After a decade-long run with the Winnipeg Jets, it appears that Nikolaj Ehlers is poised to explore new opportunities. According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman on the latest episode of 32 Thoughts, Ehlers is expected to test the free agent market this summer.

“Hearing he’s the same as Marner — he’s going to July 1 and then we’ll see,” Friedman said.

While Friedman’s phrasing leaves a crack in the door for a potential return, NHL history suggests that once players hit the open market, they rarely come back.

Ehlers has long been a topic of trade speculation, and now that he’s set to become an unrestricted free agent, several teams are reportedly interested. The Carolina Hurricanes have been linked to Ehlers for some time, and Sportsnet’s Ryan Dixon has mentioned the Utah Hockey Club, Boston Bruins, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Montreal Canadiens, and Los Angeles Kings as possible landing spots.

Despite never officially hitting the 30-goal mark in a single season, Ehlers has consistently pushed toward that benchmark. He scored a career-high 29 goals in his third NHL season and looked poised to become a perennial 30-goal scorer. At his peak, the Danish winger was producing at a 37-goal pace during both the 2020–21 and 2021–22 campaigns, but shortened seasons and injuries hampered his totals — he finished with 21 goals in 47 games and 28 in 62, respectively.

Most recently, Ehlers was on a 29-goal pace despite missing 13 games, possibly in his final season as a Jet.

Injuries have been a recurring theme during Ehlers’ time in Winnipeg and could be a factor in how teams assess his value on the open market. Another lingering issue has been his usage. Over the past three seasons, Ehlers has averaged under 16 minutes of ice time per game — a surprising number given his production. During that span, five Jets forwards (Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor, Gabe Vilardi, Mason Appleton, and Nino Niederreiter) all logged more five-on-five time per game than Ehlers’ 13:18.

Still, Ehlers has consistently delivered when given the opportunity. He ranked second among Jets skaters in points per 60 minutes this past season (2.10), and led the team in that category in each of the previous two years.

With just over two weeks until the market opens, general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff and the Jets’ front office are facing several big decisions. Whether Ehlers ultimately stays or goes, one thing is clear — the clock is ticking in Winnipeg.