Where will Nikolaj Ehlers end up?
While most of the NHL’s top free agents signed yesterday, Ehlers remains an unrestricted free agent and is one of the most attractive names still on the market.
NHL Insider Frank Seravalli is “focusing” on the Washington Capitals or the Carolina Hurricanes for Ehlers’ services.
Wherever Ehlers goes, he will command a significant contract. The 29-year-old has been a steady point producer since entering the league with the Winnipeg Jets back in 2015-16. Over that stretch, the Denmark native has 225 goals and 520 points over 674 games.
That includes consecutive 24+ goal, 36+ assist campaigns, despite playing in only 69 games last season.
Carolina has over $18 million in cap space, while Washington is right around $6.95 million. Ehlers should slot into either team’s top six, but the Hurricanes, particularly with their money situation, feel like a better fit.
Carolina has long struggled to attract top free agents and marquee scorers. Ehlers would check both of those boxes.
The Hurricanes have fielded a competitive team lately, but are still head-and-shoulders behind the Florida Panthers for the top dog in the Eastern Conference, and adding someone of Ehlers’ caliber would help narrow that gap.
The Capitals, meanwhile, enjoyed a remarkable season that saw them earn the No. 1 seed in the East playoffs. However, Alex Ovechkin is not getting any younger, and while they do have a good, young nucleus, they are not quite on Carolina’s level.
Ehlers has advanced past the second round just once in his career, and the Hurricanes likely provide him with the best opportunity to leap that mark.
