Jets 2025 Free Agent Preview: All eyes on Nikolaj Ehlers fallout

This might be a large summer time in the case of contracts for a number of wingers with the Winnipeg Jets. For the subsequent 48 hours or so, nevertheless, all eyes will likely be fastened on Nikolaj Ehlers to see if his tenure in Manitoba will likely be ended or prolonged.

While GM Kevin Cheveldayoff was capable of lengthen right-shot defenceman Neal Pionk on a six-year deal proper earlier than the common season ended, no such settlement was struck with Ehlers. The 29-year-old Dane — drafted ninth total by Winnipeg in 2014 — has knowledgeable the membership he’s going to check the market, although Cheveldayoff has not thrown within the towel utterly on attempting to work one thing out with Ehlers. 

“We’ll continue to have conversations until we can’t, until we’re saying ‘Congratulations’ or ‘Thank you,’” the overall supervisor instructed reporters forward of the NHL Draft final week.

Although July 1 is clearly the massive strain level within the Ehlers saga, it’s additionally the day Gabe Vilardi will formally require a brand new contract. Vilardi’s 27 objectives this previous season characterize essentially the most of anyone within the league set to develop into an RFA when the calendar flips on Tuesday. The 25-year-old, six-foot-three winger has arbitration rights and may develop into a UFA in the summertime of 2027. With all of the discuss supply sheets floating round because the wage cap rises, you recognize the Jets would like to lock Vilardi down on a prolonged extension. 

It’s value noting, too, {that a} pair of massively importantly wingers — Kyle Connor and Cole Perfetti — are eligible for extensions as of July 1. The latter can be an RFA in 2026, whereas Connor might be a whale of a UFA subsequent summer time. Recall, when Winnipeg did its large, simultaneous extensions with Mark Scheifele and Connor Hellebuyck in 2023, these offers didn’t get executed till the eve of the common season. Getting Connor’s title on an extension at any level this summer time can be a beautiful improvement for the Jets.

As for the right here and now, there’s clearly a really actual likelihood Ehlers will depart Winnipeg after 11 years with the group. And whereas the even-keeled Cheveldayoff doesn’t actually do scramble mode, the staff will definitely should beat the bushes in quest of scoring that would assist soften the blow if Ehlers glides out the door.

Though that loss can be felt most acutely, two different Jets wingers — Mason Appleton and Brandon Tanev — can hit the open market on Tuesday, as properly.

For Winnipeg, not often a significant participant within the UFA pond, the most important transfer it may pull off within the subsequent day or so is discovering a approach to retain Ehlers. Failing that, we’ll see what sort of singles and doubles this membership can hit on the open market. 

Here, based on Puckpedia, is what the Jets are working with heading into July 1.

Salary cap house: $23,513,810

Salary dedicated to forwards: $35,644523

Salary dedicated to defence: $25,400,000

Salary dedicated to goalies: $9,325,00

Salary dedicated to buyout: $1,616,667 

Previous staff: Dallas Stars

Previous cap hit: $5 million

This can be about as massive a play within the open market as you can envision the Jets making. Of course, Winnipeg did already seize headlines by inking Jonathan Toews, who’s hoping to resurrect his NHL profession after two full years away from the sport. It’s an excellent guess on a hometown man who may wind up serving to the Jets at centre on a second or third line.

That mentioned, you may’t signal a 37-year-old who’s been away from the massive league so long as Toews and assume all will go to plan. Throw in Adam Lowry’s low season hip surgical procedure and there’s flux down the center in Winnipeg.

To be certain, there will likely be suitors for Granlund, a veteran who brings grit and middle-six manufacturing to any lineup. It could also be value a daring transfer from Winnipeg, although, as Granlund can play each centre and wing capably. You begin him down the center to assist Toews and make up for the absence of Lowry. If issues go properly with Toews, Granlund can simply slide to the flank. If it seems the Jets want assist down the center all 12 months, Granlund may be that man.

Also, once you ponder who may signal with Winnipeg as a modestly massive fish, it looks like a Finnish man who spent many winters in Minnesota throughout his NHL profession is likely to be the sort of participant who would put pen to paper there — particularly when you make it value his whereas dollar-wise.

Granlund has produced 60-point seasons in every of the previous two years suiting up for the San Jose Sharks and Dallas Stars. He’s not flashy or massive, however he’s universally revered and brings a straight-ahead type that would assist the Jets come playoff time.

Previous staff: Los Angeles Kings

Previous cap hit: $2.67 million

Remember when the Tampa Bay Lighting coughed up 5 picks — one from every of the primary 5 rounds — to get Jeannot from the Nashville Predators? That was truly solely somewhat over two years in the past, forward of the 2023 commerce deadline.

Though the transfer proved to be misguided, there’s a motive a wise group like Tampa guess on Jeannot, and that motive is he’s a nasty bit of labor who’d confirmed actual scoring contact with a 24-goal season as an NHL sophomore in 2021-22.

Although we will safely classify that season as an anomaly — Jeannot has scored a complete of solely 26 objectives since then — there’s nonetheless one thing to wrap your arms round right here, so long as you’ve got limbs lengthy sufficient to engulf a six-foot-two, 220-pound body.

Jeannot is a Prairie boy who may relish the concept of taking part in in Winnipeg and you can see the worth in a short-term guess right here. On the opposite hand, if the Jets consider within the participant, why not supply some time period within the hopes you can get a hard-to-play-against man within the lineup for the subsequent 5 years or so at an inexpensive cap hit?

If the Jets retain Tanev and add Jeannot, their backside six will likely be extraordinarily disagreeable to face.

Previous staff: Washington Capitals

Previous cap hit: $1.25 million

Though he’s by no means fulfilled his promise as a 2015 first-round decide, Beauvillier has proven he generally is a helpful NHLer — particularly when it issues most.

Beauvillier has bounced round quite a bit, suiting up for 5 groups up to now three seasons since leaving the Islanders squad that drafted him. He was picked up by the Caps forward of the deadline this previous season and confirmed fairly properly for Washington, with six factors in 10 post-season outings. In truth, a few of Beauvillier’s greatest work has come within the playoffs, the place he had 27 factors in 39 spring video games over two years with the Islanders in 2020 and 2021.

Though not massive, Beauvillier performs with some chunk and brings 15-goal potential to the center of the lineup. Maybe, if he’s capable of settle into a brand new house, he can present one of the best model of himself by means of the tip of his 20s and into his early 30s.

Previous staff: New Jersey Devils

Previous cap hit: $2.5 million

Small guess on a Winnipeg boy?

Glass was set to develop into a restricted free agent this summer time, however the Devils gained’t be qualifying him at his outdated $2.5 million quantity. That means he’ll be free to signal with anyone on July 1.

If Beauvillier by no means fairly met expectations, Glass has been hit with the bust label after going sixth total within the 2017 draft. Obviously he’s by no means going to understand the offensive potential the Golden Knights noticed in him once they made Glass their first-ever draft decide, however he’s a six-foot-three, right-shot ahead who now has 252 NHL video games underneath his belt. Glass scored 14 objectives in 2022-23, his first full NHL marketing campaign, and has been tormented by accidents at instances in his profession. 

Although there figures to be a pair groups serious about what he can deliver, perhaps Winnipeg can leverage the hometown angle and are available to phrases on a low-risk deal that enables Glass to cement his NHL area of interest within the metropolis he grew up in.

Other Potential Fits: Andrew Mangiapane, Nick Bjugstad, Jonathan Drouin, Andrei Kuzmenko, Corey Perry