The 2025 class of free agents was among the worst in recent memory. It wasn't going to be that way, but almost everyone was off the market before July 1st, either re-signing with their original teams or requesting and facilitating a trade. However, when that dust settled and free agency began, there was one name that stood out amongst the crowd.
Nikolaj Ehlers had always been a Winnipeg Jet. For ten years, Ehlers was a solid contributor on the second line in Winnipeg, but it was time for him to fly away. The Hurricanes had shown interest in him before, and they appeared to be a match made in heaven. When he got the chance to sign in Raleigh, Ehlers jumped at it, joining the Canes on a six-year deal. The rest, as they say, is history.
Ehlers established himself as one of the best signings in team history
Ehlers didn't pick up a point in his first five games, and some people were concerned. Once he earned his first point in Vegas, they just kept coming. His first goal followed soon after at Madison Square Garden in early November. Ehlers played well before the break, including his first hat trick with the team against Florida. A good showing at the Olympics for Denmark followed him into the second half.
March was easily his best month. Ehlers found the scoresheet in 11 of the Canes' 15 games, recording 20 points and adding his second hat trick of the season in Vancouver. For the second time in three years, Ehlers played all 82 games, making him the only Hurricane to do so. He also set career highs in assists (45) and points (71), reaching 70 points for the first time.
His start to the playoffs was rather inauspicious. Ehlers had just one point against Ottawa, missing his only game of the season in Game 4. He had a two-point performance in Game 2 against the Flyers, but through two rounds, Ehlers had just four points. He hadn't been a bona fide scorer in the playoffs for Winnipeg, and his reputation had seemingly followed him to Raleigh.
Game 2 against Montreal changed everything. He scored a gorgeous goal in the second period, but his overtime winner was the most important goal of the playoffs. He only got better in the Stanley Cup Final. He scored twice in Game 1, added back-to-back three-point contests in Games 4 and 5, and put the final puck into the empty net to finish the job. Nine of his 18 points came against Vegas.
Familiarity should allow Ehlers to do even more in his second season
In his first season with the Hurricanes, Ehlers was every bit the fit that the Hurricanes hoped he'd be. What's even more interesting is that his best fit didn't come on the top line next to Sebastian Aho. He played next to him for a bit. He also played next to Logan Stankoven. However, Ehlers looked the most comfortable playing next to Jordan Staal on the team's third line.
That's not to say that Ehlers didn't mesh well with the Canes' stars during the season. He provided assists to Andrei Svechnikov more times (9) than anyone else, including seven times on the power play. Ehlers also reached ten goals on the power play for the first time. What might be most impressive is his points by period, scoring nearly the same number in each (22-24-23-2 OT).
I think that Ehlers will likely get a chance to play next to Aho again to begin the season in Jarvis's absence. Chemistry on the power play and at even strength can be different, but it's worth tinkering with to see if they can maximize Ehlers' scoring potential. It's not crazy to think that Ehlers can crack 30 goals or 80 points this season, so long as he's healthy enough to do so.
Add us as a preferred source on Google