Jets look lost without pending free agent Nikolaj Ehlers
Life without Nikolaj Ehlers stings for the Winnipeg Jets. Saturday’s 4-1 loss to the Utah Hockey Club on Hockey Night in Canada was a prime example of that.
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Life without Nikolaj Ehlers stings for the Winnipeg Jets.
Saturday’s 4-1 loss to the Utah Hockey Club on Hockey Night in Canada was a prime example of that.
Beyond Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor and Cole Perfetti — three players that were placed on a line together at various points — the Jets struggled to counter a hungry, youthful Utah team that thrives in transition.
Sure, you could argue that you hardly see Utah’s run-and-gun style in the playoffs but speed and transition efficiency are always valuable, no matter the time of year.
Saturday’s game as a not-so-subtle reminder of how diluted Winnipeg’s second wave of attack is without The Great Dane, who was hurt Thursday after blocking two shots against Vegas.
The worst part of it all? This may be Winnipeg’s new normal. Not the one-off loss to Utah. But life without Ehlers.
It’s a topic we’ve hardly explored, given Winnipeg’s success this year and the 29-year-old’s hesitancy to discuss his uncertain future. But the closer your player gets to free agency, the less likely you are to retain him. Especially when said player was reportedly open to a change of scenery last summer, according to The Fourth Period.
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Should Ehlers walk, Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff will have his work cut out for him.
Replacing a four-time 60-point scorer is hard for any team, let alone one that’s not a prime destination for free agents and is constrained by no-movement clauses.
Cheveldayoff could parlay a first-round pick in exchange for a play-driving, top-six forward, although it’s too early to identify who could be available — or if the Jets’ late first-rounder would even suffice.
Perhaps the Jets roll the dice, aiming to fill the void internally.
Nikita Chibrikov fared well in a four-game stint when Ehlers was hurt back in the fall, recording two goals and three points in four games. But expecting the 22-year-old winger to produce anywhere near Ehlers’ level, right off the hop, is ambitious. His 2024-25 season came to a premature end after suffering a lower-body injury in January.
Brad Lambert also got a five-game audition around the same time as Chibrikov, recording one assist in five games. Stylistically, the 21-year-old — a beautiful skater who can make plays at top speed — is similar to Ehlers, although his game is still quite raw. Even if his game takes a giant step forward next fall, it’s hard to envision him bringing anything close to what Ehlers does.
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Neither Chibrikov or Lambert would be able to replicate what Ehlers brings to the table next season. Same goes for an external top-six forward upgrade.
That’s because there is only one Ehlers.
Even with his unflattering playoff production, or the head-scratching decisions with the puck he makes from time to time, Ehlers is an electrifying talent that puts opposing teams on notice every time he touches the ice.
Enjoy him while you can.
Stoller Says
• Colin Miller put on a shooting gallery against Utah, registering eight five-on-five shot attempts — three of which being scoring chances, according to NaturalStatTrick.com. Food for thought: Why not audition him on the left side once Neal Pionk returns? While much of the conversation surrounding the Jets’ optimal playoff lineup is centred around which of Logan Stanley or Haydn Fleury will skate alongside Luke Schenn on the third pair, Miller may be the best option. Even if he’s not a left-shot. Miller has one of the hardest shots in the league and is an asset on the second power-play unit.
• Jarret Anderson-Dolan has caught my eye over these last two games. The 25-year-old has recorded seven hits — all but one of those came against Vegas on Thursday — and he’s fit in seamlessly alongside Morgan Barron and David Gustafsson. If it weren’t for a broken foot in the pre-season, Anderson-Dolan could’ve certainly won a roster spot this past fall. If the Jets find themselves a forward short in the playoffs, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Andreson-Dolan get the nod over Gustafsson. He’s got a mix of tenacity and high hockey IQ that’s hard to find.
• Speaking of physical players, Brandon Tanev finished the contest with eight (!!) hits in just 11:27 of ice time. Since arriving in Winnipeg, Tanev has tallied 34 hits — tying him for 35th in the NHL through that span.
• Scheifele’s power-play goal marked his 800th career point.
