Player Discussion: Nikolaj "Probert" Ehlers Pt. 2

[Adam da bomb]

I still have a hard time wrapping my head around his ATOI. It's definitely up this season thus far but still really behind Connor/Laine. Connor averaging more than 3 min a game feels like a lot if it's just the product of special teams. I'll continue to bang the "he is under utilized/Paul is holding him back" drum.

If it’s pk time it makes sense. Ehlers should be on 1 pp. wheeler should either be front guy as he’s bigger than Connor or 2nd pp.

 

[Gm0ney]

I still have a hard time wrapping my head around his ATOI. It's definitely up this season thus far but still really behind Connor/Laine. Connor averaging more than 3 min a game feels like a lot if it's just the product of special teams. I'll continue to bang the "he is under utilized/Paul is holding him back" drum.

Connor gets 1.5 minutes of extra powerplay time each game by virtue of being on the first unit, and a full minute of PK time per game (Ehlers doesn't kill penalties).

Even strength they're pretty close (Connor gets about 30 seconds more per night). 15:37 to 15:04.

 

[GNP]

Ehlers is a different player this year in my opinion. He's playing with something he hasn't had before, and that's "confidence", and it's showing on the scoresheet. He's shooting a lot more, instead of skating around, and passing it off quickly, or trying to break thru the defense.

I think he has a very good shot at scoring 40 goals this year, and at a minimum of 35. This will be his best year so far as a Jet, and he's improving every year with maturity. Who knows what his ceiling will be at his prime when he's 26 or 27 years old ? Be fun to watch.

It's really good to see this happen to a really good guy and a team player, who also really likes being a Jet.

 

[DashingDane]

Ehlers is a different player this year in my opinion. He's playing with something he hasn't had before, and that's "confidence", and it's showing on the scoresheet. He's shooting a lot more, instead of skating around, and passing it off quickly, or trying to break thru the defense.

I think he has a very good shot at scoring 40 goals this year, and at a minimum of 35. This will be his best year so far as a Jet, and he's improving every year with maturity. Who knows what his ceiling will be at his prime when he's 26 or 27 years old ? Be fun to watch.

It's really good to see this happen to a really good guy and a team player, who also really likes being a Jet.

personally I think he has found more consistency this season but I actually don’t think there is that big a difference from 2nd half of last season outside of puck luck.

 

[Adam da bomb]

personally I think he has found more consistency this season but I actually don’t think there is that big a difference from 2nd half of last season outside of puck luck.

This is the best line for him yet.

 

[DashingDane]

This is the best line for him yet.

I really like him and Rosie together. It almost feels like you could throw any C between them

 

[DashingDane]

Though Wheels has done a terrific job

 

[QuietContrarian]

About last game and his 12mins, I know he got a 2 min, but so did Laine, and still played 20 odd minutes.

There was not a lot of PK last game and KC still got the odd 20 mins.

I like the lines, but I do wonder why Eehls never gets consistent line 1 minutes or pp1. Guy has imo been the best winger on the team this year, yes even better than Laine.

 

[Whodey204]

It's crazy that Ehlers gets so much less ice time than Connor. I dont think Maurice has ever been a fan of his game and his ice time has always reflected that.

If Maurice didn't coddle the veterans, Ehlers would be replacing Wheeler in that same spot on PP1 almost instantly. Would be nice to have his shot on that side, and having him and Laine both open for one timers.

Knowing Maurice, he will blind luck stumble into trying this eventually, but only in the event of a Wheeler injury!

 

[JetsFan815]

^^ Well by all accounts Ehlers was offered time on the top PP unit this season but declined it to continue his role in the 2nd unit.

 

[JetsFan815]

If Maurice didn't coddle the veterans, Ehlers would be replacing Wheeler in that same spot on PP1 almost instantly. Would be nice to have his shot on that side, and having him and Laine both open for one timers.

