Nikolaj Ehlers fuels Hurricanes’ Stanley Cup run with breakout playoff performance

Nikolaj Ehlers has had a huge impact on the Carolina Hurricanes’ push to the Stanley Cup Final.

The 30-year-old winger has racked up 11 points (six goals and five assists) in the 2026 playoffs.

“He might have been the most dynamic player out there,” Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour said of Ehlers.

General manager Eric Tulsky echoed Brind’Amour’s sentiments about Ehlers.

“He brings a blend of speed, skill and heaviness that really fits for us,” Tulsky said.

Ehlers scored two goals in the first period of Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Tuesday night.

Ehlers also scored the game-winning goal in overtime in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Montreal Canadiens. He scored two goals in the game.

Ehlers signed a six-year deal in July 2025 with the Hurricanes. He had played with the Winnipeg Jets since 2015.

“Coming to a new place, it was the first time in my career and it’s been great so far,” Ehlers said. “It’s been special.”

Ehlers was born in Denmark, but lived all over Europe as a kid. He is the son of Danish professional hockey coach and former player Heinz Ehlers.

“I’ve seen for him to get around, learn a lot of languages and cultures from other countries,” Heinz Ehlers said of his son. “It was a good experience for him.”

Heinz Ehlers shared what it was like to see his son pursue his own hockey career.

“It’s been fun to watch all the way,” Heinz Ehlers said of his son. “Even from an early stage, he had some talent.”

The elder Ehlers was selected in the ninth round of the 1984 NHL entry draft with the 188th overall pick, but never played in the league. He played professionally in Europe for more than 20 years, including stints in the Swedish Hockey League and Deutsche Eishockey Liga. In 2014, he was inducted into the Danish Ice Hockey Hall of Fame.

“He’s taught me a lot about hockey growing up,” Nikolaj Ehlers said of his dad.

Nikolaj Ehlers’ brother Sebastian also plays ice hockey, and most recently played for the Odense Bulldogs in the AL-Bank Ligaen.

Heinz Ehlers stepped away from coaching after this season. He got to see his son play in the Eastern Conference Final against the Canadiens. He’s also staying for the Stanley Cup Final.

“I’m excited like everyone else about this,” Heinz Ehlers said.

The Hurricanes host the Vegas Golden Knights at 8 p.m. ET Thursday in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final.