Nikolaj Ehlers - Part II

[Jimmyjets]

I thought I heard Ehlers say in an interview a while back that he just signed with Halifax for 2 years and now his contract is up. Which is why Europe was an option for him.

Could he sign in Europe for his Dad's team and then be loaned to the jets under the IIHF transfer agreement? Then the Jets assign him to the AHL? That way he could get called up if there was an injury or he proved he was ready, etc.

I'm pretty sure this is the loophole their exploring. Without a pro team in Europe willing to play along this isn't an option, but when your Dad is the coach of a pro team in Europe....

 

[Arthur Fonzarelli]

It isn't the timing that is weird to me, it is the fact that the agent doesn't understand whether or not his client fit into a fairly simple rule and has admitted as much publicly.

http://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/2012/8/1/3213217/bruins-nhl-chl-ahl-agreement-CBA-talks-2012

The above link gets pretty specific & for me it seems pretty cut & dry. He can't.

Then again I haven't read Ehler's contract where an apparent "loophole" may exist. He was drafted by the Jets while in the CHL, so unless something truly unique existed in his transfer agreement, he'd have to exploit that & begin his NHL career as someone who zero disregard for the NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement.

 

[Holden Caulfield]

I thought I heard Ehlers say in an interview a while back that he just signed with Halifax for 2 years and now his contract is up. Which is why Europe was an option for him.

Could he sign in Europe for his Dad's team and then be loaned to the jets under the IIHF transfer agreement? Then the Jets assign him to the AHL? That way he could get called up if there was an injury or he proved he was ready, etc.

I'm pretty sure this is the loophole their exploring. Without a pro team in Europe willing to play along this isn't an option, but when your Dad is the coach of a pro team in Europe....

Term contracts are not a thing in CHL.

He can't sign in Europe he is signed in the NHL. The "loophole" you are saying doesn't exist. If a player is signed in NHL he can't be signed in Europe and NHL teams cannot accept loaned players. So neither side of that make sense.

He is always going to be subject to the CHL-NHL agreement with regards to AHL play unless he was in the Julius Honka exception. So far there is no indication he is. AHL play is out.

 

[Mortimer Snerd]

The vast majority of players who are covered by the CHL transfer agreement are north american born. Perhaps there is a unique situation that applies to Ehlers that hasn't happened yet. The one thing that perked my ears up was when Ehlers was quoted in the paper saying Halifax had released him from his contract (they still have his rights) I would think it would be quite rare for a 19 year old star players in the CHL to have that happen.

Yup, agreed. There seems to be something a little unusual going on. Ehlers seemed pretty confident that he could play in Europe if he doesn't make the Jets. Was his confidence based on anything solid? Halifax has gone ahead and filled their quota of import players. They seem to have no expectation that he could come back. Have the Jets negotiated something with them to loan him to a Euro team? Is that even possible?

The agreement between the NHL and CHL has been in place for ~45 years with (AFAIK) little change. You would think that any possible loopholes have been pretty well researched by now. OTOH, where there is smoke there is fire. It becomes moot if he makes the Jets out of TC.

 

[Jets]

Yup, agreed. There seems to be something a little unusual going on. Ehlers seemed pretty confident that he could play in Europe if he doesn't make the Jets. Was his confidence based on anything solid? Halifax has gone ahead and filled their quota of import players. They seem to have no expectation that he could come back. Have the Jets negotiated something with them to loan him to a Euro team? Is that even possible?

The agreement between the NHL and CHL has been in place for ~45 years with (AFAIK) little change. You would think that any possible loopholes have been pretty well researched by now. OTOH, where there is smoke there is fire. It becomes moot if he makes the Jets out of TC.

I believe, that as an international player, if he doesn't make the Jets, and is not under contract ("signed") by a junior team, he is eligible to go "sign" and play anywhere else that is not affiliated with the NHL (AHL or ECHL - age restriction).

That meaning, he could go to any european club and play on their main team or in their youth system.

I'm kind of speculating all of this based off of the reports I've heard and what I know first hand from how junior teams work locally.

 

[Holden Caulfield]

Yup, agreed. There seems to be something a little unusual going on. Ehlers seemed pretty confident that he could play in Europe if he doesn't make the Jets. Was his confidence based on anything solid? Halifax has gone ahead and filled their quota of import players. They seem to have no expectation that he could come back. Have the Jets negotiated something with them to loan him to a Euro team? Is that even possible?

The agreement between the NHL and CHL has been in place for ~45 years with (AFAIK) little change. You would think that any possible loopholes have been pretty well researched by now. OTOH, where there is smoke there is fire. It becomes moot if he makes the Jets out of TC.

