Red Wings are acquiring star forward for $42 million from the Jets in a trade pitch after rejecting a deal. This is a confirmed move.
Nikolaj Ehlers, a forward with the Winnipeg Jets, has been linked to the Detroit Red Wings in a trade offer.
Ehlers has been linked to trades this summer and is about to reach the last year of a seven-year, $42 million contract. A user on the website PuckPedia suggested a trade in which the Red Wings would acquire Ehlers using a new tool called PuckGM, which allows users to make their own transactions.
The Red Wings would receive Ehlers in exchange for two prospects and two draft selections in the potential blockbuster deal.
Ehlers would give Detroit’s offense a boost in scoring right away. In order to further strengthen the Red Wings’ offensive, Vladimir Tarasenko would be moved down to the third line in favor of the star forward, who is expected to play on the second line. Ehlers had 61 points in 82 games last season with 25 goals and 36 assists.
In the meanwhile, Winnipeg would receive first and second round draft selections as well as assets to aid in their reconstruction. In addition, the Jets would get Jonatan Berggren, a 24-year-old who was selected 33rd overall in the 2018 NHL draft. Berggren has skated in 79 NHL games and has 17 goals and 17 assists for 34 points.
In contrast, Dmitri Buchelnikov has not yet signed his entry-level contract after being chosen by Detroit with the 52nd overall pick in the 2022 NHL draft. The Russian participated in the KHL season before, finishing with 29 points from 13 goals and 16 assists.
Ehlers Appreciates the Change from Jets’ Scenery
After being picked ninth overall by Winnipeg in 2014, Ehlers has played for the Jets for his entire nine-year NHL career.
Ehlers is approaching the last year of his contract, therefore trade speculations have been circulating about him. According to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, Ehlers would prefer a trade than an extension.
“A well-informed source close to the Jets claims that Ehlers is not interested in signing a contract extension with the team, which is the main reason Winnipeg general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff is looking into his trade market options,” Pagnotta reported on June 5. “He has a 10-team no-trade list, and rumors from Winnipeg are that he would be open to a trade even if he hasn’t asked to be traded.”
Ehlers hasn’t been traded by the Jets yet, but he doesn’t intend to sign an extension with the team.
Red Wings’ Offense Was Boosted by Free Agency
The Red Wings concentrated on offensive in the offseason since Detroit narrowly missed out on the playoffs the previous year.
Re-signing future Hall of Fame forward Patrick Kane to a one-year extension and $6.5 million contract was Detroit’s first major move. Vladimir Tarasenko, a forward who has won two Stanley Cups, was then signed by the Red Wings to a two-year, $9.5 million contract.
