Islanders acquire Ehrhoff's rights from Canucks
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Looking to get a jumpstart on free agency, the New York Islanders acquired the rights to pending unrestricted free agent Christian Ehrhoff from the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday night in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick.
Ehrhoff, who turns 29 on July 6, had 50 points in 79 games for the Canucks this season. The 6-foot-2, 203-pound blueliner also went 2-10-12 in 23 postseason contests.
A former fourth-round draft choice of the San Jose Sharks (No. 106 in 2001), Ehrhoff has posted back-to-back 14 goal seasons with Vancouver. If signed, he would immediately become the Isles' No. 2 defenseman behind Mark Streit. Ehrhoff has 53 goals and 173 assists in 500 NHL games.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Islanders now have exclusive negotiating rights with Ehrhoff until noon on Friday, when the free agency market officially opens. Ehrhoff was a $3.1 million cap hit over his three-year deal with the Canucks.
The trade came down just hours after the Canucks announced they signed defenseman Kevin Bieksa to a five-year extension. Bieska's deal is worth a reported $23 million.
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