Player Discussion: Ehlers

[Hobble]

Remember, all the pundits were talking about how for sure Helle and Scheif were hitting UFA.

While I’m not super optimistic Ehlers resigns, never say never.

 

[GNP]

Agreed, if I am Chevy, I am giving Ehlers agent the green light to talk contract with other teams before July 1st to get a lay of the land for his services. Then I am offering to beat whatever best offer he got by 500k AAV and then adding the 8th year on that which no other team can. That will be worth to the tune 13 to 14 million on the life of the contract and would surely make the Ehlers reconsider and atleast think about it.

I thought of this as well, but likely it would backfire, and not work. The other GM’s would know Ehler’s agent was given the green light by Chevy to deal on him, before July 1st, and then likely would hold back their offers until July 1st has passed. I’m sure they’d realize their offer would be used as a bargaining chip, by Chevy and Ehlers agent, and hold back til there’s a level playing field.

 

[GNP]

If the Jets are unable to sign Ehlers, it’s their own fault. He was never used on power play # 1, until this last year, and also had a lot less playing minutes, than Connor or Scheifele. He also averaged just under a point per game while he was healthy. I don’t understand how Chevy or the Coaches could not see this ?

It’s not hard to see, Ehlers is one of the fastest skaters in the NHL with a great shot, and can gain entry into the offensive end, and retain possession of the puck.

Calgary did the same thing with Bennet, and were always playing him on the 3rd line with limited ice time, and they deserved to lose him, for not recognizing his talent. He will re- sign for big bucs in the upcoming season. He’ll likely re-sign with Florida at $ 9 - 10 mil.

 

[nabby12]

Here is reality.
It’s about cash it always is.
If Buffalo/Chicago/SanJose throws 10 million his way he’s grabbing it all day, every day.

Brutal take. If Ehlers leaves Winnipeg, it will be because he's going to another top 10 team in the league. Almost zero chance he signs with a bottom feeder.

 

[Gil Fisher]

I could definitely see Ehlers taking max money to sign with Chicago, Anaheim or San Jose. 1LW with Carlsson, Celebrini, or Bedard?? Leadership role? Playoffs in 1-3 years? I think that would appeal to him.

 

[Buffdog]

If the Jets are unable to sign Ehlers, it’s their own fault. He was never used on power play # 1, until this last year, and also had a lot less playing minutes, than Connor or Scheifele. He also averaged just under a point per game while he was healthy. I don’t understand how Chevy or the Coaches could not see this ?

It’s not hard to see, Ehlers is one of the fastest skaters in the NHL with a great shot, and can gain entry into the offensive end, and retain possession of the puck.

Calgary did the same thing with Bennet, and were always playing him on the 3rd line with limited ice time, and they deserved to lose him, for not recognizing his talent. He will re- sign for big bucs in the upcoming season. He’ll likely re-sign with Florida at $ 9 - 10 mil.

Guys hate playing with him. His game can be completely unpredictable

If Schief liked playing with him, he'd be on the 1st line

 

[jetsfan15]

Agreed, if I am Chevy, I am giving Ehlers agent the green light to talk contract with other teams before July 1st to get a lay of the land for his services. Then I am offering to beat whatever best offer he got by 500k AAV and then adding the 8th year on that which no other team can. That will be worth to the tune 13 to 14 million on the life of the contract and would surely make the Ehlers reconsider and atleast think about it.

The one advantage the Jets have right now is they’re the only ones who can talk to Ehlers/his agent. Unless this is in the context of a sign-and-trade or trading his rights to get something in return, I don’t think this is a wise strategy. I don’t think the Jets would be in a better spot to sign him if they allow the torontos, Montreals, carolinas, etc. to start promising him things before July 1.

 

[Eyeseeing]

Guys hate playing with him. His game can be completely unpredictable

If Schief liked playing with him, he'd be on the 1st line

I bet McDavid would absolutely love playing with Nik
( I’d hate for him to be an Oiler )

 

[Turin]

Guys hate playing with him. His game can be completely unpredictable

If Schief liked playing with him, he'd be on the 1st line

Coaches job to tell the players to suck it up. Whether he's predictable or not, the results when he's on the ice are a net positive almost every game.

 

[Mortimer Snerd]

Coaches job to tell the players to suck it up. Whether he's predictable or not, the results when he's on the ice are a net positive almost every game.

Yes and no. Top players get to have that kind of input.

 

[Turin]

Yes and no. Top players get to have that kind of input.

There's a line though, we're talking about Scheifele not Crosby or McDavid here. Even in Pittsburgh Sullivan often played Hornqvist with Crosby even though he didn't like it.

I'm ok with playing Ehlers 2nd line, but then you had to get that line more ice time.

