Jets Upcoming Free Agents

[drumzan]

2 players at very different points in their careers. And the Jets still have team control.

Oh yeah for sure. I wasn’t trying to compare Ladd and Samberg situations. Or say I have my doubts Samberg will sign long-term in Winnipeg. The vibes seem he will sign here. And with Ladd it seemed like a true 50/50 he’d stay.

Only point I thought was worth bringing up is what a player’s wife does for a living doesn’t always impact that family’s decisions. For Trouba it did. Ladd’s wife’s optometry career didn’t have impact. Hutchinson sure seemed to burn bridges in Winnipeg even though his wife owns a successful local business and (I think) they live here year round.

 

[hockeyarena]

I'd love Ehlers to stay but a few of the most connected local media (Wiebe and Murat) seem to feel he's more likely to head elsewhere. Still, the Jets seem likely to try to make an offer.

So, what was Chevy discussing with Ehlers' agent for a couple of hours?

My speculation...

Ehlers isn't closed to the Jets, but prefers to test the UFA market. But the Jets probably want an answer earlier than July 1st so that they can pivot to replace him, perhaps via trade around the draft on June 27. They also probably want to have an answer before free agency in case they want to try to shop with the extra cap space. Another consideration that might have been discussed is the potential for a sign-and-trade, or at least trading his negotiation rights like the Canes did with Guentzel (3rd round pick).

So, how might this play out? I think the Jets will probably put out their best offers (maybe a couple of options with different terms and AAV) and ask Ehlers to make a decision before a certain date. They can give him several weeks but will probably need a definitive answer by late June, before the Entry Draft. If Ehlers is clear that he won't sign or that he wants to test the market, I think the Jets might pivot and see if they can work out a sign-and-trade or maybe trade negotiating rights to recoup some value.

I think there's an outside possibility that Chevy will be content to let Ehlers shop around before circling back, because it would limit Chevy's ability to pivot to other alternatives on the trade or free agent market.

So basically anything could happen.

 

[Whileee]

So basically anything could happen.

Well, not exactly what I said. Nobody knows if he'll sign, but my speculation is that the Jets will seek an answer before free agency opens and pivot if he won't sign before the end of June.

 

[Arthur Fonzarelli]

hmmmm ... "the pulse" is better than the white out?

Nothing resembling that came out of Ehlers mouth.

 

[surixon]

I'd love Ehlers to stay but a few of the most connected local media (Wiebe and Murat) seem to feel he's more likely to head elsewhere. Still, the Jets seem likely to try to make an offer.

So, what was Chevy discussing with Ehlers' agent for a couple of hours?

My speculation...

Ehlers isn't closed to the Jets, but prefers to test the UFA market. But the Jets probably want an answer earlier than July 1st so that they can pivot to replace him, perhaps via trade around the draft on June 27. They also probably want to have an answer before free agency in case they want to try to shop with the extra cap space. Another consideration that might have been discussed is the potential for a sign-and-trade, or at least trading his negotiation rights like the Canes did with Guentzel (3rd round pick).

So, how might this play out? I think the Jets will probably put out their best offers (maybe a couple of options with different terms and AAV) and ask Ehlers to make a decision before a certain date. They can give him several weeks but will probably need a definitive answer by late June, before the Entry Draft. If Ehlers is clear that he won't sign or that he wants to test the market, I think the Jets might pivot and see if they can work out a sign-and-trade or maybe trade negotiating rights to recoup some value.

I think there's an outside possibility that Chevy will be content to let Ehlers shop around before circling back, because it would limit Chevy's ability to pivot to other alternatives on the trade or free agent market.

I have no doubt that Chevy will make an offer if he hasn't already. But him saying that could have also been for optics. Even if he knows Ehlers prefers to test the market him makinga competing offer and having it rejected changes the narrative for the org.

 

[DRW204]

Well, not exactly what I said. Nobody knows if he'll sign, but my speculation is that the Jets will seek an answer before free agency opens and pivot if he won't sign before the end of June.

well duhh? do you think they would not want an answer prior to July 1?

So basically anything could happen.

poster wrote an entire soliloquy legitimately saying f*** all.

 

[Whileee]

I have no doubt that Chevy will make an offer if he hasn't already. But him saying that could have also been for optics. Even if he knows Ehlers prefers to test the market him makinga competing offer and having it rejected changes the narrative for the org.

Sure, but timing and process is also key. My speculation is that Chevy would have told Ehlers' agent that the Jets would need an answer on their offer(s) free agency begins and they might have also discussed the possibility of a sign-and-trade or negotiation rights. Certainly would be in Ehlers' interests to have the option of a sign-and-trade.

 

[surixon]

Sure, but timing and process is also key. My speculation is that Chevy would have told Ehlers' agent that the Jets would need an answer on their offer(s) free agency begins and they might have also discussed the possibility of a sign-and-trade or negotiation rights. Certainly would be in Ehlers' interests to have the option of a sign-and-trade.

No doubt he will have a deadline before his offer is pulled as the Jets will need to pivot and trade is likely their best option.

 

[Dirtyclapper]

Ehlers vs Nino would be a really easy and smart opportunity for Chevy to get on a plane and go watch the game in person and have some more discussions with his agent but that's just me

 

[PhilJets]

If nobody has done it, can someone post
other teams FREE AGENTS. The players that Jets need ...

thanks

 

[KingBogo]

If nobody has done it, can someone post
other teams FREE AGENTS. The players that Jets need ...

thanks

A site like PuckPedia lists all UFAs and RFAs and you can sort by salary and position.

