Worried about Ehlers?

[VincentVega]

Ehlers was back on the 2nd line with Laine in practice today.

[GSD]

You may be happier with Karrlsson short term, but don't bet against Ehlers long term.

[HonkyTonkMan]

Another game where he barely played. I'll hold him forever and won't trade him for peanuts; this is just curious to say the least.

[Noriculous]

Maybe he has an undisclosed injury or something. But in any event, I have never understood how WIN was managing Ehlers. He could be a super star on another team.

[SeaDawg]

This is very strange. I traded him in two of my leagues for Connor both times, before the season started. Not because I thought Connor was going to be an upgrade, but because I had salary cap issues. I still think Ehlers has immense talent and will start to produce, but it is hard to do so playing 4th line and under 10 mins a game.

I suspect something is going on (an injury, message from coach, etc.). It just doesn't make sense to me otherwise.

[Belexus75]

i doubt its injury, if he was hurt they would just keep him out to heal and not have him grind on 4th line...

i think its coach message for some reason, if this continue i can see him ask for the trade...

[GSD]

Lowry, Copp, Tanev number one line? Played more than any other line for the Jets yesterday. What's up with that?

[bondon]

Maybe Laine and Ehlers should put the video games aside too /s

[2014olympicgold]

If he's doing the same TOI this time next week, then I'm worried. I wouldn't be worried till then.

[CascadeFilly]

He started playing with Laine and Little last night, but they just aren't very effective 5-on-5. Their zone time is terrible, and they don't create much, unless it's on a rare individual play, or in Laine's case, on the PP. Ehlers isn't playing much because other players/lines are just more effective right now.

[HonkyTonkMan]

My pool has +/- so at this point, Willie nylander has been more effective than Ehlers. Just unreal

[FrozenInferno]

He started playing with Laine and Little last night, but they just aren't very effective 5-on-5. Their zone time is terrible, and they don't create much, unless it's on a rare individual play, or in Laine's case, on the PP. Ehlers isn't playing much because other players/lines are just more effective right now.

That line doesn't work and hasn't worked the whole time they were together last season. Laine/Ehlers took off when Stastny came in and took Little's spot but now that he's gone it's back to Little and he's an anchor dragging down two offensive players.

As a Laine owner it's incredibly frustrating to see such a world class scoring machine be gimped with 15-16 minutes a night and a dud center who is basically declined into a third line talent at best. Any other team the league would have him in the prime time opportunity playing with the best linemates 18-20 minutes a night. Other young stars in his stratosphere are getting those minutes. Makes you wonder how long he'll put up with it. He might decide to bridge himself out of Winnipeg to a team that will actually play him.

Connor-Scheifele-Wheeler works really well and Maurice simply will not break them up, so unfortunately for us it's a waiting game. Might be a very long wait too. Even longer for Ehlers since he's not even getting PP1 time.

[RizzeeDizzee]

Time to kick the tires on Roslovic centering Ehlers and Laine, methinks

[CascadeFilly]

That line doesn't work and hasn't worked the whole time they were together last season. Laine/Ehlers took off when Stastny came in and took Little's spot but now that he's gone it's back to Little and he's an anchor dragging down two offensive players.

As a Laine owner it's incredibly frustrating to see such a world class scoring machine be gimped with 15-16 minutes a night and a dud center who is basically declined into a third line talent at best. Any other team the league would have him in the prime time opportunity playing with the best linemates 18-20 minutes a night. Other young stars in his stratosphere are getting those minutes. Makes you wonder how long he'll put up with it. He might decide to bridge himself out of Winnipeg to a team that will actually play him.

Connor-Scheifele-Wheeler works really well and Maurice simply will not break them up, so unfortunately for us it's a waiting game. Might be a very long wait too. Even longer for Ehlers since he's not even getting PP1 time.

I say give them time. Ehlers just needs to figure out (or even remember) what works for him at the NHL level. I think he'll get there, but something has to click for him mentally. Laine will be fine. I see a difference in him already this season. He doesn't deserve 18-20 minutes per game yet, but he'll get there, likely by season's end.

I think eventually (by the end of the season?) we'll see Roslovic between Ehlers and Laine, but Roslovic needs a bit of time to develop his own game.

[CascadeFilly]

Time to kick the tires on Roslovic centering Ehlers and Laine, methinks

Beat me to it. I think this is the long-term answer, but I'm not sure the three of them are ready in their overall game to play together. We might see it here and there, though!