Christian Ehrhoff to Penguins: Latest Contract Details, Analysis and Reaction

Updates from Wednesday, July 2

Christian Ehrhoff spoke to the media about his decision to sign with Pittsburgh on Wednesday (via Dave Molinari of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Josh Yohe of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and the Penguins):

Original Text

The Pittsburgh Penguins ended last season in a state of flux after bowing out of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, leading to sweeping changes in the front office and coaching staff. Now the team has made its first major signing of the offseason.     

According to TSN's Bob McKenzie, the Penguins and defenseman Christian Ehrhoff came to terms on a contract for the 2014-15 NHL season:

The Penguins later confirmed the deal on the team website.

Ehrhoff later spoke about his move to Pittsburgh (via the Penguins):

The Penguins wasted little time jumping on Ehrhoff, who was bought out of the remaining seven years and $18 million on a 10-year contract he signed with the Buffalo Sabres prior to the 2011 season on Sunday. 

Ehrhoff's salary with the Penguins is equal to what he would have been paid by the Sabres. John Vogl of The Buffalo News reported that Buffalo's general manager wanted to get rid of Ehrhoff for months, while also adding that his performance also played a role in the decision:

The 31-year-old Ehrhoff is known more for his offensive proficiency than playing defense. The Penguins were already one of the top scoring teams in the league, finishing second in the Eastern Conference with 249 goals last year.

Ehrhoff had 33 points last year but provided a career-worst minus-27 plus-minus rating. 

Pittsburgh was also solid on the defensive end with 204 goals allowed during the regular season, though the New York Rangers did expose some holes in the final three games of the Eastern Conference semifinal series with 10 goals. 

The Penguins are still very much in win-now mode. Sidney Crosby is coming off his second MVP award, and the team was one win away from the Eastern Conference Final. They need to make upgrades to keep up with power teams like Boston, Chicago and Los Angeles throughout the league.

Ehrhoff isn't a game-changing piece for a franchise, but has played at a high level in the past and still has some solid years left ahead of him. The Penguins are betting on him returning to prime form this season to push them over the hump.