Why do people assume that a player can just blast one timers from his off wing? That is not a common skill and not one I might add that Ehlers has demonstrated. Even on the 2nd unit he plays on his strong side and seems to like that role. My guess is that he prefers having the puck on his stick and generating that way as opposed to being on his weak side for one timers where he'd have less of an opportunity to do that.

 

[QuietContrarian]

^^ Well by all accounts Ehlers was offered time on the top PP unit this season but declined it to continue his role in the 2nd unit.

Yeah, I know that’s what Mo said, just don’t buy it.

 

[jepjepjoo]

Yeah, I know that’s what Mo said, just don’t buy it.

^^ Well by all accounts Ehlers was offered time on the top PP unit this season but declined it to continue his role in the 2nd unit.

He's played 7 games on PP1 (18:12 with Scheifele) 1gf 1ga.

 

[JetsUK]

Why do people assume that a player can just blast one timers from his off wing? That is not a common skill and not one I might add that Ehlers has demonstrated. Even on the 2nd unit he plays on his strong side and seems to like that role. My guess is that he prefers having the puck on his stick and generating that way as opposed to being on his weak side for one timers where he'd have less of an opportunity to do that.

Disagree -- he's scored plenty of goals this way. Just a few examples:



Ehlers drills home a one-timer

There are more. It's definitely a skill he has demonstrated. Nik may not be quite the sniper that Laine is, but he's lethal in and around the circle and as a lefty sees more of the net and slot than a righty would. Main problem is receiving and making passes to the near slot.

He may well prefer the strong side and have other reasons for wanting to stick with PP2, but he's definitely a threat from either side (being ambidextrous helps).

Gotta See It: Ehlers' crazy ambidextrous dekes - Sportsnet.ca

 

[hn777]

Why do people assume that a player can just blast one timers from his off wing? That is not a common skill and not one I might add that Ehlers has demonstrated. Even on the 2nd unit he plays on his strong side and seems to like that role. My guess is that he prefers having the puck on his stick and generating that way as opposed to being on his weak side for one timers where he'd have less of an opportunity to do that.

Really? Ehlers is well known for an excellent one timer, and even from far out. If it wasn't for Laine, Ehlers would be the go-to guy and shooter on the Jets (Maurice willing). Connor OTOH doesn't have a great one timer from further out, but he is lethal from in close, because of his quick hands.

 

[hn777]

By objective measures, Ehlers and Scheifele have been the Jets two best and most productive top 6 offensive forwards at 5v5 not only this year, but for a couple of years actually. They are the line drivers.

I can see two (rational) reasons for Ehlers getting less TOI than *Scheifele's wingers*:

1) Being the line drivers, Maurice wants Ehlers and Scheifele on separate lines (like Kane and Toews have been mostly separated AFAIK).

2) This is my own theory
I am sometimes wondering about Ehlers endurance.
I have seen (visual) signs, that he seems quite gassed in the end of a single shift, a game, and maybe a season (I haven't checked stats to see, if it is backed up).
Being an extremely explosive athlete, it could make sense, he may not be the most enduring player?
So, maybe Maurice is seeing/knowing something we don't, and is careful not to overplay Ehlers, because based on impact on the game, him and Scheifele should certainly play the most at 5v5.

 

[DRW204]

By objective measures, Ehlers and Scheifele have been the Jets two best and most productive top 6 offensive forwards at 5v5 not only this year, but for a couple of years actually. They are the line drivers.

I can see two (rational) reasons for Ehlers getting less TOI than *Scheifele's wingers*:

1) Being the line drivers, Maurice wants Ehlers and Scheifele on separate lines (like Kane and Toews have been mostly separated AFAIK).

2) This is my own theory
I am sometimes wondering about Ehlers endurance.
I have seen (visual) signs, that he seems quite gassed in the end of a single shift, a game, and maybe a season (I haven't checked stats to see, if it is backed up).
Being an extremely explosive athlete, it could make sense, he may not be the most enduring player?
So, maybe Maurice is seeing/knowing something we don't, and is careful not to overplay Ehlers, because based on impact on the game, him and Scheifele should certainly play the most at 5v5.

i agree with pairing him with Wheeler off the jump as Wheeler got acclimated to C. Pair your best 5v5 winger with a guy has only played <20 games at C over the last 10 years. But now that (IMO) Wheeler's individual game at C is starting to come around, i'd welcome a KC and Ehlers switch

 

[Skidooboy]

Ehlers is maturing. as I've said for the last few years If his mind catches up with his feet he's gonna be incredible. He's just hitting his prime now. He has all the gifts to be a star he just needed to grow up a little(and I say that knowing full well just how good a player he has already been).

