Ehlers looking forward to ‘special’ game against Jets

TORONTO — Nikolaj Ehlers didn’t need a reminder about what was coming next Friday.

The former Winnipeg Jets winger is eagerly awaiting his first trip to the place where he spent the first decade of his NHL career.

And for the record, Ehlers wasn’t trying to pass it off as just another game on the schedule — and good on him for that.

“It will be special,” Ehlers said after chipping in two assists in a 5-4 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs last Sunday. “I’ve always said that I’m not ever nervous for a hockey game, but for that one, it might creep in a little bit. I have a lot of good friends on that team who have been family and are still family.

“It’s going to be emotional for myself, for sure.”

“I’ve always said that I’m not ever nervous for a hockey game, but for that one, it might creep in a little bit. It’s going to be emotional for sure.”

Chosen ninth overall by the Jets in the 2014 NHL draft, Ehlers spent the first 690 games of his career with the organization, literally and figuratively growing up from a 19-year-old rookie to someone who was counted on to produce through his 20s.

One of the most exciting games he played with the Jets came in Game 7 of the first-round series against the St. Louis Blues in May, when he helped set up the goal by Cole Perfetti just before time expired in regulation that sent the deciding contest to overtime.

“There are so many great moments that I had in a Jets jersey,” said Ehlers, who had 228 goals and 530 points for the Jets. “Starting from when I put it on, on the stage in Philly (at the 2014 draft) to playing that Game 7 against St. Louis. That was one of the coolest moments I’ve ever been a part of.”

Unlike many marquee unrestricted free agents, Ehlers took his time before making such a critical decision on his future, taking until July 3 (two days into free agency) to ink a six-year deal with the Carolina Hurricanes worth US$51 million and carries a cap hit of US$8.5 million.

“I see similarities to what I was used to in Winnipeg,” said Ehlers. “The people are extremely helpful, extremely nice. Having a good group of guys like we have here made everything a bit easier for myself.

“Everything is completely new. You have a lot of new things you need to figure out and, as time goes on, you start to figure things out and you don’t have to use your maps on your way to the rink anymore or to the grocery store. I’m settling in nicely. So far, it’s been really great, which is really exciting.”

For Ehlers, it wasn’t about turning his back on the Jets or the province he called home for a decade, it was about getting out of his comfort zone and pushing himself to take the next step in his career.

“I talked to a lot of people in that whole process,” said Ehlers, noting that Hurricanes goalie and fellow Dane Frederik Andersen was one of them. “I don’t know if I asked for advice, but those guys I am super close with and that chipped in with everything they had and made me not have any big questions left to ask.”

“Yes, it’s great that the GM wants you, but you want the coach to want you or it’s not going to work.”

The wooing process was a lot to take in, with Hurricanes general manager Eric Tulsky and head coach Rod Brind’Amour making strong pitches about why they felt Ehlers would fit so well with what they’ve built.

“That’s what you want,” said Ehlers. “Yes, it’s great that the GM wants you, but you want the coach to want you — or it’s not going to work. They showed that interest from Day 1 and that feels good. When a team wants you that bad. That was something that was very important to me.”

Although Ehlers got off to a slow start offensively, despite top line minutes with Winnipegger Seth Jarvis and Sebastian Aho, he’s settled into the groove during the past 10 days or so and is up to three goals and 11 points after Friday’s game against the Vancouver Canucks.

“He got a goal a few games ago and you can just see that all of a sudden, there’s a little more — I don’t know — pep in his step or whatever,” said Brind’Amour. “He’s a little more comfortable. It’s a lot of pressure when you come to a new team, with all the hype. More so when you’ve been somewhere for a long time.”

As he stood inside a mostly empty visitors dressing room, Ehlers conceded that there were a lot of adjustments both on and off the ice to sort through in the early stages of the season.

“It’s been good,” said Ehlers. “Challenging is the wrong word because that makes it sound like it’s super, super hard but there are going to be small challenges when you’ve been in one place for 10 years and suddenly, it’s a new country, new teammates, new coach, new everything.”

It wasn’t easy going 11 games without a goal for his new team before finding the back of the net on Nov. 4.

“You maybe don’t feel that way, but you’re doing it anyways,” said Ehlers, asked if he was squeezing the stick a little more tightly during the dry spell. “I had some bigger chances, even a breakaway in Anaheim where I fumbled (the puck) into the corner.

“I’ve been through it before, where it just doesn’t want to go in. But I’m also old enough to know that, at some point, (the goals) are going to come. Obviously, I would have wished for a bit better start, but we were winning games — so that made it a little easier for me. It’s nice to finally get it going.”

Ehlers snapped his drought against the New York Rangers — the same team he scored his first NHL goal against.

In a move that Jets fans would recognize, Ehlers tossed the imaginary monkey off his back once he made his way back to the Hurricanes bench.

“It felt nice to get that first one, finally,” said Ehlers. “It’s crazy how that goal reminded me of my first goal in a Jets jersey. So, that was kind of neat.”

The main difference was that the first of his NHL career came against Henrik Lundqvist and this one came against Igor Shesterkin.

The Hurricanes are a team that’s been excellent during the regular season and has made some impressive playoff runs during Brind’Amour’s tenure, but they’ve lacked goal-scoring in recent Eastern Conference finals, which is one of the reasons Ehlers was a top target for them.

Given his speed, game-breaking ability and zone entry prowess, the expectation is that Ehlers can come through when the chips are down.

The Hurricanes play a fast, high-pressure game and are known for getting a high volume of shots on net, with an attack mentality — all things that should suit Ehlers’ game.

“I thought that part (of the transition) would be a little bit easier. It hasn’t been,” said Ehlers. “But at the same time, I also knew that certain things were going to take time. I’m starting to get more and more comfortable with the new system. I’m trying to figure things out and that is also trending in the right direction.”

AROUND THE GLASS

ROSLOVIC SHINES

Speaking of strong stretches for former Jets, 2015 first-rounder Jack Roslovic had himself quite a week, recording a pair of overtime winners for the Edmonton Oilers.

Roslovic, who was signed to a one-year deal with the Oilers on Oct. 8 for a show-me contract worth US$1.5 million, is up to five goals and 12 points in 17 games.

Talent has never been the issue for Roslovic, who was chosen 25th overall in 2015, the same year the Jets got Kyle Connor with the 17th pick.

Inconsistency has been what has plagued Roslovic, but he joined a team looking for speed and skill to provide secondary scoring and that’s precisely what he’s been able to do so far.

RIP LARRY BROOKS

The hockey world lost a great writer and dogged reporter when longtime New York Post columnist Larry Brooks died this week after his battle with cancer.

Brooks covered the NHL with incredible passion and a fierce desire to get to the bottom of the story.

Having been fortunate enough to cover a couple of Stanley Cup playoff series involving the Rangers (one against the Philadelphia Flyers and another against the Washington Capitals), Larry was someone who was great to talk hockey with.

Not only did he do an excellent job on his beat, he’s someone that did outstanding work when it came to mentoring and he was well-respected by those he worked with and covered.

Our thoughts are with his family and friends.

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

X and Bluesky: @WiebesWorld

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

X and Bluesky: @mikemcintyrewpg