The Carolina Hurricanes have signed free-agent winger Nikolaj Ehlers to a six-year, $51 million contract that carries an $8.5 million annual cap hit, the team announced Thursday. The deal secures one of the market’s top forwards through the 2030-31 season and comes three days after the NHL’s signing period opened. Ehlers, 29, leaves the Winnipeg Jets after a decade in which he amassed 225 goals and 295 assists over 674 regular-season games—both fifth on the franchise’s all-time lists. The Danish forward produced 63 points in 69 outings last season, including a career-best 22 on the power play, and has scored at least 20 goals in eight of his 10 campaigns. The move follows Carolina’s acquisition and eight-year extension of defenseman K’Andre Miller earlier this week, underscoring general manager Eric Tulsky’s push to add top-end talent after consecutive trips to the Eastern Conference Final. Even after Ehlers’ signing, the Hurricanes retain cap flexibility to address further roster needs before the trade deadline. Ehlers brings elite speed, transition play and a proven scoring touch to a club that struggled on the power play (18.7 percent) last season. While injuries have limited him to one 70-game season in the past five years, Carolina’s depth and balanced ice-time distribution could help keep the winger fresh for a potential Stanley Cup run.