The Chicago Blackhawks have acquired defenseman Christian Ehrhoff from the Los Angeles Kings for defenseman Rob Scuderi, per TSN’s Bob McKenzie. Salary retention is expected to be finalized in the next few hours.
#Blackhawks acquire defenseman Christian Ehrhoff from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for Rob Scuderi. https://t.co/biaBKTSM1R
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) February 26, 2016
Retained salary on CHI/LA deal: CHI keeps 50 per cent on Scuderi. LA keeps 15 per cent of Ehrhoff's.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) February 26, 2016
Ehrhoff, 33, registered ten points (2G, 8A) in 40 games with the Los Angeles Kings this year while averaging just over 15 minutes of ice time. In late August of 2015, the Kings signed him to a one-year, $1.5 million deal. The German blueliner had previously spent time with San Jose, Vancouver, Buffalo, and Pittsburgh before making his way to Hollywood.
He is currently in his 11th NHL season after being drafted 106th overall by the Sharks in 2001. Ehrhoff will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season. From a career perspective, the German blueliner has 337 points in 781 games.
Scuderi, 37, was traded from the Penguins for defenseman Trevor Daley back in December, but failed to manage a single point in 17 games with the Blackhawks. He played just a touch over 11 minutes in Chicago on the third defensive pairing. The Syosset, NY native has eight goals and 96 assists in 762 career games.
He was sent down to Chicago’s AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs, last week. Scuderi’s current cap hit is $2.25 million, with Pittsburgh retaining a portion of that after the acquisition of Daley. He has won two Stanley Cups over his 12-year-long NHL tenure, one with the Penguins in 2009 and one with the Kings in 2012. Scuderi is set to become a UFA at the end of the 2016-2017 season (during which he will be paid $2.5 million).
Scuderi AAV: $3.375. PIT retained 1/3, equals $1.125M. CHI kept 50 per cent of remainder, also $1.125M. LA responsible for rest, also $1.125
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) February 26, 2016
This transaction between two Western Conference foes addresses the needs of both clubs. On one instance, Chicago has been hoping to enhance their defensive core’s depth with a two-way presence. Ehrhoff, although long from his prime, fits the bill for the Blackhawks playing style and is a considerable upgrade over Scuderi.
For the Kings, it’s a move where you add a veteran presence and a familiar face with a player who still has the passion for the game and will accept whatever role he is given.
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