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Nikolaj Ehlers: the Canadian is interested

WINNIPEG, CANADA - APRIL 21: Nikolaj Ehlers #27 of the Winnipeg Jets plays the puck during third period action against the Colorado Avalanche in Game One of the First Round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Canada Life Centre on April 21, 2024 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images)

For all sorts of reasons, the Winnipeg Jets have trouble keeping their players in Manitoba.

Whether it’s the team’s management style, the “club plays in a flat, cold city” aspect or some other reason, it’s never easy for the Winnipeg Jets.

That’s the story of their franchise, it seems.

All this to say that, at the moment, the names of Nikolaj Ehlers and Rutger McGroarty are coming up the most. These two guys don’t want to continue with the Jets and the club needs to trade them.

McGroarty is a prospect who will be in the NCAA (at worst) in 2024-2025. As for veteran Ehlers, he’s 12 months away from the end of his contract and reportedly has no intention of signing a new contract with the Jets.

Ehlers could be traded elsewhere during the off-season. There are several names surfacing in the file, as mentioned by The Fourth Period. They include (among others) the Hurricanes, Islanders, Bruins…

And the Habs.

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Ehlers earns six million dollars a year for another year. To get that kind of money, Kent Hughes would have to be sure the forward wanted to extend his contract with the Habs… at the right price. #SalaryScale

In any case, I imagine Jake Evans would be happy to have him on board. #2021

Would Ehlers, who played his junior hockey in the QMJHL with the Halifax Mooseheads, want to come to Montreal? Hard to say, of course, but he’s worth a call.

After all, the 28-year-old left winger stands six feet tall and would be an ideal fit for the club’s second line.

Last year, in 82 games, he surpassed the 25-goal, 60-point mark (he had 61) in his ninth season with the Jets. Clearly, the Habs won’t be alone in their pursuit of his services.

Stay tuned.

Overtime

– The Habs are everywhere.

– The NHL is on the move… but this deal doesn’t involve Ehlers or McGroarty.

– Things are bad in Toronto: another loss for the Blue Jays.

– The impact of veterans at development camp.