Canes Sign Top Free Agent Ehlers in $51M Deal

Nikolaj Ehlers has left the Winnipeg Jets after 10 seasons to sign a six-year, $51 million contract with the Carolina Hurricanes, marking the most lucrative deal for an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Ehlers, a skilled winger from Denmark and the highest-scoring Danish player in NHL history, joins a Hurricanes team that has consistently reached the playoffs under coach Rod Brind'Amour but has yet to advance past the Eastern Conference Final. Carolina general manager Eric Tulsky expressed pride in signing Ehlers, noting his skating ability and fit within the team's forward group. The Hurricanes had been seeking a long-term scoring winger, and Ehlers' arrival could trigger further roster moves around the league as other teams adjust their plans. Ehlers hopes that the change in culture and playing style will help him improve both as a player and a person. The Jets publicly thanked Ehlers for his contributions, highlighting his 225 goals and 520 points in 674 games and his emotional farewell to the city of Winnipeg.