Nikolaj Ehlers signed a six-year, $51 million contract with the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday. It has an average annual value of $8.5 million. The 29-year-old forward had 63 points (24 goals, 39 assists) in 69 regular-season games for the Winnipeg Jets last season and seven points (five goals, two assists) in eight Stanley Cup Playoff games.

The Carolina Hurricanes have made the NHL playoffs every season since 2019, with all but one of those appearances including the conference semis or finals. As consistently good as they have been, they have missed that one player who can help put them over the top and cash their ticket to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Nikolaj Ehlers is still available after a solid decade with the Jets, and his free agency ending could set off an NHL ripple effect.