Big name free agent forward didn't want to meet with the Red Wings

After Mitch Marner went to Vegas and Sam Bennett re-signed with Florida, Winnipeg's Nikolaj Ehlers became the biggest name of available forwards in this year's free agent class. Red Wings fans were hopeful Detroit would take a swing at bringing the talented forward to Hockeytown. His presence would add solid scoring depth alongside the likes of Dylan Larkin, Lucas Raymond, Alex DeBrincat, Patrick Kane.

However, after taking some time to find a new home, Ehlers inked a six-year, $61 million contract with the Carolina Hurricanes on July 3. There is word that Detroit had interest in signing Ehlers, but the feeling wasn't mutual, as he didn't have interest in meeting with the Red Wings.

Ehlers not wanting to meet with Detroit is a problematic scene for Red Wings

It's one thing if a team wants to bring in a big name free agent and a deal doesn't work out. But when the player doesn't even want to meet with a team and hear them out, that could be a bit concerning.

Being a destination free agents want to go to is something every NHL franchise strives for. Having a strong culture, winning history, and a win-now mentality is appealing to big name players looking for a new home.

It's clear Ehlers wanted to go to a roster with plenty of playoff experience, as his top two candidates from early on were the Washington Capitals and Carolina Hurricanes. That is an area where the Red Wings are lacking, as Detroit hasn't been to the postseason since the 2015-16 season.

As the franchise enters its 100th year, fans are hungry for postseason hockey, and Ehlers coming to Detroit would have been a big boost for the team.

Ehlers' consistent scoring would have been a solid fit for Detroit

Ehlers just completed his 10th NHL season in 2024-25. He hasn't posted other-worldly numbers, but he's provided great offensive consistency that's been valuable to his team. In 674 games as a Jet, Ehlers totaled 520 points on 225 goals and 295 assists. He scored 40 goals on the power play, including six this past season.

The Danish forward is coming off a season in which he contributed 63 points on 24 goals and 39 assists. His shooting percentage sat at 13.9, which was the second-highest of his career. He ended his tenure in Winnipeg with a plus/minus of plus-106, and collected 38 points (16 goals, 22 assists) across 82 playoff games.

His move to Carolina sees him join a Hurricanes team that has high hopes for 2025-26. As it stands, Daily Faceoff has Ehlers slated on Carolina's top line with Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis. That is a dangerous combination. Carolina has made the playoffs in seven consecutive seasons, and Ehlers is hoping his contributions can help get them over the hump.