 

[Buffdog]

There's a line though, we're talking about Scheifele not Crosby or McDavid here. Even in Pittsburgh Sullivan often played Hornqvist with Crosby even though he didn't like it.

I'm ok with playing Ehlers 2nd line, but then you had to get that line more ice time.

You don't understand the dynamics of an NHL locker room

Ask Pete De Boer about pissing off your star players

Imagine you had the opportunity to leave your job to work at any company in your field. You decided to stay at your current place of employment because you love the dynamics of your co-workers except for one... and your boss forced you to work with that person. Would you stay?

These guys are actual humans, not NHL 2025 avatars. It's widely accepted that the biggest job of an NHL coach today is managing relationships with his players. Like it or not, Schief gets a say. He's earned it

 

[Turin]

You don't understand the dynamics of an NHL locker room

Ask Pete De Boer about pissing off your star players

Imagine you had the opportunity to leave your job to work at any company in your field. You decided to stay at your current place of employment because you love the dynamics of your co-workers except for one... and your boss forced you to work with that person. Would you stay?

These guys are actual humans, not NHL 2025 avatars. It's widely accepted that the biggest job of an NHL coach today is managing relationships with his players. Like it or not, Schief gets a say. He's earned it

Yes I do.

Literally every team is expected to let the coaches set the lines. That’s their job.

Imagine comparing throwing your goalie under the bus twice vs being asked to play with Nik Ehlers. It’s infinitely more likely that coaches like Bowness, who didn’t even put him on the powerplay, or play Perfetti in the playoffs, just sucked at roster and line management.

 

[Buffdog]

Yes I do.

Literally every team is expected to let the coaches set the lines. That’s their job.

Imagine comparing throwing your goalie under the bus twice vs being asked to play with Nik Ehlers. It’s infinitely more likely that coaches like Bowness, who didn’t even put him on the powerplay, or play Perfetti in the playoffs, just sucked at roster and line management.

We wouldn't have Schief if he doesn't get a say in who he gets to play with. He would have walked to UFA, and our Hart Trophy winning goaltender would have done the same

Star players get input into who they play with. You don't have to like it or agree with it, but it's the way it is.

Get over it... the rest of our board has. You sound like the posters who I had to explain this to ad nauseum last season. It's just the way it is

 

[Flair Hay]

I think not having a second 1C since PLD has hurt coaches' willingness to play Ehlers line more. PLD era was also when Ehlers missed a lot of time.

If we had a second center worthy of a typical top contending team (no offense to Namestnikov) than maybe that line wouldn't get played as sheltered scoring. They could just be the 1B most contenders have.

I don't see a reason for crying over spilled milk. It's what you can do about it. If you can offer the guy a contract worthy of the player he will be for you next 4-5 years, not just his production...and promise him you'll get him his own top line center as soon as you can... that the team has young guys they can integrate and move if necessary to get the team better...

Well that is where I think you have a shot at selling him on staying.

 

[surixon]

You don't understand the dynamics of an NHL locker room

Ask Pete De Boer about pissing off your star players

Imagine you had the opportunity to leave your job to work at any company in your field. You decided to stay at your current place of employment because you love the dynamics of your co-workers except for one... and your boss forced you to work with that person. Would you stay?

These guys are actual humans, not NHL 2025 avatars. It's widely accepted that the biggest job of an NHL coach today is managing relationships with his players. Like it or not, Schief gets a say. He's earned it

Yup, players especially established stars have a lot of power.

Look at how Crosby went to management and told them to stop f***ing around and get Malkin signed a couple years ago when management wanted to move on.

Coaches only have jobs if they can keep the room leaders bought into their vision. In order to do that they need to work with those players and yes some of that is taking their input on usage and linemates into account.

 

[10Ducky10]

I think Nik goes to the Vegas Knights if he doesn't extend.

 

[Moloch]

I think Nik goes to the Vegas Knights if he doesn't extend.

This would make me have a violent episode.

 

[scarbrow]

Toews getting 40 is barely any different than Namestnikov the past 2 seasons. if Ehlers is gone, they need vast improvement on the Wing all the while still needing an upgrade at 2C.

I thought Names' was good in 23-24 at 2C but this year he fell off heavily as the season progressed. Honestly, Perfetti has not been as good at 5v5 offense either. IMO the Jets 2nd line needs to get to the point where Perfetti and Names get bumped down a peg from 2nd and 3rd best fwd on there.


this Jets team is a lot different imo than previous years. they won a game-7 w/o Scheifele showcasing their depth and resilience.

Other than the elite few in the NHL (talking McDavid, Mackinnon tier), i don't think 1 player will make or break most teams. Ehlers being gone will hurt (upgrade dependent), & this team probably should have traded him last year, however he's not in the aforementioned tier where it will destroy the team.

