The Detroit Red Wings are expected to be aggressive in the offseason and are linked to signing one of the top free agents available.
The Red Wings have missed the playoffs in nine straight years and will look to add more talent to their roster this offseason. NHL analyst Max Bultman of The Athletic links the Red Wings to signing Winnipeg Jets free agent winger Nikolaj Ehlers.
“Ehlers doesn’t have Brad Marchand’s hard edge, but he brings a ton of speed and offense to a top six,” Bultman wrote. “Crucially, he can produce at five-on-five, which matters for a team that can be pretty power-play dependent for its offense. He’d be another small winger without much edge, which could be an issue for a Red Wings team that wants to be harder to play against, and perhaps makes him less likely. But there’s no doubting his talent.”
Ehlers completed his seven-year, $42 million deal in free agency and will be in line for a raise. The winger would be a top-six forward for the Red Wings and add some more offense to the lineup, which is a must.
Ehlers recorded 24 goals and 39 assists for 63 points in 69 games. His career-high is 64 points, as he’s good for high 50s to low 60s in points every year.
What is Ehlers Expected to Get in Free Agency?
Ehlers is expected to get a multi-year deal in free agency and will be highly sought after.
The winger is the third-ranked free agent, according to DailyFaceoff, only being behind Mitch Marner and Brad Marchand. Using AFP Analytics, the outlet projects Ehlers to sign a six-year deal worth $8.1 million per season.
Although Ehlers hasn’t ruled out re-signing with Winnipeg, he will at least hit the open market on July 1.
“Hearing Nikolaj Ehlers has informed the Jets he will go to free agency on July 1,” Friedman wrote on X. “Door not closed on Manitoba, but will test the market.”
The Jets, meanwhile, remain hopeful they will be able to sign Ehlers to an extension, even if the winger hits the open market.
“We’ll continue to have conversations until we can’t, until we’re saying ‘Congratulations’ or ‘Thank you,’” GM Kevin Cheveldayoff said. “Hopefully, (Toews’ signing) moves the needle. We’ll find out.”
Ehlers was drafted ninth overall in the 2014 NHL Draft by Winnipeg.
Red Wings GM Makes Intriguing Comment About Free Agency
Although Detroit has missed the playoffs in nine straight seasons, Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman isn’t sure how active he will be in free agency.
The Red Wings did trade for star goalie John Gibson. Heading into free agency on July 1, Yzerman said he isn’t optimistic that Detroit will make big moves.
“The free agency market at a lot of positions is pretty thin, but there are players that we would have some interest in,” Yzerman said to NHL Network. “I’m not that optimistic, to be honest with you, because there’s more teams than there are players for what we’re looking for, and we’ll continue to see if we can do something through trade and once the draft shakes, settles down, and once the initial July one free agency subsides with the rush there and we’ll see what teams are looking to do after that.”
The Red Wings enter the offseason with just over $18 million in cap space.
Insider Links Red Wings to Signing $42M Star Winger