Islanders reportedly contact Jets about Nikolaj Ehlers

Nikolaj Ehlers will be one of the most interesting players on the market this summer.

The forward, who earns an annual salary of $6 million, still has one season left on his contract…

But the buzz right now is that Kevin Cheveldayoff could trade him to make some room on the payroll. Winnipeg’s goal is to offer Sean Monahan a new contract, and that could be done with a trade involving Ehlers to free up salary.

Ehlers, at 28, has just played his ninth National League campaign.

He is still producing at the height of his talent, having collected 61 points in 82 games last season.

All of which is to say that we’re likely to see several teams interested in his services in the coming weeks, and the Islanders would be among them.

Lou Lamoriello has reportedly called Cheveldayoff to discuss the matter, according to sources at The Hockey News:

#Isles need a top-six forward. Could they land #GoJetsGo forward Nikolaj Ehlers?

They’ve inquired and after trade with #Blackhawks, NYI does have an extra second-round pick.

Time will tell.@TheHockeyNews https://t.co/77stcDCpJq

– Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) June 11, 2024

The fit is there, in New York.

After all, the Islanders aren’t a big offensive club, and they’ve been playing a more defensive style for several years now.

That was before Patrick Roy arrived, though.

The Islanders aren’t equipped to stay up late when you look at the club’s attack in the recent playoffs.

And that’s where the addition of a guy who produces like Ehlers can make a lot of sense :

Nikolaj Ehlers is a fast forward with good hands and vision.

He’s capable of scoring goals, too, as proved by his 201 hits since the start of his NHL career, 605 games ago.

That said, a Barzal/Ehlers pairing could create quite a stir on the ice…

And it would be ideal for Barzal, because since the departure of John Tavares, he’s never really had any excellent players on his line.

It would also calibrate the lineup a bit by putting Horvat at the center of the team’s second line.

All in all, I love the idea of Nikolaj Ehlers in an Islanders uniform.

Now, will Lou Lamoriello be willing to pay to get him out of Winnipeg? The question must be asked, after all.

Overtime

– Nice contract.

Hearing #Canes have agreed to terms to retain pending UFA defenseman Jalen Chatfield: 3 years x $3 million.@DailyFaceoff

– Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) June 13, 2024

– Sean Couturier is recovering (again) from surgery.

Sean Couturier tells the @NastyKnuckles podcast he’s still in town rehabbing from a “little sports hernia surgery, lower abs.” Could help better explain his second half struggles.

– Kevin Kurz (@KKurzNHL) June 13, 2024