Heading into the 2025-26 season, Carolina Hurricanes forward Nikolaj Ehlers was seen as someone who could bring his dynamic skillset to Rod Brind’Amour’s team after 10 seasons in Winnipeg. After signing a six-year, $51 million deal, with the annual average value (AAV) coming to $8.5 million per season, there was going to be pressure on the flying Dane. While he is 52 games into a six-year deal with the Hurricanes, Ehlers has lived up to the hype, along with being everything he was advertised and more.
Elhers Flying High in Raleigh
After 52 games, Ehlers is fifth on the team in goals (14), tied for second in assists (26), and third in points (40). He is also second in power-play goals (five) and game-winning goals (three), behind Andrei Svehchnikov and Seth Jarvis, respectively. What makes his first 52 games in Carolina interesting is that through the first 11 games of the season, he had four assists and zero goals. In defense of the slow start, it takes a while for players to get used to the Hurricanes’ system, especially after playing in another organization for 10 seasons. Going from the Winnipeg Jets to the Hurricanes requires an adjustment period. However, once he scored his first goal on Nov. 4 against the New York Rangers, “Fly” took off.
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Over the last 41 games, Ehlers has been close to a point-per-game player. In that span, he has 14 goals, 22 assists, and 36 points. Out of his 22 assists, 11 of those have been on the power play. Furthermore, five of those 14 goals came on the man advantage as well. He has an even plus/minus rating over those 41 games after being a plus-1 through the first 11. In 52 games, he’s still a plus-1 for the Hurricanes. His shooting percentage in the last 41 games is 13.9% after putting 101 shots on goal in 220 shot attempts. For the season overall, his shooting percentage is 10.9%. He has settled in nicely since early November.
Ehlers has been averaging 17:33 of ice time over the last 41 games and 16:41 for the overall season. When diving into the analytics, he has been at the elite levels across the NHL. In terms of the hardest shot, he is in the 95th percentile at 93.63 MPH; the league average is 83.09. When it comes to max skating speed, he comes in at the 89th percentile with a max of 23.05 MPH; the average is 22.08 MPH. Furthermore, his 22+ MPH bursts are in the 96th percentile at 13 compared to the league average of 2.7. 20-22 MPH bursts are in the 87th percentile (99 compared to the average of 49.4), and 18-20 MPH bursts are in the 87th percentile (368 compared to the average of 215.9).
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In terms of his zone time, Ehlers is in the 98th percentile in the offensive zone (46.9%), compared to the league average (42.4%). On the flip side, in the defensive zone, he is still in the 98th percentile with a 35%, compared to the league average of 39.8%. When it comes down to it, whether it’s the basic stats or even the analytical side of things, he has shown why the Hurricanes gave him a six x $8.5 million deal this past summer.
He’s seen success on the top line with Sebastian Aho and Svechnikov, the second line with Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake, and now on the third line with Jordan Staal and Jordan Martinook. No matter where Brind’Amour and the staff place him, Ehlers will succeed. Furthermore, when it comes to the power play, his speed makes him a one-man zone entry, and it’s tough for the opponents to stop that. It also further proves why he will be a big piece for Denmark at the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina. His skillset is essential, which is why he’s been good for Denmark for so long, during his time with the Jets and now the Hurricanes.
All in all, while it took game 12 to really kick it into high gear, Ehlers has lived up to his contract and more over the last 41 games. He is flying for the Hurricanes and will continue to get better in his first of six seasons in Raleigh. The only question is, where in the 60-plus point range will he finish in 2025-26?
