Headlines

  • Mammoth Sign Michael Carcone To One-Year Contract
  • Blackhawks Sign Anton Frondell
  • Sabres Sign Radim Mrtka To Entry-Level Contract
  • Sabres, Bowen Byram Avoid Arbitration With Two-Year Deal
  • Islanders Sign Victor Eklund To Entry-Level Contract
  • Jets Re-Sign Morgan Barron To Two-Year Deal
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • MLB Trade Rumors
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors

Pro Hockey Rumors

  • Home
  • Teams
    • Atlantic
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Central
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Dallas Stars
      • Minnesota Wild
      • Nashville Predators
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Utah Mammoth
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • Metropolitan
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Pacific
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Partners
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
Go To MLB Trade Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Nikolaj Ehlers Expected To Sign Today

July 2, 2025 at 10:39 am CDT | by Josh Erickson 27 Comments

July 2: Ehlers’ stay on the open market isn’t expected to last more than a few more hours. He’s down to a few teams and will make his decision at some point Wednesday, Chris Johnston of TSN and The Athletic says.

July 1: Entering today, the top free agent on the board was now-former Jets winger Nikolaj Ehlers. He’s due for a big payday after teams looking to land an impact winger in the form of Mitch Marner, who’s off to Vegas in a sign-and-trade, or Brock Boeser, who’s staying in Vancouver on a seven-year deal, failed.

Many pegged Carolina as the favorite to land Ehlers entering today. They’ll certainly have more competition now with other teams looking to circle back and regroup after their day-one activities, but they still have immense spending flexibility with $19MM in cap space and no other moves to make, even after today’s pickup of K’Andre Miller.

As Ehlers likely takes another day – maybe even longer – to mull offers, the Hurricanes did confirm they’ve been in contact with Ehlers’ camp and are “waiting to see where that goes,” general manager Eric Tulsky told reporters Tuesday evening (including the team’s Walt Ruff). ESPN’s Emily Kaplan reported earlier in the day that the Capitals and Lightning were also in contact with Ehlers’ camp, but nothing will be imminent until tomorrow at the soonest.

Ehlers would really need to prefer going to Tampa or Washington to make that a reality. Neither has the cap space to pay him his market value, surely over $8MM per season at this stage on a seven-year deal, and would need to make corresponding moves to make him fit in. Carolina has both a pressing need for him, a system that plays to his analytically inclined game, and the cap space to address his financial needs out of the gate.

Beyond that, his list of realistic destinations might be limited. There will be other teams like the Maple Leafs who may want to create room and add him as an impact top-line piece in the absence of Marner.

Still, Toronto – or any other Canadian team, for that matter – is likely not on Ehlers’ radar, considering his newfound ability to be picky about where he ends up thanks to how the market broke in his favor. He prefers a warmer and less intense market than Winnipeg, Frank Seravalli said on today’s coverage of free agency from B/R Open Ice.

Share 0 Retweet 0 Send via email

Carolina Hurricanes| Newsstand| Tampa Bay Lightning| Toronto Maple Leafs| Washington Capitals| Winnipeg Jets Nikolaj Ehlers

Penguins Sign Philip Kemp To Two-Way Contract
Main
Blues Waive Nick Leddy
View Comments (27)

Comments

  1. FeeltheThunder

    2 weeks ago

    Tampa has $2.73M in cap space but would have to move out someone like Oliver Bjorkstrand’s $5.4M or Erik Cernak’s $5.2M (both some may say are overvalued in their current contracts) in order to sign Nikolaj Ehlers to a potential deal. It could be done plus Tampa could replenish some draft assets in a deal for either player. I believe Bjorkstrand (who I do like) would be the casualty if it were to happen.

    1
    Reply
    • 'Tang It

      2 weeks ago

      You are likely going to have to pay something to unload those guys if you’re in a pinch. Pittsburgh would likely help, but it’ll cost you

      1
      Reply
    • FeeltheThunder

      2 weeks ago

      I don’t think so really IMO. I think the situation depends on the player you’re trying to move. In this case, many teams would take Bjorkstrand on if the opportunity presented itself. He’s a solid middle six player (he’s not some slouch) & would be an upgrade for many teams. I don’t think Tampa would have too much of a problem finding a potential suitor & getting a beneficial return for him.

      1
      Reply
    • 'Tang It

      2 weeks ago

      Not if you want the full cap hit gone.

      1
      Reply
    • SteveC

      2 weeks ago

      Edmonton just got a 4th for Arvidsson ($4M) without retention and he had a full NMC. I doubt Tampa has much issue moving Bjorkstrand’s (10 team NTC) $5.4M cap hit.

      1
      Reply
    • 'Tang It

      2 weeks ago

      Depends how desperately they need to move him. Plus the bruins are dumb

      Reply
    • FeeltheThunder

      2 weeks ago

      @Tang – There is plenty of teams that would take Bjorkstrand without retention if a deal were to get made and @SteveC gave a valid example of a lesser player in Arvidsson’s $4M being taken without retention. Doubt Tampa would have trouble moving Bjorkstrand’s $5.4M.

      2
      Reply
  2. Gbear

    2 weeks ago

    Suprised Ehlers isn’t a Hurricane already. Seems a perfect match.

    5
    Reply
    • ericl

      2 weeks ago

      If Ehlers takes less to play elsewhere, the system question will pop up again for Carolina.

      1
      Reply
  3. PyramidHeadcrab

    2 weeks ago

    Ehlers to CBJ. Address the goaltending issue by scoring even more. XD

    Reply
  4. Boltsfan17

    2 weeks ago

    I’d take Ehlers over Bjorkstrand any day. His audition in a Bolt sweater was largely underwhelming.