And yet a new loophole was found just last year (Julius Honka).

 

[Holden Caulfield]

I believe, that as an international player, if he doesn't make the Jets, and is not under contract ("signed") by a junior team, he is eligible to go "sign" and play anywhere else that is not affiliated with the NHL (AHL or ECHL - age restriction).

That meaning, he could go to any european club and play on their main team or in their youth system.

I'm kind of speculating all of this based off of the reports I've heard and what I know first hand from how junior teams work locally.

This has happened in the past with unsigned drafted players (Reway, Kubalik, etc). The difference being in that Ehlers is signed and must be assigned by the Jets. So the question is whether he can be assigned to Europe by the Jets. In players not drafted out of CHL it's no problem to assign players to Europe (eg Esa Lindell). The question is whether the Jets must assign him to junior.

Hmmm, looking into this I think a precedent has already been set that this is possible. Nikolai Goldobin drafted out of Sarnia was assigned to HIFK (Sm-Liiga) at 19 rather than back to Sarnia.

 

[Arthur Fonzarelli]

And yet a new loophole was found just last year (Julius Honka).

A good read explaining the details of the Honka situation. Could very well apply to Ehlers as well!!

Essentially it comes down to whether or not the player has "been loaned" to a CHL team.

http://www.defendingbigd.com/2014/1...tars-prospect-julius-honkas-assignment-to-ahl

 

[Yukon Joe]

It seems to me the situation is this:

Halifax could have played hardball and insisted that Ehlers come back to play with them if he doesn't make the Jets. That may not be in their long-term best interests however. They want to create an environment where top-tier European players want to come over and play with them. By playing hard with Ehlers perhaps that convinces the next kid to stay in Europe rather than come over to the CHL.

So, they voluntarily release him. Plus it's not just any team he wants to play with - he wants to play for a team that has his father as head coach.

 

[Whileee]

It seems to me the situation is this:

Halifax could have played hardball and insisted that Ehlers come back to play with them if he doesn't make the Jets. That may not be in their long-term best interests however. They want to create an environment where top-tier European players want to come over and play with them. By playing hard with Ehlers perhaps that convinces the next kid to stay in Europe rather than come over to the CHL.

So, they voluntarily release him. Plus it's not just any team he wants to play with - he wants to play for a team that has his father as head coach.

I thought I read somewhere that Halifax already has its full complement of two imports (Meier and another player). I suppose they could fit Ehlers in by trading one of the others, but they certainly don't seem to expect Ehlers back.

 

[10Ducky10]

No problema, he will make the Jets.

 

[MikeyP]

I thought I read somewhere that Halifax already has its full complement of two imports (Meier and another player). I suppose they could fit Ehlers in by trading one of the others, but they certainly don't seem to expect Ehlers back.

Yup: Timo Meier and Otto Somppi.

I think they were figuring there was no way Nik would be back.

 

[Rheged]

They actually can't trade Somppi cause your not allowed to trade an import for a year after drafting them. I think in the case that Ehlers ended up back in the Q after everything he'd probably be the one they looked to trade, since Halifax is in a bit more of a rebuild mode this season.

That's another reason the Q seems less likely to me actually, Ehlers seemed to be tied to Halifax specifically, lots of talk about not wanting to play anywhere else last year. I wouldn't claim to know any specifics but I really think his Q time is done.

 

[Holden Caulfield]

They actually can't trade Somppi cause your not allowed to trade an import for a year after drafting them. I think in the case that Ehlers ended up back in the Q after everything he'd probably be the one they looked to trade, since Halifax is in a bit more of a rebuild mode this season.

That's another reason the Q seems less likely to me actually, Ehlers seemed to be tied to Halifax specifically, lots of talk about not wanting to play anywhere else last year. I wouldn't claim to know any specifics but I really think his Q time is done.

both ehlers and meier are in their final true junior year. both will be in nhl/ahl next year.

 

[Mortimer Snerd]

I believe, that as an international player, if he doesn't make the Jets, and is not under contract ("signed") by a junior team, he is eligible to go "sign" and play anywhere else that is not affiliated with the NHL (AHL or ECHL - age restriction).

That meaning, he could go to any european club and play on their main team or in their youth system.

I'm kind of speculating all of this based off of the reports I've heard and what I know first hand from how junior teams work locally.

Plausible.

And yet a new loophole was found just last year (Julius Honka).

A lawyer can always find an argument. Thats why we always need more lawyers.

