Player Discussion: Nikolaj Ehlers Part III

[csk]

Right or wrong in today's NHL size still is a factor. Unless you've got unbelievable Johnny or Patty Kane skills! Ehlers doesn't have them!

I don't disagree with that, but he probably isn't going to get much bigger. He'll just have to figure it out with the body he has

 

[DashingDane]

Right or wrong in today's NHL size still is a factor. Unless you've got unbelievable Johnny hockey or Patty Kane skills! Ehlers doesn't have them!

I definitely don't think he has Kane skills but I don't think he is far after Johnny Hockey skill wise. Biggest difference is that Johnny Hockey is a lock on the best line every night. For the short time Ehlers played with the best last year he put up plenty of points.

 

[garret9]

Right or wrong in today's NHL size still is a factor. Unless you've got unbelievable Johnny hockey or Patty Kane skills! Ehlers doesn't have them!

It seems to be a factor of whether or not you play in the NHL but it seems to have no relevance on the performance of players... *at least as a statistical variable*.

 

[ps241]

Opposition teams have adjusted for Ehlers, his lack of size is his biggest problem!

Sorry but Nik's size is zero problem and you know why, because there is no problem with Ehlers right now. He is amazing and will continue to be a godsend. Forwards go through ebbs and flows scoring wise and Nik is no different.

 

[NikoEhlers]

Sorry but Nik's size is zero problem and you know why, because there is no problem with Ehlers right now. He is amazing and will continue to be a godsend. Forwards go through ebbs and flows scoring wise and Nik is no different.

I agree, its not really a problem. But I believe hes trying to gain muscles in the right way, theres special programmes, but cant force it or it will slow him down. Another thing would be using that extra strength, his game is centered around his speed

 

[Sperss1997]

How many shots on goal did Nikolaj have at this point last year and how many does he have now in comparison, relative to icetime?

i have the feeling that he doesnt seek his own scoring chance enough

 

[DashingDane]

Someone put up another poll on the main board between Nylander and Ehlers

They always get my blood boiling. Can't we just celebrate two very good young players!
Every fan base is always going to prefer their guy when compared to someone at a similar level.

And every Dane (me) is always going to pick Ehlers over basically anyone else

 

[Sperss1997]

Ehlers first 7 games last year
Icetime per game 15:21
Total pp minutes 13:04

SoG 25, 2g, 3a

Ehlers first 7 games this year
Icetime per game 17:23
total pp minutes 24:33

SoG 14, 1g ,2a

I absolutely love Ehlers as a player, but I find these stats a little bit alarming - just a little bit

Huge difference in PP minutes and 2 minutes more on ice per game. I know he played a sheltered role last year at this point but he should also be much better this year compared to last year.

11 shots on goal less than last year ??! Only 2 shots on goal a game with 24:33 minutes on PP in total??

How do you look at this?

 

[alchemyindex]

Ehlers first 7 games last year
Icetime per game 15:21
Total pp minutes 13:04

SoG 25, 2g, 3a

Ehlers first 7 games this year
Icetime per game 17:23
total pp minutes 24:33

SoG 14, 1g ,2a

I absolutely love Ehlers as a player, but I find these stats a little bit alarming - just a little bit

Huge difference in PP minutes and 2 minutes more on ice per game. I know he played a sheltered role last year at this point but he should also be much better this year compared to last year.

11 shots on goal less than last year ??! Only 2 shots on goal a game with 24:33 minutes on PP in total??

How do you look at this?

I might be totally off base here, but I actually view this as maturation - in a player's first year they might be trying to do too much themselves, thus not using the players around them, or shooting from bad angles. I know you've got to give players time to get used to the speed of the NHL, but I was a little worried about Nik last year, thought we might be rushing him a bit. Ever since this preseason it seems like he's been skating much more confidently, and his "hockey IQ" is some of the highest I've seen. He's dishing incredible passes left, right and centre, while I thought of him mainly as a shooter.

All in all I'm incredibly comfortable with him on the ice, and am very impressed with how his game has matured.

Numbers aside, this is just my eye test and gut feeling.

 

[QuietContrarian]

He looks like he should have more pts.

With regards to the Nylander vs Ehlers, im afraid they (Nylander fanboys) have more to cheer about atm.
And if we look purely at now, Nylander is the more complete better player.

Something is missing from Ehlers game, because when I watch him play, he looks sooo good, but no pts too follow.

 

[Sperss1997]

He looks like he should have more pts.

With regards to the Nylander vs Ehlers, im afraid they (Nylander fanboys) have more to cheer about atm.
And if we look purely at now, Nylander is the more complete better player.

Something is missing from Ehlers game, because when I watch him play, he looks sooo good, but no pts too follow.

