Capitals, Hurricanes, Mammoth await Nikolaj Ehlers' free agent decision, with new update

Billy Heyen

Capitals, Hurricanes, Mammoth await Nikolaj Ehlers' free agent decision, with new update image

Nikolaj Ehlers knows he's in the driver's seat. As the top remaining NHL free agent, he has no need to rush.

That's creating a waiting game around the league to see where the former Winnipeg Jets star signs.

NHL insider David Pagnotta provided the latest update on Thursday afternoon.

"Sounds like today is the day," Pagnotta wrote at 12:47 p.m. ET on Thursday. "I'm told Nikolaj Ehlers is expected to make his decision today, and his new team plans on making the announcement. Stay tuned, I guess."

Pagnotta also provided insight on the contending teams.

"Carolina, Washington and Utah are believed to be 3 teams in the mix as of this morning," Pagnotta writes. "Others have poked around. Could it be one of those 3, or a mystery club? We shall see."

UPDATE: Ehlers has signed with Carolina, per Elliotte Friedman.

MORE: Hurricanes goalie leaving to play in Russia for KHL powerhouse

Ehlers is 29 years old, and the left-shot left winger is coming off 69 games in 2024-25 in which he scored 24 goals and assisted 39 times.

Heading to a new team, Ehlers has already played 10 seasons in the NHL and has 225 goals and 295 assists in 674 games. 

He'll be a huge addition somewhere. Now, the hockey world waits to find out where.

MORE NHL NEWS:

Billy Heyen

Billy Heyen is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He is a 2019 graduate of Syracuse University who has written about many sports and fantasy sports for The Sporting News. Sports reporting work has also appeared in a number of newspapers, including the Sandusky Register and Rochester Democrat & Chronicle