The 32-year old defenseman has found a new home after a year with Pittsburgh. Christian Ehrhoff has signed a one-year deal worth $1.5 million with the Los Angeles Kings.
If this is already out there, I apologize. Haven’t been on Twitter. In any case, LAK and Christian Ehrhoff have agreed to terms on 1-yr deal
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) August 23, 2015
Christian Ehrhoff was in a similar position as fellow UFA Mike Green, a once great offensive defenseman that has fallen on hard times recently. However, the big difference here appears to be concussion concerns, as Green got a big money deal early in free agency, while Ehrhoff signs a one-year, low money offer in late August. After developing his game in San Jose, Ehrhoff exploded once landing in Vancouver in 2009, scoring 94 points in just two seasons with the Canucks, which he eventually parlayed into a monster 10-year, $40 million contract with the Buffalo Sabres.
Ehrhoff’s offensive numbers immediately took a dip (not playing on the power play with the Sedins tends to have that effect on a player) while his possession numbers went into the toilet in Buffalo, and the Sabres eventually bought out the remaining seven years on his contract. Ehrhoff was able to find new life in Pittsburgh, with the hopes of regaining his position as one of the most dangerous defensemen in the league.
Unfortunately for Ehrhoff and the Pens, the skilled German dealt with concussion issues for a large part of the season, and he managed to get into just 49 games, recording 14 points (only two of which came on the power play).
A healthy Ehrhoff (it appears as though his concussion issues should be cleared up by the time training camp begins) in the right situation could be able to recapture his form – at least that’s what Dean Lombardi will be hoping. The Kings lost free agent Andrej Sekera this off-season, and the healthy/eligibility of Slava Voynov is still unclear.
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