NHL Veteran Slams Carolina’s Costly Contract for Ehlers Over Economical Roslovic Option

The recent decision by the Carolina Hurricanes to sign Nikolaj Ehlers for a whopping $51 million has caused quite a ripple in NHL circles. Hockey veteran James Wisniewski, in particular, has expressed his disapproval quite bluntly, suggesting the team could have gotten a better bargain with Jack Roslovic.

The controversy has sparked renewed debate about the team’s strategies for the offseason and whether they made a misstep in their choice of player from the Winnipeg Jet.

James Wisniewski, a former NHL defenseman, expressed his dissatisfaction with the decision on the Empty Netters podcast. He compared Ehlers’ performance to that of free agent Jack Roslovic and deemed the signing financially reckless.

“Roslovic scored 22 goals and you signed Ehlers for $49 million, which is actually $51 million,” he ranted. He felt Roslovic, with his 22 goals, would have been a more sensible choice and would have come with a lesser price tag.

Wisniewski estimated Roslovic would have accepted “4 years at 4M.”

However, the Hurricanes’ decision does make some sense when you consider Ehlers has had 20+ goal seasons eighth times out of his 10 NHL seasons, a feat Roslovic has only attained twice. In the 2025 playoffs, Ehlers scored five goals in just eight games, while Roslovic managed to score one goal in nine games.

Despite this, Wisniewski’s criticism has sparked a wider debate in NHL circles as to whether teams should opt for big budgets to sign slightly more productive players or opt for budget-friendly deals with comparable potential.

As for Ehlers, he expressed excitement about joining the Hurricanes, who have had consistent postseason success. Filled with a set of young players, he believes the team has a great deal of potential. With seven consecutive playoff appearances, Carolina offers Ehlers a new opportunity to chase a Stanley Cup.

Still, critics like Wisniewski think the price tag for Ehlers may continue to be a talking point long after the new season begins.