The Carolina Hurricanes made headlines on July 3 by signing former Winnipeg Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers to a six-year, $51 million contract after he emerged as the top free agent. Ehlers, 29, posted 63 points last season with 24 goals and 39 assists despite missing 13 games, coming just one point shy of his career-best performance. This deal, however, has sparked debate over its value and necessity.
Former NHL Player Questions the Value of Ehlers’ Contract Compared to Other Free Agents
James Wisniewski, a retired NHL defenseman, publicly challenged the Hurricanes’ decision to commit to a long-term, high-value deal for Ehlers. On the Empty Netters podcast episode No. 217, Wisniewski contrasted Ehlers’ output with that of free agent Jack Roslovic, who scored 22 goals last season, only two fewer than Ehlers.
“That Jack Roslovic! Fu**ing 22 goals? (But) you signed this motherf**ker for 49 million (correct $51.00M),” Wisniewski said. “You could probably resign Jack Roslovic with 22 goals; he had two more goals.”
—James Wisniewski, former NHL defenseman
Wisniewski criticized the $8.5 million annual salary attached to Ehlers’ new contract, suggesting it was disproportionate to his recent production. He argued that a player like Roslovic could be signed for significantly less, adding that Roslovic could have accepted a four-year deal worth $4 million per year.
“For seven and a half million, and then you let him go to free agency,” Wisniewski said. “I guarantee you he would had done 4-year at 4M.”
—James Wisniewski, former NHL defenseman
Despite the criticism, statistical comparisons reveal that Ehlers has been more consistently productive over his career. In the playoffs last season, he scored five goals in eight games for the Jets, whereas Roslovic managed just one goal in nine appearances. Additionally, Ehlers has reached the 20-goal mark in eight of his ten NHL seasons, while Roslovic has only done so twice.
Nikolaj Ehlers Expresses Enthusiasm Upon Joining the Hurricanes
After spending a decade with the Winnipeg Jets, Ehlers expressed genuine excitement about his move to Carolina. In his first comments following the signing, he acknowledged the Hurricanes’ strength as a competitor and praised the team’s younger talent, highlighting the organization’s interest as a major factor in his decision.
“Very excited about the team in Carolina,” Ehlers said, via NHL.com. “They’ve been a tough team to play against in the past (during time with Jets). I like all the young players that are there, and the interest that Carolina has shown … helped a lot in the decision-making and made me very excited.”
—Nikolaj Ehlers, Carolina Hurricanes forward
Last season, the Jets secured the Presidents’ Trophy with 116 points but were eliminated in the second round by the Dallas Stars in an overtime loss during Game 6. In contrast, the Hurricanes qualified second in the Metropolitan Division and advanced to the Eastern Conference Final. Carolina has demonstrated consistent postseason success, reaching the playoffs for seven consecutive seasons and winning at least one series each year, while Winnipeg has not advanced beyond the second round since 2021.
Implications of the Signing for Carolina’s Future Competitiveness
By investing $51 million in Ehlers, the Hurricanes signal their ambition to strengthen their offense with an experienced, proven scorer. Ehlers’ history of reliable goal production and playoff contributions may justify the financial commitment, though skepticism remains over whether more cost-effective options were available. The contract underscores Carolina’s intent to contend seriously in the Eastern Conference, potentially providing added depth to surpass their recent playoff achievements.
Looking ahead, this signing will be closely watched as Ehlers integrates into a team expected to maintain its streak of postseason appearances. Carolina’s ability to maximize his performance and justify the substantial investment will be critical in evaluating the success of this move.