LW/RW Nikolaj Ehlers (2014, 9th, WPG) III

[MardyBum]

So Larkin needs to go back to the A?

Sometimes teenagers are just ready. Larkin and Ehlers look ready.

 

[Holden Caulfield]

Ehlers doesn't need to go to juniors theres no point, a loan to a pro team in Europe would be ideal playing against men. This kind of start happens often with young players before they hit a wall, then you're wishing a year of his ELC had not been burned.

There's not a set schedule for players. Some players are ready at 18, some at 19, some at 20, some at 24. Yes he probably will hit a wall at some point. He is talented enough to push through it and in the process will learn much more than he would have anywhere else. You can never learn to push through the wall until you hit it.

By that logic no rookie should ever play since they all hit a wall at some point.

 

[wings5]

So Larkin needs to go back to the A?

Sometimes teenagers are just ready. Larkin and Ehlers look ready.

It's hard to tell early on with young players, Larkin is more physically mature and has played against older competition in an important role even before this season. AHL would be ideal but if not than Europe is a great option. Ehlers hasn't got to be a top player in a European league like Nylander, Fiala, and Pastrnak have, it would help his development a lot. Not many vets have their legs going yet, when they're in midseason form it will be much more challenging to keep this level of play up. There will be some rookie bumps, only in Ehlers' case, the bump could do some major damage.

 

[Holden Caulfield]

It's hard to tell early on with young players, Larkin is more physically mature and has played against older competition in an important role even before this season. AHL would be ideal but if not than Europe is a great option. Ehlers hasn't got to be a top player in a European league like Nylander, Fiala, and Pastrnak have, it would help his development a lot. Not many vets have their legs going yet, when they're in midseason form it will be much more challenging to keep this level of play up. There will be some rookie bumps, only in Ehlers' case, the bump could do some major damage.

Zero basis for this. Because you dislike Ehlers is the only reason I see.

 

[Whileee]

Ehlers is ready to be an effective player in the NHL. No reason for him to play in a lower league. He's ready.

 

[Gump Hasek]

Ehlers doesn't need to go to juniors theres no point, a loan to a pro team in Europe would be ideal playing against men. This kind of start happens often with young players before they hit a wall, then you're wishing a year of his ELC had not been burned.

Wut?

Yikes. Weird take. Ehlers has 3 points in 4 games, he is generating tons of shots, is creating plays, and has been responsible defensively. He is playing 2nd line and on the pp, and he essentially is getting better by the day. What about that suggests to you that he is due to soon hit a wall? He is playing against men successfully already and has clearly adjusted to the rigors of the NHL.

 

[Jetabre]

For right now he has shown he's where he should be. I doubt they're considering anything other than the NHL for him with how he's played, and wouldn't send him off to Europe on a hunch that he'll fall off.

 

[wings5]

Zero basis for this. Because you dislike Ehlers is the only reason I see.

I don't know why you would think I dislike him, it's in order to increase his likelihood for success in the future. You just don't see many 160-170 lbs 19 year old wingers to play with his edge often in the NHL and theres a reason. In midseason when he loses the weight he put on in the summer he will not be able to withstand a full on hit by a player like Shea Weber, theres no rush.

 

[Rebuilt]

I don't know why you would think I dislike him, it's in order to increase his likelihood for success in the future. You just don't see many 160-170 lbs 19 year old wingers to play with his edge often in the NHL and theres a reason. In midseason when he loses the weight he put on in the summer he will not be able to withstand a full on hit by a player like Shea Weber, theres no rush.

Not too sure Ehlers is 170 lbs anymore but he is definitely faster and stronger than his stint last year in training camp.

Claude Giroux is 5 11 and 176 pounds and he has played in the NHL for years now. I think you might be over reacting.

You dont need to be 6ft 2 200lbs to survive anymore.

 

[Holden Caulfield]

I don't know why you would think I dislike him, it's in order to increase his likelihood for success in the future. You just don't see many 160-170 lbs 19 year old wingers to play with his edge often in the NHL and theres a reason. In midseason when he loses the weight he put on in the summer he will not be able to withstand a full on hit by a player like Shea Weber, theres no rush.

You don't see many with his talent is why. He has nothing left to prove at any minor level. He is beyond that. He will hit a wall like any rookie, whether they be 18 or 25. How he responds to that will be telling. But it doesn't matter if he's 19 or 25.

Players can be just as "ruined" from playing at too low a level as being "rushed". It works both ways. And players mature at different ages. Ehlers is quite clearly ready for NHL game now.

 

[winnipegger]

He appears to be completely fearless. Honestly this is what keeps most teenagers from being able to handle the NHL, they are overwhelmed. Not Ehlers though, he sees the ice better than most vets.

 

[93LEAFS]

He appears to be completely fearless. Honestly this is what keeps most teenagers from being able to handle the NHL, they are overwhelmed. Not Ehlers though, he sees the ice better than most vets.

I'd say the biggest change is the intensity of the schedule, the travel combined with the extra games is going to take some time to adapt to. Playing against the best competition you have faced combined with 2 week road trips and not being fully developed is a massive change. Ehlers and Larkin are both high end talents but the wear and tear of the NHL schedule will wear them down at some point this year, how they respond and get through that will be there biggest test this year.

 

[Whileee]

I'd say the biggest change is the intensity of the schedule, the travel combined with the extra games is going to take some time to adapt to. Playing against the best competition you have faced combined with 2 week road trips and not being fully developed is a massive change. Ehlers and Larkin are both high end talents but the wear and tear of the NHL schedule will wear them down at some point this year, how they respond and get through that will be there biggest test this year.

