Defenceman Christian Ehrhoff has agreed to terms with the Buffalo Sabres, signing a 10-year deal worth $40 million. The contract includes a no movement clause; as well as a modified no trade clause.
The move comes a day before Ehrhoff was eligible to become a free agent and a day after the Sabres gambled that they could sign the seven-year veteran by acquiring his rights in a trade with the New York Islanders.
As you know, it's uncharacteristic for us to give up a fourth-round pick," general manager Darcy Regier said. "We just felt very strongly that if we could get to the player early that we would have the opportunity to sign him."
Ehrhoff will earn $18 million in the first two years of his contract and $4 million from years three to six. He'll collect $3 million in year seven and then $1 million in each of the remaining three years.
If Ehrhoff decides not to play the final three years of the contract, the deal is for seven years at $37 million, or an average of $5.4 million.
"My goal is to win the Stanley Cup," Ehrhoff said in a statement released by the team. ''And after the offer I received from Buffalo, I believe this is the best place to make it happen."
Ehrhoff earned $3.4 million in the final year of his contract last year.
The Sabres take a cap hit of $4 million per season in the deal.
It's the second major move the Sabres have completed in less than a week, retooling their roster last weekend when they acquired defenceman Robyn Regehr and forward Ales Kotalik in a trade with the Calgary Flames.
The German native had 14 goals, 36 assists and a plus-19 rating in 79 games for Vancouver last season. He had two goals and 10 assists in the Canucks' run to the Stanley Cup finals, but was a minus-13 while hampered with a nagging shoulder injury.
