The Winnipeg Jets and star forward Nikolaj Ehlers have agreed to a seven-year contract extension worth $6 million annually, the team announced Wednesday. The deal, which starts next season, has a total payout of $42 million and expires following the 2024-25 season.
Jets sign Nikolaj Ehlers to 7-year, $42 million extension
Ehlers was set to become one of the NHL’s top restricted free agents next summer after a strong first two years in the league. The No. 9-overall pick in the 2014 NHL Draft recorded 38 points in 72 games as a rookie, then blew up last season with 64 points in 82 games as a 20-year-old.
The future looks bright for the Jets, who now have Ehlers and center Mark Scheifele locked up on reasonable contracts for the foreseeable future. The team still needs to re-sign defensemen Jacob Trouba and Josh Morrissey next year and Patrik Laine by 2019, but they’ve assembled an exciting young core.
Ehlers was among the most productive players at 5-on-5 in the NHL last season. He finished 15th in points per 60 minutes at 5-on-5, per Natural Stat Trick, right alongside Patrick Kane. Laine and Scheifele were actually higher than him, too, which gives you an idea of how spectacular the Jets’ top line could be this season.
The Jets still have a lot to figure out, but locking up a talent like Ehlers at a reasonable $6 million cap hit is a step in the right direction.
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