NHL Free Agency: Nik Ehlers linked to signing with Carolina Hurricanes

The Winnipeg Jets found out this week that pending free-agent forward Nik Ehlers wasn't going to be signing a long-term contract extension before July 1, and will be testing the open waters once free agency opens. There's going to be a long list of suitors and teams that contact Ehlers and his agent, however one team is standing out as the favorite.

Enter the Carolina Hurricanes, a team that tried to trade for Ehlers before the trade deadline last March. The speedy winger fits into their system perfectly, and with the Hurricanes having a boat load of cap space, they're certainly going to be major players for some big names on the free-agent market, including Ehlers and Mitch Marner.

Daily Faceoff's Matt Larkin sees Ehlers heading to the Hurricanes, as he played UFA matchmaker in a recent post:

The Canes, equipped with significant cap space, could emerge from this offseason as the Eastern Conference’s top contender given they’re already a great defensive team and have so many of their core contributors signed long term. To break through and get past the Panthers, who knocked them out of the 2023 and 2025 Eastern Conference Final, the Canes need to add high-end scoring. Marner aside, there isn’t a lot of it on the UFA market, and while Carolina really needs a center, goals are goals. Ehlers averages 27 goals and 63 points per 82 games, and he could post career-best totals if he joins a team willing to play him more than 16 minutes a night as the Jets did.

The Jets brought Jonathan Toews home, but will likely now have a massive hole to fill on their top-line left wing. There's been some rumblings Brock Boeser could be on their radar, but the Minnesota Wild may have something to say about that.

Ehlers to the Hurricanes? Do you like the fit?

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