This has happened in the past with unsigned drafted players (Reway, Kubalik, etc). The difference being in that Ehlers is signed and must be assigned by the Jets. So the question is whether he can be assigned to Europe by the Jets. In players not drafted out of CHL it's no problem to assign players to Europe (eg Esa Lindell). The question is whether the Jets must assign him to junior.

Hmmm, looking into this I think a precedent has already been set that this is possible. Nikolai Goldobin drafted out of Sarnia was assigned to HIFK (Sm-Liiga) at 19 rather than back to Sarnia.

I think it would clearly be better for his development to play against men rather than go back to Halifax. Interesting to watch this unfold.

 

[heilongjetsfan]

This has happened in the past with unsigned drafted players (Reway, Kubalik, etc). The difference being in that Ehlers is signed and must be assigned by the Jets. So the question is whether he can be assigned to Europe by the Jets. In players not drafted out of CHL it's no problem to assign players to Europe (eg Esa Lindell). The question is whether the Jets must assign him to junior.

Hmmm, looking into this I think a precedent has already been set that this is possible. Nikolai Goldobin drafted out of Sarnia was assigned to HIFK (Sm-Liiga) at 19 rather than back to Sarnia.

PM that to his agent after negotiating a small royalty. I want 1% of whatever you get

 

[Channelcat]

Plausible.



I think it would clearly be better for his development to play against men rather than go back to Halifax. Interesting to watch this unfold.

Yes, he needs to be playing against men. I believe players like Ehlers and Morrissey essentially lose a year of development going to the CHL as a 19/20 year old. With players like that, the skill is there, but they need to learn to play against bigger stronger players.

 

[rehf]

Scott Cullen of TSN believes Ehlers will be the 100th best scorer in the NHL next season with 17 goals and 32 assists.

http://www.tsn.ca/crosby-no-1-in-the-top-300-projected-scorers-1.360216

 

[Halfy]

Scott Cullen of TSN believes Ehlers will be the 100th best scorer in the NHL next season with 17 goals and 32 assists.

http://www.tsn.ca/crosby-no-1-in-the-top-300-projected-scorers-1.360216

bold

 

[Aavco Cup]

From Friedman's 30 thoughts


http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/30-thoughts-what-voynovs-return-to-russia-could-mean/

19. Boy did Winnipeg’s Nik Ehlers coast through his first two games at that tournament. But he finished well, leading a couple of scouts to laugh that Ehlers was letting everyone know he’d be more competitive at the main camp. Also: “He’s stronger than you’d think.”

 

[FerrisRox]

Who Will Ehlers Play With?

Hello Jets fans...

Just wondering if you could share your insights and projections for Ehlers....

Who has Ehlers been playing with in the pre-season?

What line is he expected to play on and how much power play time do you think he will get?

Thanks

 

[Whileee]

Hello Jets fans...

Just wondering if you could share your insights and projections for Ehlers....

Who has Ehlers been playing with in the pre-season?

What line is he expected to play on and how much power play time do you think he will get?

Thanks

My guess is that Ehlers will start on the 3rd line with Lowry and Perreault (or maybe Burmistrov). It might not be a high scoring line to begin. I expect that Ehlers will also get time with Scheifele, and they will score together. Ehlers will probably get some PP time, but only on the 2nd unit to begin.

 

[Daximus]

Hello Jets fans...

Just wondering if you could share your insights and projections for Ehlers....

Who has Ehlers been playing with in the pre-season?

What line is he expected to play on and how much power play time do you think he will get?

Thanks

Ehlers has been playing all over the place this Training Camp/Preseason but I think he has found some undeniable chemistry with Mark Scheifele. Not sure how Paul Maurice will use him but I assume it will be in the middle 6 somewhere, probably on the 2nd line with Perreault and Scheifele.
He will have to maintain some decent play to stay there though. As for PP time I'm not sure how much he will get if any this season. He could see some PP2 time. Hard to say at this point.

 

[PhilJets]

Ehlers will probably play in all 3 top line given the situation and injuries that come up during the season.

For me IMO, Schiefele with either Perrault/Petan would be the best case scenario. Some chemistry already and it will be good for Scheifele, as he tends to elevate that much more if he looks upon to be the lead person.

 

[NikoEhlers]

Ehlers looked really comfortable with Scheif, I saw some of it in the Ottawa game last preseason too. Obviously Ehlers will need some time to adjust and that line will get better throughout the season. As most new young player to the league there will be inconsistency and Scheif is a good player but I still hope Paul will have som patience on those nights, I think that would be a pretty good investment