Islanders Needed Top Line Winger May Sit In Winnipeg, First Round Pick In Upcoming NHL Draft Available?
New York Islanders forward Bo Horvat said during his exit interviews that he felt as if he and Mathew Barzal had a revolving door of linemates this past season and that it would be great if general manager Lou Lamoriello could bring someone in, whether it was for his line or another.
Could the Islanders’ answer for the top line be sitting in Winnipeg?
The Jets had a phenomenal regular season, finishing second in the Central Division behind the Dallas Stars.
While star Kyle Connor led the Jets with 34 goals, Nikolaj Ehlers sat tied for second with 25 goals, adding 36 assists to finish with 61 points in 82 games.
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After failing in the opening round, losing in five games to the Colorado Avalanche in which Ehlers had just two assists, the future is a bit murky for the forward.
Like Noah Dobson and Brock Nelson, Ehlers is eligible to sign an extension with Winnipeg starting on July 1, as he has one year left on his deal worth $6 million.
The nine-year NHL veteran has been a strong player for the Jets, but the concern surrounding him and a long-term deal is his availability.
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Playing in all 82 games for the third time in his NHL career this past season, it was the first time he’s accomplished that since the 2017-18 season, playing in just 45 games in 2022-23 due to an upper-body injury.
Ehlers was asked during his exit interview about signing an extension in Winnipeg.
While the ending of their season is likely still stinging, and words are merely words at this point, Ehlers didn’t bring out the clichés that you usually hear when players are asked about the future with a franchise.
“It is not something I’ve thought about before, even for one minute, to be honest,” Ehlers said. “I’ve been here for a long time now. During the season, during the playoffs, I think I can speak for every player that plays during a season, and especially the playoffs, (contracts) are not the stuff you think about, so I have no idea what’s going to happen. I haven’t had my actual meeting with Cheveldayoff yet.”
Again, words are words for now, and Ehlers could sign a long-term extension to remain in Winnipeg.
Or, he, the owner of a 10-team modified no-trade clause, could be on the move.
Shall we say for the price of a No. 18 pick?
We know…we know.
At some point, if the Islanders want to grow their farm system, they need to stop moving their first-round selections.
But the Islanders also aren’t in a position to hold on to a pick that could bring back a player who can upgrade the core.
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As we saw when the Islanders acquired Alexander Romanov from the Montreal Canadiens at the 2022 NHL Draft, they used their first-round pick, 13th overall, to add a player that can help the team in the short term and the long term.
For the price of the 18th overall pick, the Islanders will be getting an explosive forward who can, no question, skate with Horvat and Barzal to create rush opportunities.
He has a strong hockey IQ, which is something head coach Patrick Roy needs to run his system correctly.
Ehlers is also shifty, using his skating to evade bodies in corners, but also has the physical strength to protect pucks, creating more time and space for his teammates to get open:
The Islanders also need another weapon for their power play, more so for cleaner zone entries, a role that Ehlers thrives in. But his vision and ability to pass with supreme accuracy could be a game-changer for either of New York’s power-play units:
The Islanders should not have to include something else in a deal outside of the 18th overall pick.
With Horvat and Barzal having seven years left on their deals — with Dobson projecting to get an eight-year deal that begins in 2025-26 — Ehlers fits with this core’s timeline.
If the Islanders don’t want to move the 18th pick, a player like Simon Holmstrom and a second, third-round pick should suffice.
Here are a few comparables:
To FLA: F Sam Reinhart, To BUF: 2022 1st rd (No. 28), G Devon Levi
To STL: Pavel Buchnevich, To NYR: 2022 2nd rd (No. 55), F Sammi Blais
To LA: F Kevin Fiala, To MIN: 2022 1st rd (No. 19), D Brock Faber (Calder finalist)
Lamoriello could likely sign Ehlers to a seven-year or eight-year extension worth $7-$8 million annually.
The Islanders can offer the eighth year because Ehlers is under contract. If he was a pending restricted or unrestricted free agent, they would only be able to get the eighth year if it was a sign-and-trade.
Islanders fans want their team to get a bonafide, elite top-line forward, but the organization has to be realistic due to cost, lack of assets, and lack of free agent success.
Ehlers seems like a realistic option for New York this summer.
The Islanders have $6.34 million in cap space at this very moment, so theoretically, they could bring about Ehlers without having to clear any cap space.
But, whether it’s a depth defenseman, a depth forward, or just retaining some of their RFAs, they’ll need more space.
Like a broken record, the Islanders could look to move Jean-Gabriel Pageau and his $5 million, which, if moved in full, gives the Islanders cap flexibility to sign a player like Ehlers and potentially upgrade the backend.