‘Top free agent’ Ehlers leaves Jets for 6-year, $51M US deal with Hurricanes

Nikolaj Ehlers is waving goodbye to the Winnipeg Jets.

The winger signed a six-year, $51-million US contract with the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday, the third day of NHL free agency.

“Nikolaj was the top free agent available on July 1, and we are proud that he’s chosen to make Carolina his home,” Hurricanes general manager Eric Tulsky said in a statement. “He’s a highly-skilled winger who can really skate and will fit very well with our forward group.”

The 29-year-old selected ninth overall at the 2014 draft spent a decade in the Manitoba capital, where he put up 225 goals and 295 assists for 520 points in 674 regular-season games.

Ehlers added 21 points (nine goals, 12 assists) in 45 playoff contests.

He scored at least 20 goals in eight of his 10 NHL seasons, including a career-high 29 in 2017-18.

The Jets are coming off a campaign that saw them capture the Presidents’ Trophy as the NHL’s top regular-season team.

Winnipeg advanced to the second round of the playoffs with a dramatic seven-game victory over the St. Louis Blues before losing out to the Dallas Stars 4-2.

Ehlers registered five goals and two assists in his eight post-season contests this spring.

He has also suited up for Denmark at five world championships and three Olympic qualifying tournaments.