You might be right, but the best way to get used to the rigours of the NHL schedule is by playing in the NHL. The Jets just completed two back-to-back games on the road, and Ehlers was strong in all four games. His game doesn't rely much on grinding and physical play. He's incredibly quick, explosive and creative. He's one of the smartest players on the ice. He doesn't need that much time or opportunity to create offense. The Jets have plenty of depth this year, so they'll be able to keep his minutes manageable - about 15 minutes a game so far.

I think the Jets are confident that Ehlers is ready, and he's playing like it so far.

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

Ehlers has been one of Jets best players so far and imo the best rookie in NHL SO FAR.

I cant wait to see how much better he gets throughout the year.

Jets definitely hit a homerun with drafting him

 

[lomiller1]

Ehlers doesn't need to go to juniors theres no point, a loan to a pro team in Europe would be ideal playing against men. This kind of start happens often with young players before they hit a wall, then you're wishing a year of his ELC had not been burned.

A year off ELC isn’t necessarily a problem, in fact it can make more room for a bridge deal so each side has a better idea of what the player really is before signing a long term deal. Losing a year of RFA is a bigger problem, but if a player is ready he’s ready.

Aside from scoring Ehlers is making a lot of smart plays of the type that help teams win. E.G. Last night against the Rangers when they pulled their goaltender and had trapped a tired line on the ice he won the race to the puck on an iceing call and held it in the corner against 3 Rangers to allow his team to change. The puck eventually came to the Jets who scored the empty net goal to put it away, but the hustle and smarts to get that line change were huge. It’s plays like this that give coaches confidence in players, and for good reason.

Everything we’ve seen says Ehlers is ready now, and not just to “be thereâ€. He’s making an impact every game and the line he’s on has been the Jets best every game so far this year. We need some more time to see how much of that is sheltered matchups but last night it looked like the Rangers had McDonagh’s paring out against that line.

 

[allan5oh]

Honestly I was expecting Ehlers to have difficulty adjusting and questions brought up if he should go back to junior or europe.

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

Honestly I was expecting Ehlers to have difficulty adjusting and questions brought up if he should go back to junior or europe.

ya its good to see. Im no Jets fan but he is such a treat to watch and you can see he will be such a dynamic player. I find when there are a bunch of games on TV, I keep turning the channel back to the Jets game just to watch Ehlers haha.. its bizzare... and each game I keep being more and more impressed.

I know a lot of fans from other teams want to rag on him real bad for some reason, but I cannot see any reason that they can rag on him. He is definitely exceeding my expectations so far

 

[Maplebeasts]

ya its good to see. Im no Jets fan but he is such a treat to watch and you can see he will be such a dynamic player. I find when there are a bunch of games on TV, I keep turning the channel back to the Jets game just to watch Ehlers haha.. its bizzare... and each game I keep being more and more impressed.

I know a lot of fans from other teams want to rag on him real bad for some reason, but I cannot see any reason that they can rag on him. He is definitely exceeding my expectations so far

I don't think anybody rags on Ehlers. I'd say they just rag on those that overhype him, similar to those who do the same with Larkin and Nylander. Best wishes to Nikolaj though and I hope he pans out for the Jets.

 

[Whileee]

A year off ELC isn’t necessarily a problem, in fact it can make more room for a bridge deal so each side has a better idea of what the player really is before signing a long term deal. Losing a year of RFA is a bigger problem, but if a player is ready he’s ready.

Aside from scoring Ehlers is making a lot of smart plays of the type that help teams win. E.G. Last night against the Rangers when they pulled their goaltender and had trapped a tired line on the ice he won the race to the puck on an iceing call and held it in the corner against 3 Rangers to allow his team to change. The puck eventually came to the Jets who scored the empty net goal to put it away, but the hustle and smarts to get that line change were huge. It’s plays like this that give coaches confidence in players, and for good reason.

Everything we’ve seen says Ehlers is ready now, and not just to “be thereâ€. He’s making an impact every game and the line he’s on has been the Jets best every game so far this year. We need some more time to see how much of that is sheltered matchups but last night it looked like the Rangers had McDonagh’s paring out against that line.

This is the play.... probably would have gotten an assist if he was a Ranger in MSG.

It's a good sign that he was on the ice with 2 minutes left with a 2 goal lead. Maurice obviously has a lot of confidence in Ehlers already.

 

[mcpw]

So after he played RW in Junior and in the NHL, I just noticed that even the NHL lists him as RW now. Time to change the thread title.

 

[Redwingsfan]

So after he played RW in Junior and in the NHL, I just noticed that even the NHL lists him as RW now. Time to change the thread title.

Done. Thanks.

 

[Ohashi_Jouzu*]

I don't think anybody rags on Ehlers. I'd say they just rag on those that overhype him, similar to those who do the same with Larkin and Nylander. Best wishes to Nikolaj though and I hope he pans out for the Jets.

Well, as it turns out, saying stuff like "he might be good enough to play in the NHL next year" wasn't "overhyping". At all.

 

[admire]

he deserves all the hype he gets now..he will face a slump like everybody when teams start adjusting an try to take him out of his game but he has started with tons of confidence..will be interesting to see how he handles playoff hockey when times comes.

 

[CorgisPer60]

he deserves all the hype he gets now..he will face a slump like everybody when teams start adjusting an try to take him out of his game but he has started with tons of confidence..will be interesting to see how he handles playoff hockey when times comes.

Neat thing about this is only the most balanced of defenses would be able to handle it. Jets have 2 very good scoring lines, with a 3rd that could give you fits if you're not careful. Gotta pick your poison when handling what the Jets have.

 

[Rebuilt]

Neat thing about this is only the most balanced of defenses would be able to handle it. Jets have 2 very good scoring lines, with a 3rd that could give you fits if you're not careful. Gotta pick your poison when handling what the Jets have.

Jets are under rated. With Ehlers adding a dynamic speed element to it, it really makes it hard to play Winnipeg.