‘I loved being in Winnipeg. This was the dream there’: Ex-Jet Ehlers on winning Stanley Cup with Hurricanes
Of all the signings, trades, and roster moves made by NHL teams last offseason, it’s now safe to say that none worked out better than the signing of Nikolaj Ehlers by the Carolina Hurricanes, for all parties involved.
Ehlers and the Hurricanes defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final on Sunday, winning the second Cup in franchise history and the first of Ehlers’ 11-year NHL career.
The skilled, speedy winger had spent the first ten years of his career with the Winnipeg Jets, making the postseason seven times, often on high-powered teams that were among the heaviest Stanley Cup favorites. Unfortunately for Ehlers and the Jets, they only won four playoff series’ over that time and failed to make a conference final.
After Carolina’s Stanley Cup-clinching Game 6 victory, Ehlers spoke about what his time in Winnipeg still means to him.
“I loved being in Winnipeg. This was the dream there,” an emotional Ehlers told David Amber and Elliotte Friedman on Sunday. “I’m obviously sad I wasn’t able to do that with the guys in Winnipeg and the city of Winnipeg. They hold a special place in my heart.”
The Danish national continued to express how important the Jets’ organization was in his career.
“Their family, the whole organization, gave me a shot at playing in the NHL. And I couldn’t be more thankful,” Ehlers said. “It was a hard decision this summer. but I loved my 10 years in Winnipeg and it was a special time.”
Nikolaj Ehlers joins @FriedgeHNIC and @DavidAmber after winning a Stanley Cup in his first season with the Hurricanes 🎙️
Carolina, who lost to the Florida Panthers in the 2025 Eastern Conference Final, were looking for some offensive punch after last season, and identified Ehlers as someone who could help put them over the top. They were ultimate proven correct, as Ehlers had eight goals and 10 assists for 18 points in the Hurricanes’ 18 postseason games.