Nikolaj EhlersDarcy Finley/NHLI via Getty Images
The Carolina Hurricanes traded forward Jake Guentzel to the Tampa Bay Lightning just before the start of free agency and only a few months after he was acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins.
For Carolina, the trade made sense, even if it only netted a 25 third-round pick. Guentzel was on an expiring contract and eyeing a significant new deal—he signed a seven-year, $63 million deal with Tampa Bay—and the Hurricanes were reportedly resigned to the fact that he would depart.
“I believe Carolina has let everyone know that if you want to trade for his rights for the chance to sign him, that it is possible for a mid-round pick,” Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said on the 32 Thoughts podcast on June 7 (h/t Heavy’s Antonio Losada).
Carolina at least got something for a player it was going to lose anyway, but it also lost a player who, when acquired, was supposed to help the Hurricanes chase a title.
Guentzel did provide four goals and nine points in 11 playoff games for Carolina. However, the Hurricanes once again fell short in the postseason. Now the franchise, which has been a perennial contender since the 2018-19 season but hasn’t reached the Stanley Cup Final in that span, is back searching for offensive help.
According to Stefen Rosner of NHL.com, Carolina is now eyeing Winnipeg Jets wing Nikolaj Ehlers:
Ehlers, who produced 25 goals and 61 points last season, is a sensible target in the wake of losing Guentzel, and he’s a player the Hurricanes must pursue.
While Ehlers hasn’t been as productive as Guentzel in recent years, he’s still a strong offensive threat who could help keep Carolina in contention. He’s also interested the Hurricanes before. According to The Athletic’s Murat Ates, the Jets and ‘Canes discussed an Ehlers trade ahead of the 2019 draft.
Furthermore, Ehlers may be one of the few realistic trade targets that Carolina has left at this point in the offseason. Last month, Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff told reporters that Ehlers was “a big part of what we have going forward here,” but there have been reports that the 28-year-old is looking to play elsewhere.
“According to a well-placed source close to the Jets, Ehlers is not interested in signing a contract extension with the club and that is primarily why Winnipeg GM Kevin Cheveldayoff is exploring his options via the trade market,” David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period wrote on June 5.
There would be obstacles to acquiring Ehlers, of course. His $6 million cap hit would eat up most of Carolina’s $7.5 million in cap space. Plus, there’s the matter of trade compensation.
However, the Hurricanes might have the perfect trade chip in budding standout Martin Nečas. While the 25-year-old has flashed the potential of a future star, he’s a restricted free agent, recently filed for arbitration and seems to want a larger role that Carolina can’t or isn’t willing to provide.
“I was not among the key players. I would like to improve that in the future, both from my point of view and overall,” Nečas said, per Derek O’Brien of The Hockey Writers.
Nečas’ situation could get a bit sticky. As TSN’s Frank Corrado recently noted, Nečas has been the subject of trade chatter and could make for an ideal player swap.
“If Martin Nečas’ name is out there, and we’ve heard that for quite a while now it would have to be him coming back in return, wouldn’t it?” Corrado said on SportsCentre.
Nečas, who scored 53 points this past season and 71 points the previous year, is a valuable contributor for the Hurricanes. He could also have a bright future with the franchise. However, if the Hurricanes aren’t willing to give him the expanded role he wants—or pay him whatever number arbitration yields—flipping him for Ehlers would be viewed as a win.
Carolina is clearly a team in win-now mode, and Ehlers is one of the few potential additions who could make an immediate impact. He is set to be a free agent in 2025, though, so if the Hurricanes do acquire him, they’ll need to do a better job of locking him up than they did with Guentzel.