Winnipeg Jets select F Nikolaj Ehlers (1/9) (signs 3-year ELC)

[Bob E]

Wasn't the main "knock" on Ehlers that he was benefiting from playing with Drouin, so he had much more room to move because Drouin was the one facing the top D lines all the time? If so, it appears the kid has figured out how to play without the benefit of said Drouin.

Thought he didn't play with Drouin, except on pp situations.

 

[winnipegger]

Looks like he is a goal scoring finisher. Just what this team needs right...

 

[Flair Hay]

This kid. Yes.

 

[Whileee]

Drouin's best month was November 2013: 31 points in 10 games.

However, his team scored a whopping 62 goals that month. So Drouin was in on 50% of his team's goals that month.

Ehlers just finished a November with 34 points out his team's 51 goals (66.7%). That's how insane Ehlers' November was...

 

[Romang67]

Drouin's best month was November 2013: 31 points in 10 games.

However, his team scored a whopping 62 goals that month. So Drouin was in on 50% of his team's goals that month.

Ehlers just finished a November with 34 points out his team's 51 goals (66.7%). That's how insane Ehlers' November was...

... That's pretty good, I guess.

 

[Sweech]

Wasn't the main "knock" on Ehlers that he was benefiting from playing with Drouin, so he had much more room to move because Drouin was the one facing the top D lines all the time? If so, it appears the kid has figured out how to play without the benefit of said Drouin.

It goes both ways.

Drouin was effectively facing the other team's "checking lines" more often, but it was Ehlers who more often faced the other team's #1 scoring line.

 

[Gm0ney]

I kind of worry that a lot of the stuff that Ehlers is racking up the points on isn't going to work in the NHL. You're not going to split an NHL defense 3 times in a game...

Still, amazing talent. Can't wait to see him on the Jets.

 

[Boxertim]

I kind of worry that a lot of the stuff that Ehlers is racking up the points on isn't going to work in the NHL. You're not going to split an NHL defense 3 times in a game...

Still, amazing talent. Can't wait to see him on the Jets.

He will only need to do it once every few games to make me happy

 

[Whileee]

I kind of worry that a lot of the stuff that Ehlers is racking up the points on isn't going to work in the NHL. You're not going to split an NHL defense 3 times in a game...

Still, amazing talent. Can't wait to see him on the Jets.

He doesn't need to do it three times a game. Now and again is all you need to be a game-breaker in the NHL. But if you can't do it with some regularity at Junior level, you'll never do it at the NHL level.

What he's showing in the Q is his explosiveness with the puck and great vision and scoring ability. He also has a terrific sense of time and space to get open in the offensive zone. These are all skills that I think will translate to the NHL, though with less regular and spectacular results.

 

[Sweech]

I kind of worry that a lot of the stuff that Ehlers is racking up the points on isn't going to work in the NHL. You're not going to split an NHL defense 3 times in a game...

Still, amazing talent. Can't wait to see him on the Jets.

Well I'm pretty sure Ehlers also won't be scoring at a 2.0 ppg pace at the NHL level anyways so I wouldn't worry about some of those things. Nor would I hold him to that sort of standard. I don't think anyone should watch a junior prospect and think, "he won't be able to do that with regularity at the NHL level" because it's pretty much a given at that point.

On the flip side one could look at a player who plays a totally different style of game and think, "well Nick Ritchie probably won't be able to simply run NHL defensemen over 3 times a game when they're all the same size or bigger than him".

That being said Ehlers will split defenses and blow by NHL defensemen at this level with some regularity, I can guarantee that.

 

[Mortimer Snerd]

Thought he didn't play with Drouin, except on pp situations.

He didn't play on a line with Drouin but the theory is (was) that he benefited from Drouin occupying the best opposing match-ups.

 

[StronGeer]

He didn't play on a line with Drouin but the theory is (was) that he benefited from Drouin occupying the best opposing match-ups.

I thought it shook out that QoC for both was approximately the same though.

 

[CaptainChef]

Well I'm pretty sure Ehlers also won't be scoring at a 2.0 ppg pace at the NHL level anyways so I wouldn't worry about some of those things. Nor would I hold him to that sort of standard. I don't think anyone should watch a junior prospect and think, "he won't be able to do that with regularity at the NHL level" because it's pretty much a given at that point.

On the flip side one could look at a player who plays a totally different style of game and think, "well Nick Ritchie probably won't be able to simply run NHL defensemen over 3 times a game when they're all the same size or bigger than him".

That being said Ehlers will split defenses and blow by NHL defensemen at this level with some regularity, I can guarantee that.

Yep, with his speed he'll go around and through defenses with regularity. It may take him some time to adjust, but can you imagine what a difference it will be to have an Ehlers available for 4 on 4 hockey, and especially for shootouts.

 

[buggs]

It goes both ways.

Drouin was effectively facing the other team's "checking lines" more often, but it was Ehlers who more often faced the other team's #1 scoring line.

Agreed.

And to the other comments, yeah, Drouin and Ehlers only played together on the PP or so it was reported (I suspect other small instances but not the norm). That's why I put "knock" in the quotations - it's a pretty weak knock at best and as Sweech points out it can be cut as a complement on Ehlers defensive abilities to an extent. I suspect QoC evened it out a fair bit. Very happy with Ehlers.

 

[Mortimer Snerd]

I thought it shook out that QoC for both was approximately the same though.

Reality is not the question here. There was a perception that he was riding Drouin's coattails. I think that has been put to rest.

 

[SLAYER]

Kid is putting together a very impressive run. Really hope he is successful in his NHL career. This team could look very different in a couple of years!

 

[winnipegger]

I just hope he makes the team next year. They need scoring talent and they need it now

 

[MikeyP]

 

[MikeyP]

QMJHL 1st star AND CHL Player of the week!

http://www.chl.ca/article/mooseheads-nikolaj-ehlers-named-chl-player-of-the-week

 

[MikeyP]

Wasn't the main "knock" on Ehlers that he was benefiting from playing with Drouin, so he had much more room to move because Drouin was the one facing the top D lines all the time? If so, it appears the kid has figured out how to play without the benefit of said Drouin.

Ya I think it's fair to say that that we can put that one to bed... Also lets not forget last year that he was a rookie playing against seasoned 2nd liners... its not like he was 3rd or 4th liner out there last year.

On track for a 130 point season?

 

[SensibleGuy]

lol...13 points in 3 games! I'm not sure he's got much left to learn in the juniors.

 

[Halfy]

I seem to remember another European-born goalscorer drafted to Winnipeg who had speed to burn ....... #FinnishFlash ----> #DanishDash

 

[Bob E]

Reality is not the question here. There was a perception that he was riding Drouin's coattails. I think that has been put to rest.

Gotcha.

 

[Hank Chinaski]

Reality is not the question here. There was a perception that he was riding Drouin's coattails. I think that has been put to rest.

Not saying that perception wasn't out there, but I'm guessing it came from people who never watched Ehlers.

You watch him for a couple shifts last year, and he immediately stands out. There's no way you would assume "ah yeah, I bet this guy just rides Drouin's coattails". Come to think of it, IIRC he wasn't playing with Drouin for a good part of last season.

 

[truck]

Ehlers in an ugly xmas sweater.

http://instagram.com/p/wMM2wqA7kF/