The New Jersey Devils were reportedly in on one of the biggest free agents in the league, but they lost out to a division rival. And it’s a good thing they didn’t over extend themselves for him.
The New Jersey Devils were fairly active at the start of NHL Free Agency, though they didn’t land any major names. The signing of Connor Brown was generally well-received, even if it came at a bit of a premium, and adding Evgenii Dadonov is widely viewed as a strong move. However, the Devils likely won’t make another significant addition until they secure what could be their biggest priority—locking in Luke Hughes with a long-term extension.
Though it’s still unclear exactly how much cap space they have to work with, New Jersey had been linked to former Winnipeg Jets winger Nikolaj Ehlers. While there had been speculation about a possible deal, the Devils always seemed to trail behind other suitors with deeper pockets or better positioning.
Ehlers ultimately got the payday he was seeking, signing a seven-year, \$51 million contract with the Carolina Hurricanes.
Carolina entered free agency with cap flexibility and high expectations after reaching the Conference Finals. They were rumored to be in the mix for marquee names like Mitch Marner—who never actually hit the open market—and Jason Robertson, whose status remains unresolved.
With those options off the table, the Hurricanes pivoted to Ehlers. While they may present it as a top-tier acquisition, it’s clear this was more of a fallback option than a primary target.
Meanwhile, the Devils are watching a key rival get stronger. So, why is that a good thing?
Nikolaj Ehlers would have been a mistake for the New Jersey Devils
The Devils wisely avoided what could have turned into a burdensome long-term contract. To be clear, it’s not that Nikolaj Ehlers is a bad player—he’s certainly a solid contributor. But he’s just that: solid, not elite. He’s never been in contention for major awards outside of the Lady Byng, has never recorded a point-per-game season, and has yet to reach the 30-goal mark.
He’s a reliable player, but not one you commit \$8.5 million a year to unless he’s a true game-changer—and that’s the kind of investment the Devils prefer to reserve for top-tier talent.
Ehlers is also 29, meaning most of this seven-year deal will play out during his 30s. While he may be a good fit in Carolina right now, there’s a real question of how well his game would hold up over time alongside core pieces like Jack Hughes or Nico Hischier.
This is clearly a win-now move by the Hurricanes. And while New Jersey could use a few of those themselves, a deal like this would’ve limited their flexibility going forward. This wasn’t like missing out on Johnny Gaudreau and pivoting to Ondrej Palat—the Devils chose not to overspend after falling short on Ehlers.
Granted, Ehlers was one of the final notable names still on the board late in free agency, but with the trade market expected to pick up after the holiday, the Devils may still have better opportunities ahead.
Bottom line: New Jersey didn’t break the bank, and while they still need to add a top-six forward before the season begins, this just wasn’t the right move at the right time.
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