rd line and Nino can be to the Names unit. Losing him for nothing sounds unappealing.
 
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Adam da bomb

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He does have a lengthy history. He just came off playing 82 games, and is day-to-day. I don't think this changes a whole lot.

The guy is a point a game player when he is healthy now that we are giving him PP time...
Fair. The two seasons before that he was injured. He is great when he is healthy just wonder if health changes the size of bet gms are willing to place.
 

Crocket

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Agreed, unless there is a deal penned and signed or ready to sign I'd rather move him for assets by the deadline rather than lose him for nothing. Look how bare that 2nd line looks right now without him. Maybe something like a Hoglander and 1st type of trade where the player coming in can play Nino's role on the 3rd line and Nino can be to the Names unit. Losing him for nothing sounds unappealing.
Ya. Agreed. Maybe if we add a player we can get something back like you mentioned. Imagine if he gets injured, untraded and we get nothing or even his service in the playoffs.
 

DeepFrickinValue

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May 14, 2015
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I also think u can replace apple with Barron. And bring in a league minimum guy for that 4th line role. Give ehlers more pk minutes. Get Nino to pk. Ways to make it work if Appleton wants too much.
Jets future (as a small market team) is 4 lines of depth. Perhaps we get away from a top line and have 3 second lines.
 

King Woodballs

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Just watching the highlights from last nights game, and I was just thinking.
If Lambert continues to play well, as Ehlers is out.
Anyone think the Jets entertain the thought of trading Ehlers at the deadline?
If I was Chevy, I would think long and hard about it.

I just feel that if Ehlers and the Jets wanted to sign long term, I would be done already.
I would hate to have him walk for nothing. Especially if they have a reasonable replacement already.
 
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Jet

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I think that you are overrating Appleton. Lowry has always been able to elevate the bottom 6 he is with. They were just as good with Copp, Tanev Lowry.

I think Ehlers is the only player we have a ready replacement for in Lambert.

Villardi is unique, would like a bit more meanness and dirtiness in him after all if you aren’t cheating at that level you aren’t trying hard enough. Look how mean Rantanen is.

The team has decided that Connor is the star so getting him to sign is extremely important.
Connor is the star.

If he was playing in a big us market all the media would be on his junk nonstop.

He's been mostly slump proof in his career and that's a unique quality for a pure offensive producer.

If he keeps this renewed defensive effort up it only makes him more valuable.

Just watching the highlights from last nights game, and I was just thinking.
If Lambert continues to play well as Ehlers is out.
Anyone think the Jets entertain the thought of trading Ehlers at the deadline?
If I was Chevy, I would think long and hard about it.

I just feel that if Ehlers and the Jets wanted to sign long term, I would be done already.
I would hate to have him walk for nothing. Especially if they have a reasonable replacement already.
If they could turn him into a legit top 4 d somehow it would be with consideration
 
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bustamente

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Just watching the highlights from last nights game, and I was just thinking.
If Lambert continues to play well as Ehlers is out.
Anyone think the Jets entertain the thought of trading Ehlers at the deadline?
If I was Chevy, I would think long and hard about it.

I just feel that if Ehlers and the Jets wanted to sign long term, I would be done already.
I would hate to have him walk for nothing. Especially if they have a reasonable replacement already.
If Chevy already know that he wants to becomes a FA and not re sign with the team then his only move is to move him sooner rather than later. The Jets out of all teams cannot let him walk to FA. It would be a sad day for me as Nik has been my favorite Jet right from the beginning but for the good of the team you need to get something for him. Self rental and out in the first round again would be a killer.
 

Jets 31

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People thought both Scheifele and Helly were gone too and both were re-signed . Chevy has given me no reason to think Ehlers will just walk for absolutely nothing, no reason whatsoever. Chevy has been here a long time and he has never let a core player just walk .
 

KingBogo

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People thought both Scheifele and Helly were gone too and both were re-signed . Chevy has given me no reason to think Ehlers will just walk for absolutely nothing, no reason whatsoever. Chevy has been here a long time and he has never let a core player just walk .
Agreed, no player of any real significance has ever just walked out the door. I still believe at some point before the TDL Ehlers re-signs.
 

Jets 31

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So Frank Seravalli has a little article out that says Ehlers wants to go to play in Montreal next year. Don't know where he's getting his info but if true i hope Chevy is working the phones. Try and get a decent number 2/3 defenseman or a number 2 center.
 
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Adam da bomb

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So Frank Seravalli has a little article out that says Ehlers wants to go to play in Montreal next year. Don't know where he's getting his info but if true i hope Chevy is working the phones. Try and get a decent number 2/3 defenseman or a number 2 center.
Be reunited with laine? Does Mtl have either of those? Moving on from an aging guy who can’t stay healthy might not be the worse thing.
 

Jets 31

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Be reunited with laine? Does Mtl have either of those?
Ya that was said by Frank, wanting to play with his buddy. And i don't think Montreal does have either so who knows what will happen. If true i don't understand Ehlers saying that though because it kind of screws the Jets a little.
 

Adam da bomb

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Ya that was said by Frank, wanting to play with his buddy. And i don't think Montreal does have either so who knows what will happen. If true i don't understand Ehlers saying that though because it kind of screws the Jets a little.
I doubt he did say that, there were rumors pld said that and we know how that turned out.
It’s also interesting we hear little bout Ehlers personal life, we usually hear when they have kids or get married. I doubt any players plan their lives around playing with one guy vs money, cup, life outside game, but don’t know how ppl think.
 
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