[Signing] Canes sign Ehlers (6 yrs, $8.5mil AAV)

[Beninho]

Good signing, he was better in the playoffs this year. Carolina has a small forward group though with Aho, Ehlers, Stankoven and Jarvis. I still think they struggle to get past the Panthers

[dissentowner]

A soft team just got softer.

[Kipper_3434]

Wow does this feel like an overpay for anyone else? Guy isn't even a lock for 30 goals and 70 points and he still get the bag. I thought he would get a rich deal, but was thinking more low to mid 7's .

[Gallick]

Originally Posted by Kipper_3434

Wow does this feel like an overpay for anyone else? Guy isn't even a lock for 30 goals and 70 points and he still get the bag. I thought he would get a rich deal, but was thinking more low to mid 7's .

I have always felt that Ehlers is one of those guys that stirs the drink and makes his linemates better. There are not a lot of guys that can rush the puck like him. The Canes have so many skilled players 25 and under - Svechnikov, Jarvis, Kotkaniemi, Stankoven, Blake - and I think they're betting on Ehlers being a guy that can elevate those kids and take them to the next level.

If anything I expected him to get closer to $10m given the paltry offerings in this free agent class.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Yes, he's highly skilled, but smaller, and soft.

He's good for one or two good plays a game, but the rest of the time in the playoffs he's getting manhandled. Unfortunately for Carolina, he doesn't solve their problems for getting to the next level.

That team needs some beef and grinders to make life hard on the other team. Until they get that, all the Aho's, Svechnikov's, and Jarvis's aren't going to get them to a cup final.

[Winsor_Pilates]

He'll fit right in; a very Carolina signing.
Can't see then getting over the ECF's hump.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

A soft team just got softer.

Yup.

They need to get tougher, so they sign another small, soft player.