This is exactly my feeling as well. If he had a lot of SoG every game - okay then I wouldn't be worried at all - but he hasn't

In Ehlers' 80 games carreer so far, he has 4 multi point games incl 1 multi goal game. In comparison Nylander has three multi point games the last ten days alone. He has one or more points in 36 out of 80 games. So more often than not he comes off the ice without points. He is still a kid tho, so obv not disastrous, but still makes me think that something is missing in his game. Selfishness perhaps

 

[QuietContrarian]

This is exactly my feeling as well. If he had a lot of SoG every game - okay then I wouldn't be worried at all - but he hasn't

In Ehlers' 80 games carreer so far, he has 4 multi point games incl 1 multi goal game. In comparison Nylander has three multi point games the last ten days alone. He has one or more points in 36 out of 80 games. So more often than not he comes off the ice without points. He is still a kid tho, so obv not disastrous, but still makes me think that something is missing in his game. Selfishness perhaps

Kid, definitely needs to be more selfish

Man, I had such high expectations for Ehlers this season..

 

[sipowicz]

Ehlers first 7 games last year
Icetime per game 15:21
Total pp minutes 13:04

SoG 25, 2g, 3a

Ehlers first 7 games this year
Icetime per game 17:23
total pp minutes 24:33

SoG 14, 1g ,2a

I absolutely love Ehlers as a player, but I find these stats a little bit alarming - just a little bit

Huge difference in PP minutes and 2 minutes more on ice per game. I know he played a sheltered role last year at this point but he should also be much better this year compared to last year.



11 shots on goal less than last year ??! Only 2 shots on goal a game with 24:33 minutes on PP in total??

How do you look at this?

That's interesting. Teams seem to be paying more attention to him and are dominating him physically, open ice is where he is most effective and he doesn't seem to be getting as much this season. In scrums and along the boards he's all but useless.

 

[Wolf357]

He seems to take a lot of dumb penalties that are obvious calls...then whines and sulks that the penalties get called

 

[Sperss1997]

He seems to take a lot of dumb penalties that are obvious calls...then whines and sulks that the penalties get called

hmm, he has 4 penalty minutes this season. Had 21 last season. That cannot be an issue imo.

 

[Board Bard]

This is exactly my feeling as well. If he had a lot of SoG every game - okay then I wouldn't be worried at all - but he hasn't

In Ehlers' 80 games carreer so far, he has 4 multi point games incl 1 multi goal game. In comparison Nylander has three multi point games the last ten days alone. He has one or more points in 36 out of 80 games. So more often than not he comes off the ice without points. He is still a kid tho, so obv not disastrous, but still makes me think that something is missing in his game. Selfishness perhaps

If you're comparing him to Nylander, one thing that's obviously missing from his game is Auston Matthews. Say what you want about Perreault, he's no Matthews. Nobody on the Jets is. Things probably improve if we see Connor-Little-Ehlers. I will agree that he should shoot more.

 

[boanst]

Im not sure what reasoning there is to take much from a comparison of last year's stats to this year's stats. Ehlers was on fire last year to start off. Extrapolate those stats and you can see that he was on pace for nearly 60 points and 300 shots after 7 games last year.

 

[sipowicz]

Im not sure what reasoning there is to take much from a comparison of last year's stats to this year's stats. Ehlers was on fire last year to start off. Extrapolate those stats and you can see that he was on pace for nearly 60 points and 300 shots after 7 games last year.

Don't think Ehlers will be the 30 goal scorer that everyone envisioned, think his prime career average is 20 G, 20 assists which is still pretty good! Beside we already have our 40-60 goal scorer now!

 

[Hobble]

Nylander needs to be paired with Thorburn to develop his defensive side.

 

[nags]

Don't think Ehlers will be the 30 goal scorer that everyone envisioned, think his prime career average is 20 G, 20 assists which is still pretty good! Beside we already have our 40-60 goal scorer now!

Then it is obvious that he will be a 30 goal scorer then. Thanks for the confirmation.

 

[Georgetown Al*]

Then it is obvious that he will be a 30 goal scorer then. Thanks for the confirmation.

LMFAO

 

[garret9]

Don't think Ehlers will be the 30 goal scorer that everyone envisioned, think his prime career average is 20 G, 20 assists which is still pretty good! Beside we already have our 40-60 goal scorer now!

 

[surixon]

He most certainly is being played differently this year as teams have a lot of tape on him now. So teams are not allowing him to break to the net with speed and are essentially letting him skate around on the outside. This is all part of the being a 2nd year player, the league adapts to your ability and it's the up to you to find a way to continue to find ways to contribute.

I'm not worried about Ehlers, he's skilled and smart so he'll figure out different ways to put up points.

 

[csk]

Don't think Ehlers will be the 30 goal scorer that everyone envisioned, think his prime career average is 20 G, 20 assists which is still pretty good! Beside we already have our 40-60 goal scorer now!

You expect a setup guy to have a 1:1 goal-assist ratio?

20G, 30A is more realistic.

 

[DashingDane]

He looks like he should have more pts.

With regards to the Nylander vs Ehlers, im afraid they (Nylander fanboys) have more to cheer about atm.
And if we look purely at now, Nylander is the more complete better player.

Something is missing from Ehlers game, because when I watch him play, he looks sooo good, but no pts too follow.

I think he has been a bit unlucky. Has had plenty of good set-ups that teammates has missed.
I do agree with people saying that he needs to be a bit more selfish at times.