BUFFALO, N.Y. – Defenseman Christian Ehrhoff has a big surprise waiting for him when he wakes up at his home in Germany. Ehrhoff will learn he’s with his third team in two days after the Buffalo Sabres acquired the free agent-to-be’s rights Wednesday.
“He’s fast asleep. He doesn’t know,” Ehrhoff’s agent, Richard Curran, told The Associated Press. And that leaves Ehrhoff and the Sabres about 36 hours to negotiate a deal before the NHL’s free agency period opens Friday afternoon.
In the latest bold move made under new owner Terry Pegula, the Sabres acquired the rights to the veteran defenseman from the New York Islanders for a fourth-round pick in the 2012 draft. The move was made a day after the Islanders gave up a fourth-round pick to acquire Ehrhoff’s rights from Vancouver.
While the Islanders were unable to entice Ehrhoff with a contract, the Sabres are gambling they can get a deal done with Pegula now in control. Since purchasing the Sabres in February, the Pennsylvania billionaire has made it no secret he is intent on opening his deep pocketbook — and ready to spend to the newly established $64.3 million salary cap — to build a winner.
The Sabres announced the trade,
Read More from the Article Source: Full Article
