Nikolaj Ehlers and Martin Necas are reportedly available in the trade market and will be sought-after players by many NHL teams and that should include the New Jersey Devils.
Nikolaj Ehlers and Martin Necas are reportedly available in the trade market and will be sought-after players by many NHL teams and that should include the New Jersey Devils.
It would be a hefty price but Ehlers or Necas would be worth it. Speed and playmaking abilities coupled with a lightning-fast release, Ehlers and Necas’ traits complement the Devils' lineup and they have skillsets that would be welcomed to every team's top six.
The Winnipeg Jets and the Carolina Hurricanes went all in this season to chase the ultimate goal but both came up very short. The Jets were eliminated by the Colorado Avalanche and looked a tier below for nearly the entire series. The Hurricanes took care of the New York Islanders in the first round but were nearly swept by the New York Rangers in round two.
In the playoffs, Ehlers finished with zero goals and two points in five games. Necas finished with four goals and nine points in 11 games. Ehlers doesn’t have the most outstanding track record in the playoffs to say the least with just four goals and 14 points in 37 games. During his tenure in Winnipeg, he has always seemed to be the odd man out in terms of ice time and power play time which were usually given to veterans but the lack of production in the playoffs is still concerning.
Necas has had more success in the postseason but the same story follows him when it comes to fighting for ice-time with less skilled veterans. In 59 career playoff games, he has 11 goals and 30 points.
Necas and Ehler’s production this year wasn’t quite at the standard they had recently set for themselves but they were still productful. Their game and skillset sometimes needs to be looked at more than their production. Their ability to skate through the neutral zone, efficiently enter and exit the zone and create offence off of the rush is a highly valued asset that they would of course, like to translate to more offence.
Their 5v5 play also gets undervalued due to lower production numbers than what the Hurricanes and Jets hope for. Ehlers has been one of the top 5v5 chance generators but has only averaged over 18:00 of TOI once in his career. Necas too has only had one season where his time on ice was above 18:00.
Despite their similar skillsets, they would offer the Devils different things. The Devils' top six currently has four left-handed shooters. The versatility Jesper Bratt and Timo Meier have allow them to play on both wings and Ehlers has the ability to play on both wings too. What Necas provides is a right-handed shot. If Meier is more comfortable playing on the right wing, Bratt can remain on Nico Hischier’s line and allow Necas to play with Jack Hughes. It provides them with a different passing option and threat.
Ehlers would still provide versatility and could open up a spot for Alexander Holtz to play in the top six.
One downside is that they could run into similar situations with the lack of power play time. Newly hired HC Sheldon Keefe was always able to find ways to give his skilled players opportunities with the Toronto Maple Leafs but with Hughes, Bratt, Hischier and Meier making up the first power play unit, it’s difficult to see either of them receiving the PP1 time they deserve. The Devils do have the ability to put out a strong second unit with the likes of Holtz, Dawson Mercer, Erik Haula and Ondrej Palat allowing Necas or Ehlers to run the second power play unit.
Ehlers and Necas are puck possession maestros and would fit nicely in the Keefe system. They feel confident with the puck on their stick in high-danger situations and would improve the Devils' puck possession statistics.
The Canucks are one team rumoured to be interested in Necas if the Hurricanes do make him available. Ehlers has reportedly drawn attention from the Washington Capitals and New York Islanders.
Necas is 25 years old and an RFA after completing his three-year, $3M AAV contract. Ehlers is 28 years old and is heading into the final year of his seven-year, $6M contract and will become a UFA at the conclusion of the 2024-25 season.
The Devils want to put the 2023-24 season behind them and upgrading the top six with a big-time trade would speed up the process for the fans.
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