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“You know everybody has their own opinions and feelings and, you know, all I can say is, I spent ten years here and I loved it,” Ehlers said.
Published Nov 21, 2025 • 2 minute read
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Carolina Hurricanes’ Nikolaj Ehlers (27) celebrates his goal with Jackson Blake (53) during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Edmonton Oilers in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025. Photo by (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker) /Winnipeg SunArticle content
When Nikolaj Ehlers signed his lucrative contract, one of his first priorities was to look at the NHL schedule for the Jets and Hurricanes game.
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“It’s pretty cool to be back, exciting, and definitely one (game) that I was looking forward to,” Ehlers said seven hours before puck drop, admitting he was “nervous” for his first trip back to the ‘Peg after signing a six-year, $51 million US contract with Carolina on July 3.
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Even though there is NHL hockey game to be played among exceedingly competitive men, defenceman Josh Morrissey reflected fondly on his time spent with Ehlers in the fold.
“Nik was a great teammate,” Morrissey said. “I played with him for nine or 10 years and absolutely loved it. He’s a special player. His dynamic ability is incredible. Just off the ice, we kind of grew up here as teenagers.”
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“I remember playing FIFA and video games back in the day,” Morrissey said. “He meant a lot to this fanbase, and I’m sure they’re going to show him that tonight. Of course, we have got to be ready for that speed coming down the wing. It’s going to be fun to compete against him also, and it’s special to see him come back.”
Ehlers was asked about the fan reaction he may encounter before or during the game. Did he expect to get booed?
“I don’t know, to be honest,” he said.
Why would anybody boo you, one reporter asked.
“You know everybody has their own opinions and feelings and, you know, all I can say is, I spent 10 years here and I loved it,” Ehlers said.” So, obviously, I’m hoping for something, and you can guess yourself what that is, but it’s been nice to be back and see the guys and all the people around.”
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“I hope the fans recognize what he did for the organization, what he did in the community,” Jets captain Adam Lowry countered.
The Jets drafted the 29-year-old ninth overall in the 2011 entry draft.
During his introductory Zoom call as a member of the ‘Canes, Ehlers said he wanted a change of scenery. That change of scenery was not without its difficulties, he admitted.
“Everything is brand new,” Ehlers said. “At the same time, there’s guys here that I spent ten years with, and you try to get comfortable as quickly as possible in every single setting, at home, finding the grocery store, not having to use GPS every time. (In Winnipeg) I knew my way around, (but now) everything is brand new. It is going to take time for me to get 100 per cent comfortable and know my way and know how things work.”
The No. 27 in red and white was asked for his single most enduring memory of Winnipeg. He didn’t have one, because he had a list.
“I loved it here, loved the guys here, the organization is fantastic and the people around the team, the fans that we had here, it was great,” he said. “I I had 10 fantastic years here and again it was the place I have lived the longest in my whole life. So, it still feels like home.”
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