    Reply
  5. letsgonats

    2 weeks ago

    Ehlers can get blank check from CAR or CBJ. or he can figure out if he wants to play in Ovie’s shadow for less money and less pressure… It is good to be Ehlers..

    Reply
  6. ckw

    2 weeks ago

    I wonder if Nashville will make a play for him. I think they also have the cap space

    Reply
    • Gbear

      2 weeks ago

      If Ehlers were a center I’d throw in money to get him to Nashville.

      1
      Reply
  7. jeremyn

    2 weeks ago

    Tomorrow’s headline “Bill Zito inks Ehlers to 1 year 1.5m contract, he’s expected to fill in for Matthew Tkachuk while on LITR recovering from hernia surgery” lol

    7
    Reply
    • MotownWings

      2 weeks ago

      Don’t you put that evil out there lol

      1
      Reply
  8. S.C. 14

    2 weeks ago

    Probably not likely BUT….how about Colorado? If Necas doesn’t want to resign, you trade him for a top 4 defenseman and draft capital. Could be an interesting and or intriguing possibility! Maybe?

    Reply
    • pawtucket

      2 weeks ago

      ^ Warmer than Winnipeg true

      But not by much.

      Don’t think guys love Carolina unless you’re a defenseman. Tampa has too much to move around. Columbus is an acquired taste.

      Anaheim dark horse here.

      1
      Reply
  9. bruin4ever

    2 weeks ago

    But maybe ehlers doesn’t really want to sign in Carolina – then he has to play childish games if they win at home!! lol

    1
    Reply
  10. uvmfiji

    2 weeks ago

    I dont like this for the Canes. No overpay, better to make trades. We never replaced Trocheck.

    5
    Reply
  11. Kucherov

    2 weeks ago

    Ehlers was never going to Tampa.

    1
    Reply
  12. S.C. 14

    2 weeks ago

    Toronto! For STUPID money! 100%

    Reply
  13. C-Daddy

    2 weeks ago

    Ehlers is a decent top 6 winger but I feel he will be grossly overpaid based on this weak free agent class. He’s also been injured a lot in recent years.

    3
    Reply
  14. Gbear

    2 weeks ago

    Ehlers is enjoying making us wait on this…..and seeing his price tag go up!

    Reply
  15. WillyStyles29

    2 weeks ago

    Ehlers would fit in the Leafs top 6 but not if he wants more than $7.5 AAV and short term 3 years max.

    Reply
  16. baseballpun

    2 weeks ago

    So, I guess not.

    3
    Reply
  17. 'Tang It

    2 weeks ago

    Pretty sure it’s not today anymore. Come on dude your holding up the trade market

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.

Log in Register

    Top Stories

    Mammoth Sign Michael Carcone To One-Year Contract

    Blackhawks Sign Anton Frondell

    Sabres Sign Radim Mrtka To Entry-Level Contract

    Sabres, Bowen Byram Avoid Arbitration With Two-Year Deal

    Islanders Sign Victor Eklund To Entry-Level Contract

    Jets Re-Sign Morgan Barron To Two-Year Deal

    Jeff Skinner Signs With Sharks

    Toronto Maple Leafs Acquire Henry Thrun

    Avalanche Sign Josh Manson To Two-Year Extension

    Stars Trade Matt Dumba To Penguins

    Recent

    Minor Transactions: 7/15/25

    CBA Q&A: AHL/CHL Transfers, EBUGs, Preseason, LTIR, More

    Ducks Sign Calle Clang, Jan Mysak To Two-Way Deals

    Mammoth Sign Michael Carcone To One-Year Contract

    Breaking Down The Direction Of The Ducks

    Blackhawks Sign Anton Frondell

    Maple Leafs Sign Miroslav Holinka To Entry-Level Deal

    Jets Sign Tyrel Bauer To Two-Way Deal

    Pacific Notes: Willander, Raty, Lekkerimaki, Eichel, Uljanskis, Thornton

    The Devils Have Spent Efficiently This Summer

    Rumors By Team

    Rumors By Team

    • Avalanche Rumors
    • Blackhawks Rumors
    • Blue Jackets Rumors
    • Blues Rumors
    • Bruins Rumors
    • Canadiens Rumors
    • Canucks Rumors
    • Capitals Rumors
    • Devils Rumors
    • Ducks Rumors
    • Flames Rumors
    • Flyers Rumors
    • Golden Knights Rumors
    • Hurricanes Rumors
    • Islanders Rumors
    • Jets Rumors
    • Kings Rumors
    • Kraken Rumors
    • Lightning Rumors
    • Mammoth Rumors
    • Maple Leafs Rumors
    • Oilers Rumors
    • Panthers Rumors
    • Penguins Rumors
    • Predators Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Red Wings Rumors
    • Sabres Rumors
    • Senators Rumors
    • Sharks Rumors
    • Stars Rumors
    • Wild Rumors

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • 2025’s Top 50 Unrestricted Free Agents
    • Sam Bennett Rumors
    • Nikolaj Ehlers Rumors
    • Mitch Marner Rumors
    • Marco Rossi Rumors

    Pro Hockey Rumors Features

    Pro Hockey Rumors Features

    • Support Pro Hockey Rumors And Go Ad-Free
    • 2025 Free Agent Focus Series
    • 2025 Offseason Checklist Series
    • 2025 NHL Free Agent List
    • 2026 NHL Free Agent List
    • Active Roster Tracker
    • Coaching Staff Directory
    • Draft Pick Tracker 2025
    • Key Offseason Dates
    • Offseason Trade Tracker
    • Pro Hockey Rumors On X
    • Pro Hockey Rumors Polls
    • Waiver Claims 2024-25

     

     

     

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives

    PHR Info

    • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Commenting Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    Pro Hockey Rumors is not affiliated with National Hockey League, NHL or NHL.com

    Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

    scroll to top

    Register

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version