 

[Gm0ney]

Ehlers usage numbers at even strength are fine. I'd like to see him get more PP1 time, just because he's a master of gaining the zone.

Although since Ehlers is also a master of drawing penalties, it stands to chance that his line was just out right before the powerplay began. That's probably too 3-D Chess to be a real argument for keeping him on PP2 though.

 

[DRW204]

Ehlers usage numbers at even strength are fine. I'd like to see him get more PP1 time, just because he's a master of gaining the zone.

Although since Ehlers is also a master of drawing penalties, it stands to chance that his line was just out right before the powerplay began. That's probably too 3-D Chess to be a real argument for keeping him on PP2 though.

if he draws more penalties than all of our Fwds (which he does), i think we can afford to have him out there a bit more at 5v5. He's our best/most efficient 5v5 forward in almost every stat.

I do think he should be on PP1. If we were to switch to Ehlers, i really don't think there's a huge fall off, if any, in the things KC does on the PP (assumption obviously is that we switch Ehlers and KC)

 

[JetsUK]

I think we need a mash-up of all the Ehlers goal cellies where he gets to hug everyone taller than him with that chin poking into their neck-guards while grinning like crazy. There is no player in the league more obviously happy to see a goal scored. It's Christmas morning several times a game for our Saint Nik.

Actually wouldn't be surprised to see him skate over and high-five the opposition, so long as it isn't Jamie Benn.

 

[DashingDane]

I thought he looked great down low in the previous pp setup. His mobility and agility really allowed him to go east/west quickly and set up either side. Wouldn't mind seeing him there instead of KC and would be awesome to have three options for setting up the Laine clapper.

In terms of turning down pp1 time, if I remember correctly (which I might not) Paul wanted him in the slot where he ended up putting Frenchy and I'd agree that would be a complete waste with his frame and strength.

I think ATOI all comes down to Paul just not being a big fan of his style of play. He is pretty much never out at any crucial parts of the game though he is arguably better at defending than most of our top 6 forwards and as good offensively.

 

[jepjepjoo]

if he draws more penalties than all of our Fwds (which he does), i think we can afford to have him out there a bit more at 5v5. He's our best/most efficient 5v5 forward in almost every stat.

I do think he should be on PP1. If we were to switch to Ehlers, i really don't think there's a huge fall off, if any, in the things KC does on the PP (assumption obviously is that we switch Ehlers and KC)

Penalties drawn/penalties taken +/-

Ehlers +11
Copp +10
Laine +5
Perreault +3
Gustafsson +3
Wheeler +2
Lowry +1
Roslovic +1
Scheifele +1
Bourque +1
Appleton +/- 0
Luoto -1
Connor -3

 

[DashingDane]

Fun fact. Only two players in the whole league have more points with less icetime (Tatar, Svechnikov).

Edit: Vrana also has.

 

[Adam da bomb]

I thought he looked great down low in the previous pp setup. His mobility and agility really allowed him to go east/west quickly and set up either side. Wouldn't mind seeing him there instead of KC and would be awesome to have three options for setting up the Laine clapper.

In terms of turning down pp1 time, if I remember correctly (which I might not) Paul wanted him in the slot where he ended up putting Frenchy and I'd agree that would be a complete waste with his frame and strength.

I think ATOI all comes down to Paul just not being a big fan of his style of play. He is pretty much never out at any crucial parts of the game though he is arguably better at defending than most of our top 6 forwards and as good offensively.

You’d be hard pressed to find someone who doesn’t think Ehlers is our best forward this season.