I raised Ehlers [in a post last week about Kraken trade targets](https://www.reddit.com/r/SeattleKraken/comments/1cf9svk/2025_ufa_winger_trade_targets_for_the_kraken/).
From Murat Ates, The Athletic’s reporter covering the Jets:
https://theathletic.com/5466128/2024/05/03/winnipeg-jets-roster-tiers-2024/
>Meanwhile, an NHL source tells The Athletic that Nikolaj Ehlers is going to be shopped.
>I fully expect Ehlers to be shopped — and likely moved — between now and the draft.
>Winnipeg has gotten a ton of value out of Ehlers’ six seasons at $6 million from 2018-19 to now. He’s third in goals and fourth in points over the duration of his contract, leading all forwards in plus-minus in that six-year span. His underlying numbers are spectacular, suggesting Winnipeg has gotten a ton of benefit from the good things he does at five-on-five, even when accounting for the chaos, but his playoff production has not matched his regular season efficacy. I wonder if the organization is burned by that.
>Winnipeg has floated Ehlers’ name in trade talks before. Now, with one year left on his deal and at least some concern about the team’s ability to retain him, I think Ehlers is Winnipeg’s best trade chip for repairing its defence and/or picking up a first-round pick in the draft.
>“I have one year left,” Ehlers said on Thursday. “There has been no talk with Chevy so far and I still definitely have to talk to him with my agent as well, so it’s not an answer I can give you right now. I love these guys. They know that. (But) I don’t have an answer for anyone right now.”
If Winnipeg is looking for an established NHL defenseman, then Borgen is the only one who really fits the bill. Everyone else except Dunn has at least a partial No Trade Clause and Winnipeg is reportedly one of the teams that is on most NTCs. The Kraken could move prospects or picks, but our ~8th overall pick would be worth more than Ehlers.
by SiccSemperTyrannis
2 Comments
Personally I’d love it if the Kraken could pick up Ehlers. He strikes me as a Bjorkstrand 2.0 type – a guy who is really good but is undervalued by his team due to their circumstances. Ehlers would certainly cost much more than the borderline ripoff price Francis paid for Bjorkstand – a 3rd and a 4th.
However, the Kraken should only go for him if they have a clear spot in the top 6 to give him consistent minutes. No point it underusing him like the Jets have. McCann is firmly established as our other top6 LW, so Schwartz would have to be relegated to the 3rd line.
Ehlers is a top 5 non-kraken player in the NHL for me. He’s an outstanding player and by all accounts a really great person to boot. I’d be thrilled if we could get him without trading this year’s first.