The Jets were a +86 goal differential team last year, factor in regression, lets say 50% which is huge in my eyes, they're a +43 team.... that's Colorado's level.

Agree on everything except the fact that the Jets could very well be one true game breaker away from being true cup contenders!

 

[QuietContrarian]

Ehlers grew up with a dad as a coach and because of that no doubt has more than the usual amount of a player's respect for a coach's wishes. His coaches want short, manageable shifts, so he gives them short, manageable shifts. If his coaches wanted longer shifts, he would happily give his coaches longer shifts. It's got nothing to do with "he knows he is more effective in fewer minutes." He's got enough confidence in himself to believe he'd do just fine in any circumstance. Besides, the few extra seconds he'd get by extending shifts wouldn't materially affect his TOI without the coach giving him more shifts, which is where the time really piles up.

Exactly! Also with Denmark, Ehlers takes anything BUT short shifts, and it works just fine. I actually think he looks more commanding with more icetime at least for Denmark.

I would love for him to stay, and I think he would given som assurances. However, he deserves to try something new, to see if he can be better with different linemates, more toi, if that is what he wants'.

 

[Jets 31]

If Ehlers was unhappy after all these years as a Winnipeg Jet don't we think he would have demanded a trade at some point like i don't know Dubois or Trouba ? I think it's more some of us fans wanting more ice time and 1st line play than Ehlers himself.

 

[scelaton]

If Ehlers was unhappy after all these years as a Winnipeg Jet don't we think he would have demanded a trade at some point like i don't know Dubois or Trouba ? I think it's more some of us fans wanting more ice time and 1st line play than Ehlers himself.

Not necessarily. Look at the post above yours and the post he was replying to. Ehlers is much more professional in handling his affairs and moods than PLD or Trouba. You will hear nothing about his decision until it is made.

All the noise here about strained relations with other players or coaches is just rationalization. The Jets have made their bed with Ehlers--under-utilization in TOI and linemates, till this year--and now they must sleep in it. Ehlers is doing exactly what any player of his caliber would do under the circumstances--looking for better opportunities--but handling it like a consummate professional.

 

[Xavier Laflamme]

Ehlers being gone will hurt (upgrade dependent), & this team probably should have traded him last year, however he's not in the aforementioned tier where it will destroy the team.

The problem is we can't really get an upgrade on Ehlers, I don't see a world in which we land a FA that could replace him even just production wise, now sure if he goes it won't break us but it will cripple us. We will have basically one top line and that just simply won't be good enough, Ehlers is the second line right now.

 

[QuietContrarian]

If Ehlers was unhappy after all these years as a Winnipeg Jet don't we think he would have demanded a trade at some point like i don't know Dubois or Trouba ? I think it's more some of us fans wanting more ice time and 1st line play than Ehlers himself.

I’ve avoided bringing this up, as it tends to stir unnecessary controversy - but I think it’s relevant context now.

A few years ago, Ehlers gave an interview to a Danish hockey outlet. While he remained professional and composed, you could sense a hint of frustration beneath the surface. He clearly chose his words carefully, but there was an unmistakable undertone: he didn’t sound entirely content.

Having worked with the Danish Hockey Federation and spoken regularly with players and coaches within the system, I can say with confidence - Ehlers has, in more private settings, expressed dissatisfaction.

The Danish hockey community is tight-knit, far less hierarchical and closed-off than in many other countries. Word travels. And while Danish players typically don’t create noise when they’re unhappy, that doesn’t mean they don’t feel it.

I do believe he has enjoyed being part of the setup in Winnipeg. But has he felt underappreciated at times? Not just a guess - I know he has.

 

[Daximus]

Brutal take. If Ehlers leaves Winnipeg, it will be because he's going to another top 10 team in the league. Almost zero chance he signs with a bottom feeder.

I think people really underestimate how much of a motivator money can be. Ehlers and his agent likely see that this is a prime opportunity for him. It's essentially the perfect storm for a UFA. The cap is rising heavily, biggest season to season rise in the cap era, so a lot of teams have a boat load of cap space to work with and the UFA crop is pretty barren.

After Marner, the next big ticket UFA's are Bennett, Ehlers and Boeser. It's pretty likely that all 3 of these players could be looking at 8 figure salaries if a bidding war breaks out. Teams like San Jose, Chicago, Columbus, Anaheim, Carolina, Calgary, Boston, Pittsburgh, Detroit, LA, NYI, Seattle, Utah even Toronto and Winnipeg all have plenty of cap room to make offers.

You think Ehlers is turning down $10m+ from a team like San Jose or Chicago? I seriously doubt he will.