HIGHLIGHTS
- Nikolaj Ehlers is heading to Carolina
- The Hurricanes have signed him to a 6-year, $51 million deal
- Keep reading for the full story
The biggest free agent left on the open market has made his decision on where he’ll play next.
Former Winnipeg Jets star Nikolaj Ehlers is heading to the Carolina Hurricanes, signing a six-year, $51 million deal with the Eastern Conference finalists. He’ll make over $8 million annually:
It was reported on Wednesday that Ehlers would be making his decision in the next day or two. The 29-year-old is fresh off an impressive campaign for the Presidents’ Trophy winner Jets, scoring 24 goals and supplying 29 helpers.
The Hurricanes always seemed like a potential landing spot for the Denmark native, given their ample cap space. GM Eric Tusky talked to TSN on Tuesday and revealed they had been in contact with Ehlers’ agent:
“We’ve had talks with his agent,” Tulsky said. “He’s taking his time to field offers. He’s obviously a very popular person right now, and we’re waiting to see where that goes.”
This is a major addition for a Carolina team that just got dominated in the conference finals by the two-time champion Florida Panthers. The Hurricanes also signed Logan Stankoven to a long-term deal while swinging a trade for ex-New York Rangers blue liner K’Andre Miller.
Ehlers has registered 60+ points in back-to-back seasons. He’s clearly in his prime, and that’s great news for Carolina. Ehlers spent his entire career up to this point with the Jets, who drafted him in the first round 11 years ago.
The winger is getting a substantial pay raise as well. He was making $6 million annually before putting pen to paper on this new deal with the Hurricanes. After botching the Mikko Rantanen situation last season, this latest signing gives the organization hope as they eye a Stanley Cup run in 2026.