 

[CanMerc]

If nobody has done it, can someone post
other teams FREE AGENTS. The players that Jets need ...

thanks

CapWages has lists

 

[Buffdog]

Ehlers vs Nino would be a really easy and smart opportunity for Chevy to get on a plane and go watch the game in person and have some more discussions with his agent but that's just me

He has to open the cottage lol

 

[TS Quint]

I think Ehlers camp has already told Chevy that he is heading to free agency, sure Chevy can throw some numbers at Nik but I don't think he will come close to what some other teams will offer.

It took 2 hours for Ehlers agent to tell Chevy he wants to go to free agency?

 

[Jets 31]

Ehlers vs Nino would be a really easy and smart opportunity for Chevy to get on a plane and go watch the game in person and have some more discussions with his agent but that's just me

I think Chevy knows after 10 years what he has in Ehlers. I'm pretty sure Ehlers agent and Chevy can still talk without either of them at the game.

 

[surixon]

It took 2 hours for Ehlers agent to tell Chevy he wants to go to free agency?

Ehlers camp wouldn't be doing its job if it didn't touch base to see what the situation was with the Jets and how it may or may not align with what their client wants.

We've seen in the past that sometimes the FA market isn't always as lucrative as players want it to be so having options is in an agents best interest.

 

[Dirtyclapper]

I think Chevy knows after 10 years what he has in Ehlers. I'm pretty sure Ehlers agent and Chevy can still talk without either of them at the game.

Yes obviously he knows what he has. As stated by someone else here Andre Rufener only has 2 NHL clients, Ehlers and Nino so he will definitely be there plus it would be nice to show Nik how he's important to the team. If he wanted to get this deal done and retain Ehlers and not have Nik go to free agency it would be for the best, seems like every game the dollars are going up.

 

[Jets 31]

Yes obviously he knows what he has. As stated by someone else here Andre Rufener only has 2 NHL clients, Ehlers and Nino so he will definitely be there plus it would be nice to show Nik how he's important to the team. If he wanted to get this deal done and retain Ehlers and not have Nik go to free agency it would be for the best, seems like every game the dollars are going up.

Didn't know that about their agent, this is good because the only phone number Rufener has is Chevy's , done deal.

 

[TS Quint]

Ehlers camp wouldn't be doing its job if it didn't touch base to see what the situation was with the Jets and how it may or may not align with what their client wants.

We've seen in the past that sometimes the FA market isn't always as lucrative as players want it to be so having options is in an agents best interest.

So, unlike the vast majority of the comments Ehlers still has interest in signing with the Jets. If he didn’t there would be no conversation. By now his agent should know the general value around the league.

Please don’t reply about tampering. We know it’s rampant around the league. They made a whole “tampering period” because it’s unstoppable.

 

[surixon]

So, unlike the vast majority of the comments Ehlers still has interest in signing with the Jets. If he didn’t there would be no conversation. By now his agent should know the general value around the league.

Please don’t reply about tampering. We know it’s rampant around the league. They made a whole “tampering period” because it’s unstoppable.

I'd imagine that Ehlers isn't against coming back but I'd also imagine it isn't his preferred destination. But his preferred destinations may not want him or they may have a player they like more so his agent is building in potential contingencies if things fall through in FA. If your the Jets do you take that risk of waiting to see if he circles back or do you as @Whileee stated and set a hard deadline and pivot if it's not met.

Obviously if he's good at his job he will have a very good idea what his client should be getting on July 1. But that also works the other way as well. If he really wanted to be here his agent would already know what he'd likely get and a contract would have been easy to work out by this point.

 

[Gil Fisher]

I thought Samberg's wife was a dentist.

Weird she'd open a medical practice.

 

[WaveRaven]

He has to open the cottage lol

I hear this year he's building a guest cabin. Won't be much time for hockey stuff lol

 

[bustamente]

I say this as a huge fan of Nik's but if a team wants to give him anything over 8M I say thanks for the memories and enjoy the rest of your career.

 

[drumzan]

I thought Samberg's wife was a dentist.

Weird she'd open a medical practice.

 

[TS Quint]

I'd imagine that Ehlers isn't against coming back but I'd also imagine it isn't his preferred destination. But his preferred destinations may not want him or they may have a player they like more so his agent is building in potential contingencies if things fall through in FA. If your the Jets do you take that risk of waiting to see if he circles back or do you as @Whileee stated and set a hard deadline and pivot if it's not met.

Obviously if he's good at his job he will have a very good idea what his client should be getting on July 1. But that also works the other way as well. If he really wanted to be here his agent would already know what he'd likely get and a contract would have been easy to work out by this point.

Why wouldn’t this be his preferred destination? Is there a better team who has the cap space? If he wants to be the man, make more than he is worth then the Jets can’t compete with Vancouver or Chicago. If he wants to win, get paid a fair contract the Jets are probably the best spot. If he wants to be a rich loser on a team that feeds his ego the Jets have no chance.

The deadline is when the Jets make their first move to replace him. It’s not like they have one plan. If something happens there will be alternative plans. It’s not like if the Jets say the deadline is June 29 (for whatever weird reason) and on the 30th Ehlers wants to stay and he is the best option they will still sign him.