Would Rangers rival benefit from Nikolaj Ehlers trade?

Depending on the day, or perhaps even which way the wind is blowing at a particular moment, rumors swirl about whether the Winnipeg Jets will trade Nikolaj Ehlers this offseason. Some of those rumors have included the New York Rangers, though they don’t need another left winger and it’d be difficult to imagine they could add the forward’s $6 million contract unless the Jets retained salary and took on, say, Kaapo Kakko as part of the return package.

So, again, the Rangers really don’t seem to be a fit. But one of their Metropolitan Division rivals very well could be.

Recent rumors link the Carolina Hurricanes to the Jets forward, who can be an unrestricted free agent after next season. The Hurricanes have taken a beating this summer, losing forwards Jake Guentzel, Teuvo Teravainen, Evgeny Kuznetsov and Stefan Noesen, and defenseman Brett Pesce and Brady Skjei, among others.

RFA forward Martin Necas, who filed for salary arbitration, has also expressed a desire to be traded out of Carolina.

So, yes, the Hurricanes have a need for a talented goal scorer and respected veteran like Ehlers in their forward group. And Necas, three years Ehlers’ junior, could, theoretically, make for a good trade fit.

Related: Rangers rival in Metropolitan Division takes another hit this offseason

Rangers rival could benefit by acquiring Nikolaj Ehlers in trade

The gap between the Rangers and Hurricanes has grown this offseason. After finishing three points ahead of the Hurricanes for first in the division — and first overall in the NHL — the Rangers have had a quiet offseason and will return most of their roster that won the Presidents’ Trophy in 2023-24. They’ve acquired forward Reilly Smith from the Pittsburgh Penguins, signed free agent center Sam Carrick, and re-signed RFAs Kaapo Kakko and Braden Schneider and UFA defenseman Chad Ruhwedel. Erik Gustaffson, Alex Wennberg and Jack Roslovic all departed in free agency. And they still must get a deal done with defenseman Ryan Lindgren, who has a salary arbitration hearing scheduled for Aug. 2.

Not much upheaval to a legit Stanley Cup contender.

But whereas the Rangers remain in strong position, the Hurricanes are weakened both up front and on defense, even with the free-agent additions of Sean Walker and Shayne Gostisbehere. And that’s weakened from a group the Rangers knocked out of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the second round this past spring for the second time in three years.

Carolina has $13.857 million in projected cap space, so there’s room to make a move or two. If they did trade for Ehlers, they’d be best served by keeping Necas, as long as the 25-year-old is not a problem moving forward about his trade request. Swapping one for the other, especially if Ehlers departed as a UFA next offseason seems suboptimal.

Ehlers is a consistent 25-goal, 60-point NHL player. In 605 games with the Jets, he has scored 201 goals and totaled 457 points. Last season, each of his 25 goals were scored at even strength. Perhaps with more of a power-play opportunity with the Hurricanes, he could surpass 30 goals for the first time.

Unless the Hurricanes know something we don’t about Mitchell Marner’s availability this offseason, Ehlers is likely the biggest name out there who could provide a boost to a team that needs a shot in the arm after a rough summer to this point.

Ehlers wouldn’t swing the balance of power away from the Rangers in the division, but his addition would help the Hurricanes standing and their attempt to reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs for a seventh straight season.

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