Washington Capitals general manager Chris Patrick stated his willingness to be aggressive this summer during his end-of-season press conference in May. Patrick specifically mentioned wanting to add another high-skilled forward to the team’s roster, and there are a few notable options set for free agency in July.
Nikolaj Ehlers, the Winnipeg Jets’ star winger for the last 10 seasons, is one of the biggest available fish. The 29-year-old Dane is coming off the fourth 60-point season of his career, recording 63 points (24g, 39a) in 69 games.
Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff has expressed a desire to keep Ehlers in Winnipeg this summer and should have enough cap space to do so, but there haven’t been any recent contract rumblings. The Jets have just over two weeks of exclusive negotiating rights left, and Ehlers could opt to depart for a larger role elsewhere.
Despite leading the Jets in five-on-five points per 60 minutes in six of the past seven seasons, Ehlers ranked just ninth on the team in five-on-five ice time per game (12:25) last year. Since Ehlers debuted during the 2025-16 campaign, only nine left wings in the NHL have more points than he does (520).
The Jets have also been dynamite with Ehlers on the ice from a pure process perspective. During his five-on-five ice time this past year, Winnipeg saw 53.8 percent of the shot attempts, 55.9 percent of the expected goals, 52.6 percent of the scoring chances, and 53.2 percent of the high-danger chances. They out-scored opponents 38-22 with him over the boards.
Per AFP Analytics, Ehlers is expected to cash in this summer. With the NHL’s salary cap set to increase exponentially, his next contract is likely to be around a six-year, $48.6 million commitment ($8.11 million AAV). The closest contract comparables for Ehlers are the 8-year, $70 million extension Travis Konecny signed with the Philadelphia Flyers last July and the 8-year, $56 million extension Gabriel Landeskog signed with the Colorado Avalanche in July of 2021.
The Capitals do have enough cap space this summer to fit that potential Ehlers deal, but it would leave them with little room to spare. Per PuckPedia, the Caps will have just $9.375 million in room unless they make additional moves to free up more space.
Ehlers would likely have an immediate spot high on the Capitals’ depth chart, becoming a key part of the club’s top-six forward group ahead of what could be captain Alex Ovechkin’s final NHL season. The speedy winger would add more pace to a Caps lineup that struggled with the relentlessly quick Carolina Hurricanes in the playoffs.
The only potential negative aspect from a Capitals’ perspective is that Ehlers will turn 30 years old during next season. Patrick and Brian MacLellan, president of hockey operations, expressed their commitment to pushing the Caps further in a younger direction this summer.
