The Winnipeg Jets have signed one of their best young forwards in Nikolaj Ehlers to a seven-year contract extension worth $42 million. He will make a average annual salary of $6 million per season with this new contract. The announcement came from Jamie Thomas on twitter right before the team made it official this morning.
BREAKING: This morning #NHLJets will announce a 7-year contract extension for forward Nikolaj Ehlers worth $42 million.
— Jamie Thomas (@JamieThomasTV) October 4, 2017
Winnipeg Jets Sign Nikolaj Ehlers to Seven-Year Extension
Ehlers has played two seasons in the NHL for the Jets and has scored 15 or more goals both times. In his first season, he had 15 goals and 38 points while last season was a big breakout year. He had 25 goals and 64 points for the Jets last season. He tied for third for the team in points with Patrik Laine and finished behind just Blake Wheeler and Mark Scheifele. Possession wise, he had a CF% of 54.1 his first season and then last year it dropped to 51.5. He had an outstanding 5V5 points per 60 last year as it was 2.64 and his goals per 60 minutes was 1.05.
Ehlers will again play in the top six this season as it looks like he will be the second line winger for the Jets. He’ll have Bryan Little as his center who also got a contract extension this off-season. Laine will be on the right wing. He is coming off an outstanding rookie season. Ehlers may also get some opportunities up on the top line with Scheifele and Wheeler if Paul Maurice juggles his lines a little during the season.
Ehlers is only projected to get better for the Jets and he is going to have to have another great season if the Winnipeg Jets want to sneak into the playoffs.
Main Photo: WINNIPEG, MB – FEBRUARY 11: Nikolaj Ehlers #27 of the Winnipeg Jets is congratulated by teammates Dustin Byfuglien #33 and Bryan Little #18 for his goal against Tuuka Rask #40 of the Boston Bruins (not shown) in first period action in an NHL game at the MTS Centre on February 11, 2016 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Marianne Helm/Getty Images)
