Nikolaj Ehlers named among best free agent signings

The bulk of NHL free agency is complete and each nan biggest names connected nan marketplace are disconnected nan board. As teams and fans look backmost connected what was a chaotic free agency, it is clip to look astatine who immoderate of nan winners of this offseason were successful free agency.

Harman Dayal of The Athletic put retired a database of nan apical 10 champion free supplier signings of NHL free agency. For his 3rd champion signing, Dayal lists erstwhile Winnipeg Jets prima Nikolaj Ehlers, who signed a six-year woody pinch nan Carolina Hurricanes.

“The 29-year-old near winger is speedy, skilled and creative. He’s a move puck transporter tin of driving vulnerable area entries and creating unreserved scoring chances astatine will. Ehlers tin flat-out break games wide unfastened pinch his gait and finesse,” Dayal wrote. “He has consistently produced successful nan 25-goal, 60-65 constituent range, but his underutilization successful Winnipeg has suppressed his production. He classed 15th champion among each NHL players for five-on-five points produced per hr complete nan past 3 seasons, yet he’s inexplicably averaged little than 16 minutes per crippled successful each of those years.” 

Ehlers was 1 of nan astir sought aft free agents this offseason, correct down Mitch Marner. Ehlers narrowed his hunt down to nan Washington Capitals and Carolina earlier signing a woody worthy $8.5 cardinal per year.

Ehlers is almost definite to beryllium playing connected nan Hurricanes’ apical line. With his skillset, he could easy people 30 aliases much goals and scope much than 70 points.