Winnipeg Jets Have Big Plans for Nik Ehlers

Nikolaj Ehlers is getting the chance of a lifetime this season as Winnipeg Jets head coach announced it's Ehlers who will start on the Jets' top line. Ehlers joins Blake Wheeler and Mark Scheifele on the top-unit which is in line for a monster season.

When the lines were announced at practice it caught some off guard not to see Kyle Connor at the top of the depth chart considering he's a 30-goal scoring machine. However, this set up allows for Connor to play with Paul Statsny and Patrik Laine and it may actually give the Jets some more balance.

Jets' head coach Paul Maurice spoke to the media about his combinations and had this to say:

When you play on that line, you’re going to draw an awful lot of firepower, so you can’t just be good at one end of the rink. Nikolaj has made developments in his defensive game. He’s just older, right? He’s got more experience now. He understands how important it is in the defensive zone and what you do with the puck in the offensive zone and your risk profile. All of those things young players never think about before they get to the NHL and they’re all critical pieces. Who you’re playing against, the D you’re playing against.

He’s a more mature person, a more mature player and I would say — and his numbers would say — that he’s earned the right to play against the other team’s best. It’s going to be a big challenge for him. This is another phase in Nikolaj’s development

 

Last season Ehlers was on pace to score 30 before the pandemic hit. With his new set up and his development, if you have a chance to snag Ehlers up in the middle rounds of your fantasy draft, don't be shy.

Photo credit:  Bob Frid/Icon Sportswire