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TSN's Bob McKenzie was the first to report that the deal is worth $40 million over 10 years with a cap hit of $4 million per season and a modified no-trade clause. Ehrhoff will receive an $8 million signing bonus for the first year of the contract and a $5 million bonus for the second year. Here is how he broke down the contract year-by-year:
Year 1: $2 million
Year 2: $3 million
Years 3-6: $4 million
Year 7: $3 million
Years 8-10: $1 million
Ehrhoff is 28, and amassed 14 goals and 36 points with the Canucks last season. Over the past two regular seasons, he has a plus-minus rating of plus-55. “I was originally going to wait and see what was available on the free agent market,” said Christian Ehrhoff. “After the Sabres acquired my rights and I spoke with Terry Pegula and Darcy Regier, I did my due diligence on the team and I was very impressed. I called some former teammates and others in the NHL who also had great things to say and I was aware that Robyn Regehr had waived his no-trade clause in his contract this week to join the Sabres. My goal is to win the Stanley Cup, and after the offer I received from Buffalo, I believe this is the best place to make it happen.”
The Sabres gave up a fourth round pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft to the New York Islanders for the exclusive negotiating rights of Ehrhoff.
Regier spoke with the media following the signing and added that once the team acquired the rights "we just felt very strongly that if we could get to the player early, that we would have a good opportunity to sign him. I actually felt even stronger than that; we would find a way to get him signed." The general manager said that he first spoke with Ehrhoff on the golf course, after the rear guard had spoken with Mike Grier and others to learn about the team's background.
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Twitter: @JoeB_WGR @PatWGR
Year 2: $3 million
Years 3-6: $4 million
Year 7: $3 million
Years 8-10: $1 million
Ehrhoff is 28, and amassed 14 goals and 36 points with the Canucks last season. Over the past two regular seasons, he has a plus-minus rating of plus-55. “I was originally going to wait and see what was available on the free agent market,” said Christian Ehrhoff. “After the Sabres acquired my rights and I spoke with Terry Pegula and Darcy Regier, I did my due diligence on the team and I was very impressed. I called some former teammates and others in the NHL who also had great things to say and I was aware that Robyn Regehr had waived his no-trade clause in his contract this week to join the Sabres. My goal is to win the Stanley Cup, and after the offer I received from Buffalo, I believe this is the best place to make it happen.”
The Sabres gave up a fourth round pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft to the New York Islanders for the exclusive negotiating rights of Ehrhoff.
Regier spoke with the media following the signing and added that once the team acquired the rights "we just felt very strongly that if we could get to the player early, that we would have a good opportunity to sign him. I actually felt even stronger than that; we would find a way to get him signed." The general manager said that he first spoke with Ehrhoff on the golf course, after the rear guard had spoken with Mike Grier and others to learn about the team's background.
Ehrhoff is a veteran of international play, having represented Germany at the Winter Olympics in 2002, 2006 and 2010. At just 19 years of age, Ehrhoff was the second youngest player in the 2002 Games.
A native of Moers, Germany, Ehrhoff was originally drafted in the fourth round (106th overall) by San Jose in the 2001 Entry Draft. After playing five seasons with San Jose, he was traded to Vancouver in August 2009.
When asked if any current roster players would need to be moved in order for the Sabres to stay within the salary cap limits, Regier said, "we're not there yet...depending on what we do tomorrow it may effect our current lineup. But, so far we still have room."
The press conference to announce the contract followed a gathering earlier in the day to formally introduce Robyn Regehr to the media. Regehr was acquired via trade late last week from the Calgary Flames. The GM noted the differences between the two players, with Regehr playing a more of a "defensive defenseman" role, while, "in Christian's case he's got great feet, he's a power play guy, he can put up the points, he can play the minutes and...one is 28 and the other is 31, they bring with them the experience."
The Sabres have made both moves before the NHL's free agency period begins tomorrow at noon. While it did not take long to come to terms with Ehrhoff on a long-term deal, Regier added that the acutal dollar amount toward the salary cap was the biggest concern for the team. He said that, "it was more of a focus on the cap number, and we wanted to try and get the cap number down so that it would allow us to get more into the cap."
The first to report that Ehrhoff had been signed was Joe Pinzone of Buffalowins.com.When asked if any current roster players would need to be moved in order for the Sabres to stay within the salary cap limits, Regier said, "we're not there yet...depending on what we do tomorrow it may effect our current lineup. But, so far we still have room."
The press conference to announce the contract followed a gathering earlier in the day to formally introduce Robyn Regehr to the media. Regehr was acquired via trade late last week from the Calgary Flames. The GM noted the differences between the two players, with Regehr playing a more of a "defensive defenseman" role, while, "in Christian's case he's got great feet, he's a power play guy, he can put up the points, he can play the minutes and...one is 28 and the other is 31, they bring with them the experience."
The Sabres have made both moves before the NHL's free agency period begins tomorrow at noon. While it did not take long to come to terms with Ehrhoff on a long-term deal, Regier added that the acutal dollar amount toward the salary cap was the biggest concern for the team. He said that, "it was more of a focus on the cap number, and we wanted to try and get the cap number down so that it would allow us to get more into the cap."
Keep it locked to WGR Sports Radio 550 for all the latest.
Twitter: @JoeB_WGR @PatWGR