‘Nikolaj Ehlers would fit perfectly in Carolina’: Biron on best fit for Ehlers

‘Nikolaj Ehlers would fit perfectly in Carolina’: Biron on best fit for Ehlers

The number one free agent on TSN’s top 50 free agency board was Nick Eers and he’s still not decided where he wants to play next season. Uh the Jets did sign a forward Wednesday bringing in Gustaf Nyquist on a one-year deal 3.25 million 35 years old 11 goals 17 assists in 79 games with the Predators and Wild last season. We are joined by Marty Bon our NHL analyst. Marty, we wait uh a decision from Nick Eers. It’s the middle of the night in Denmark right now. We assume he’s sleeping in some super cool Copenhagen apartment uh and wondering who he might sign with in the coming days. And there’s a lot of talk, Marty, about the Capitals and the Hurricanes being the two front runners outside of the Winnipeg Jets. Uh, do you like that fit for either of those two teams or do you see another better fit for Nick Heer? I like the fit for the Carolina Hurricanes. And look, the Carolina Hurricanes play a style of hockey with Rod Bindammore that’s heavy on the for check and they want puck possession in the offensive zone. Lot of shots, lot of shot attempts, right? They always do that. Uh, and Nickers, not that he’s great on the forche, but he’s great in zone creating the cycle, attacking the slot. I think it fit perfectly in Carolina. And look, Carolina, they took a chance two years ago with Jake Gansel at the deadline. They lost him, right? And that’s a trade, but he walked to free agency. They took a chance with Mikinon this year and they had to trade him. Wasn’t going to sign. But I think if you sign Nickers, that’s long term. And you know that he will stay with you. He’s not going to be able to walk away. So that’s what the Carolina Hurricanes have to do now is take that chance. I like the Fit Luck Washington, I think, would be a great story. But if you’re Nick Heers and you want to win, I think you’re looking at Carolina. And I think Washington’s going to take a step back and you know the fanf fair the whole OV thing is not as important this year. It was great last year. So I think Carolina is a perfect fit. Uh you know having Eers and not only Eers on Carolina with Eers I think it works great. So I mean I would like him to remain with the Jets but I I don’t see that really happening. I think Carolina is probably the team that Eers is trying to figure it out. Probably still work to do but I I like his fit with the Hurricanes. You mentioned it’s looking less and less likely that Eers returns to Winnipeg. Now the Jets do sign Gustaf Nyquist, very serviceable player, veteran. They’ve already got Jonathan Taves signed. However, if they lose Eers, they already lost Mason Appleton Marty on Wednesday, a two-year deal to Detroit. That’s another one of their forwards out the door. You know, does the addition of Taves and Nyquist offset the loss of Appleton and Eers potentially in your mind? No, they don’t. And you’re not going to have Lowry to start the season, right? So, you’ve got a little bit of a step back. But look, the Jets were first in goals against last year, four in goals for best team in the National Hockey League. Uh, and it really didn’t get you anywhere in the playoffs. So, when I look at the Jets this year, I’m saying, “Okay, how about you save some cap room, right? They’ve got about 20ome million dollars to spend and I know that you know you’re gonna have to sign Valardi and Samberg. So you’re you’re going to spend a chunk of that but save some money because when it comes to the trade deadline you can go and get two players two top end players if you save a little bit of cap room. I think it’s all about the playoffs. The Jets are still a playoff team, but as we saw with the Florida Panthers, who cares about Omi’s advantage? Who cares about winning the President’s Trophy? It’s great if you if you do it, but right now it’s about can you get better at the trade deadline going into the playoffs. Save a little bit of cap room and I think you’ll be fine. But they’re still a good team. They got young players being able to step up a little bit. They’re not as good as last year, but it’s not a problem. They’re still a playoff team in the Western Conference. My next question for Marty was going to be, “What is his biggest surprise among Canadian teams this off season?” But I don’t want him to answer yet. Marty, don’t answer yet. Marty’s going to answer that question a little later on this edition of Sports Center.

Do you see a perfect fit for Nikolaj Ehlers? Are the additions of Gustav Nyquist and Jonathan Toews enough to keep the Jets contenders? TSN Hockey analyst Martin Biron joins SC with Jay Onrait to share his thoughts.