Jets GM open to discussing Ehlers trade

The Winnipeg Jets aren’t slamming the door on the possibility of trading Nikolaj Ehlers.

Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff is open to having conversations about Ehlers with interested teams, TSN’s Darren Dreger reported on Wednesday’s edition of “Insider Trading.” Winnipeg would like to extend Ehlers, but that’ll be complicated given Jets sniper Kyle Connor eventually needs a new pact, Dreger added.

Ehlers tied for fourth on the Jets in goals (25), ranked third in assists (36), and tied for third in points during the 2023-24 regular season. He added a pair of helpers in five playoff games this spring.

The Danish winger is signed through 2024-25 at a cap hit of $6 million, and his contract allows him to submit a 10-team no-trade list, according to CapFriendly. He’ll be eligible to sign an extension on July 1.

Ehlers has a history of injury woes, but he played all 82 contests this past season for the first time since 2017-18. It was only the third time he’s done so in his nine-year career, which he’s spent entirely with the Jets. Winnipeg drafted Ehlers ninth overall in 2014.

Connor, the Jets’ leading goal-scorer this season, buried 34 tallies in only 65 games. He’s on the books for two more campaigns beginning in 2024-25. Connor will be due a hefty raise on his cap hit of $7,142,857, either on July 1, 2025 – when he’s first eligible to ink an extension – or at the end of his deal as an unrestricted free agent.

Ehlers expects offseason changes after Jets’ disappointing campaign

Nikolaj Ehlers expects a busy offseason for the Winnipeg Jets after a rocky finish to the 2022-23 campaign.

“I can’t tell you what’s going to happen or what needs to happen, but I’m guessing that something is going to happen, yes,” Ehlers told NHL.com’s Aaron Vickers.

The Jets tumbled out of the Central Division race late in the campaign, finishing in the Western Conference’s second wild-card spot after leading the conference earlier in the season. The Vegas Golden Knights eliminated Winnipeg in five games in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

A disappointing finish to the year grew messier after Jets head coach Rick Bowness said he was “disappointed and disgusted” with his team’s effort in the playoffs. The comments sparked a public response from veteran Blake Wheeler, who said he disagreed with Bowness’ handling of the situation.

Ehlers didn’t have any insight to offer regarding the team’s early exit.

“I can’t tell you what went wrong,” he said. “It’s just part of the playoffs. We would still like to be playing right now, but we just weren’t good enough. Vegas beat us, and they should’ve.”

The Jets have made the playoffs in five of the last six seasons but face a critical offseason: Wheeler, Mark Scheifele, and Connor Hellebuyck are among the players set to enter the final year of their respective contracts.

Ehlers, 27, registered 12 goals and 26 assists this season, playing in just 45 games due to injury. He’s under contract through 2024-25 at a $5-million annual cap hit.

Ehlers to undergo sports hernia surgery, no timeline on return

Winnipeg Jets head coach Rick Bowness said winger Nikolaj Ehlers will undergo sports hernia surgery next week and there’s no timetable for his return, according to Postmedia’s Scott Billeck.

Bowness assured Ehlers will be available again at some point this season but that the team wouldn’t have clarity until surgery takes place.

Ehlers suffered the injury in the Jets’ second game of the season and hasn’t played since. He collected three assists before being sidelined.

The 26-year-old has been a staple in Winnipeg’s attack since his breakout 2016-17 season. Ehlers has collected 361 points in 480 career games since being drafted ninth overall by the franchise in 2014.

The Jets are off to a great start in Ehlers’ absence, sitting second in the Central Division with a 10-4-1 record.

Ehlers week-to-week with MCL sprain

Winnipeg Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers is week-to-week with an MCL sprain after taking a knee-on-knee hit from Washington Capitals defenseman Dmitry Orlov during Tuesday’s contest, according to TSN’s Darren Dreger.

The Jets placed the 25-year-old on injured reserve earlier Thursday.

The incident occurred in the third period of the Jets’ 4-3 overtime loss. Ehlers was slow to get up and had to be helped off the ice.

There was no penalty called on the play, but Orlov was suspended for two games Wednesday.

Ehlers was initially expected to miss Winnipeg’s next three games, according to the Winnipeg Free Press’ Mike McIntyre.

The native of Denmark has 25 points in 34 games this season.

The Jets are set for a busy weekend with back-to-back matchups against the Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins.

Ehlers out for remainder of regular season with upper-body injury

Winnipeg Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers will miss the rest of the regular season with an upper-body injury, head coach Paul Maurice said Monday.

Maurice added the club is confident Ehlers will be available for the playoffs.

Ehlers suffered the ailment Saturday after receiving a hit from Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Jake Muzzin, although he finished the contest.

The dynamic winger was enjoying a career campaign. Ehlers ranked second on the club in both goals (21) and points (46) through 47 games. He was playing at a career-best 36-goal pace over a full 82-game season.

Ehlers led the Jets with 15 even-strength goals and five game-winning tallies. He scored the lone marker in Winnipeg’s 4-1 loss to the Maple Leafs.

The Jets sit third in the North Division by points percentage. They’re eight points back of the top-seeded Leafs entering Monday’s action.

Jets sign Ehlers to 7-year, $42M extension

Nikolaj Ehlers is beginning the 2017-18 NHL season with some long-term security, as the Winnipeg Jets have locked up the electrifying winger to a seven-year, $42-million contract extension, the team announced Wednesday.

Ehlers, the ninth overall pick in 2014, will play out 2017-18 on his entry-level contract before the extension kicks in next season, paying him $6 million per.

The 21-year-old had an outstanding sophomore season, suiting up in all 82 games, registering 25 goals – 20 of which came at even strength – and 39 assists. His 64 points were good enough for a tie for third on the Jets.