WINNIPEG 鈥� Nikolaj Ehlers knows he鈥檚 on the verge of a career-high season for points, but a big celebration isn鈥檛 around the corner.
The speedy Winnipeg Jets forward views it as part of his evolution since joining the NHL club in 2015-16 after being drafted ninth overall in 2014.
鈥淚t would mean a lot, of course, but I also think the reason that I鈥檓 at this point is because I don鈥檛 think too much about that stuff,鈥� Ehlers said after Thursday鈥檚 practice.
鈥淲hen you focus on what you can control, when you work on your things, when you let the game teach you and just keep doing your best, those things will come eventually."
Ehlers has 61 points heading into Friday鈥檚 home game against the New Jersey Devils, three shy of the 64 points he recorded in 82 games in 2016-17.
This season鈥檚 feat is notable for its pace.
Ehlers has suited up for 63 games after missing nine in December with a lower-body injury. His 61 points also matches last season鈥檚 output through 82 games.
His progress and production could lead to a big payday, but he鈥檚 also not thinking about that.
Ehlers, who turned 29 last month, is a pending unrestricted free agent. He鈥檚 playing in the last year of a seven-year, US$42-million contract with an annual salary-cap hit of $6 million.
The six-foot, 172-pound left winger鈥檚 name has been included among the league鈥檚 top pending UFA forwards such as Mitch Marner of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Sam Bennett of the Florida Panthers and Brock Boeser of the Vancouver Canucks. All three are under age 30.
鈥淥bviously, it means that I鈥檓 doing something right,鈥� Ehlers said of being mentioned in that group.
鈥淩ight now, I鈥檝e got other things to worry about, other things to focus on rather than all of that stuff. I鈥檓 here trying to get to the exact same thing all the other teams are in this league, and we鈥檝e got a really good shot at it this year, so I don鈥檛 think about that for even a second.鈥�
The Jets have already clinched a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs and sat atop the Western Conference and Central Division with 102 points (49-19-4), six ahead of the Dallas Stars, who played the Calgary Flames on Thursday.
Winnipeg was also one point back of Washington for first overall in the league. The Capitals faced the Minnesota Wild on Thursday.
Ehlers scored the winner in Tuesday鈥檚 3-2 overtime victory against Washington.
Jets head coach Scott Arniel said Ehlers is playing better without the puck like the team鈥檚 other top-skilled players, but he鈥檚 also coachable in other areas.
"I constantly talk to him about putting his speed on display every chance he gets and he does that,鈥� Arniel said. 鈥淗e puts fear in the other team鈥檚 defencemen because he builds up that speed and gets coming.
"The other night (against Washington) there was three guys chasing him and nobody was going to catch him on that goal. When he does that, he can be extremely dangerous."
Arniel elevated Ehlers to the top power-play unit this season, and he has showed his willingness for the new role.
"His one comment was, 'As long as you teach me and show me what I need to do and what I鈥檓 supposed to do.' And he鈥檚 grasped it and it鈥檚 really helped us," Arniel said.
"His quickness to get across and support pucks when other teams get aggressive, his skill-making, his ability to find people and then that shot from sort of the bumper spot has been everything we had hoped."
Ehlers has six power-play goals this season.
"Personally, the part that I鈥檝e been the most proud of has been the even-strength game that I鈥檝e been able to play, and that鈥檚 exciting for me," Ehlers said.
Jets veteran centre Vladislav Namestnikov has been on the second line with Ehlers and Cole Perfetti most of the season, although an injury to top-line winger Gabriel Vilardi last Sunday has caused some juggling.
Namestnikov said Ehlers has shown a combination of skills this season.
"In a way he鈥檚 stepped up his two-way game," Namestnikov said. "He鈥檚 very responsible defensively and then he takes that to the offence with his speed. He鈥檚 just electric."
Ehlers, the league鈥檚 highest-scoring player from Denmark, has 225 goals and 293 assists for 518 career points in 668 regular-season games.
"He鈥檚 always been one of the top players in the league so it鈥檚 no surprise to see him up with those guys," Namestnikov said of the coveted pending UFAs.
"All that stuff agents and GMs take care of, but hopefully he stays here with the Jets."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 27, 2025.
Judy Owen, The Canadian Press
