The Carolina Hurricanes picked up one of the biggest free agents this summer, signing forward Nikolaj Ehlers to a six-year deal. The newest winger is a talented and versatile player who can play on either side of the ice and quite literally split his time 50/50 last season between LW and RW, so Carolina will have a lot of options for how they deploy him. Where Does Nikolaj Ehlers Slot In For The Carolina Hurricanes? Ehlers has primarily found success as a rush-based offensive player. He's efficient in transition, able to both enter and exit the zone with possession and his hands are able to keep up with his skating as well with a good share of chance generation as well. So where will Ehlers be in lineup come opening night? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOP LINE There's a lot to like about potentially slotting Ehlers into the top line. For one, putting Ehlers alongside a player like Sebastian Aho gives him a talented center that he's never really had the chance to play alongside for long. I mean, he's had extended looks alongside Mark Scheifele and performed well there, but the coaching staff has refused to keep him there and he's averaged less than 16 minutes per game in each of the last three seasons. So if he's been as effective as he has been in that reduced role, it begs the question of just how much more he can give with more opportunity. If Ehlers slots in on the left wing, the most likely counterpart on the right wing would be Seth Jarvis. The talented young winger is an effective skater who can keep up with Ehlers and his emerging goal scoring prowess would be a perfect complement to Ehlers high-end playmaking ability. Both Aho and Jarvis would also provide a lot of defensive support for Ehlers, allowing him to have more creative freedom offensively. The team could also elect to slide Ehlers to the right wing and perhaps keep Andrei Svechnikov up on the top line where he found a lot of success in the postseason. Svechnikov has been very up and down throughout his career, but a chance to play on the top line with Aho and Ehlers could do a lot to help unlock his full potential. His best season came playing on a line with Martin Necas, who has a lot of similarities stylistically to Ehlers. Nikolaj Ehlers - Sebastian Aho - Seth Jarvis Andrei Svechnikov - Sebastian Aho - Nikolaj Ehlers Nikolaj Ehlers 2024-25 Microstats [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/845d4b89-b788-4dab-adc2-34efcbb0f9ad.png] Nikolaj Ehlers 2024-25 Microstats -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SECOND LINE Ehlers played primarily with Cole Perfetti and Vladislav Namestnikov last season on Winnipeg's second line, so it wouldn't be too different for him if he wound up there in Carolina. Ehlers is definitely good enough to be LW1, but fit is so important in hockey and wouldn't be as detrimental with how the Hurricanes roll their lines. Jesperi Kotkaniemi, for as much flack as he gets, grades out in similar fashion to Namestnikov but he still has strong underlying numbers revolving around generating chances and playmaking off of the cycle. Like Svechnikov, his best season too came alongside Necas. In terms of the other wing, the Canes have a lot of potential top-six options. Logan Stankoven, freshly inked to an eight-year extension, has continued to grow as a dynamic forward. His strong skating and direct style could fit well with Ehlers and he could potentially really help bring out the most in Stankoven. Another talented rookie that may wind up alongside Ehlers is Jackson Blake. In his rookie season, Blake proved to be a highly effective playmaker and puck carrier off of the cycle, able to strip pucks and find space in tight. Ehlers is an eight time 20+ goal scorer and if Blake continues to develop, he could prove to be a strong complementary piece. Also, if the Canes elect to keep Taylor Hall up in the top-six, his speed would also be able to really be on display next to Ehlers. Hall looks like he still has more to give after a few disappointing seasons in Chicago, so perhaps he could have another strong season with the Canes in a top-six role. Nikolaj Ehlers - Jesperi Kotkaniemi - Logan Stankoven Nikolaj Ehlers - Jesperi Kotkaniemi - Jackson Blake Taylor Hall - Jesperi Kotkaniemi - Nikolaj Ehlers -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BOTTOM-SIX If Ehlers winds up anywhere outside the first two lines, then what are we even doing here? The Canes signed him to be a top-six difference maker and so that's where he needs to play. 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