NHL Rumors: Breaking Down Buzz on Christian Ehrhoff

Yes, the top available free agents have been signed and the big names have been traded. But despite that fact, there are a surprising number of enticing players still available on the market. 

Players like Cody Franson and Alexander Semin are still on the market, and they could remain unsigned given that teams seem hesitant to pay up for their services, while the players seem hesitant to take less than what they perceive to be their market value. 

But one player receiving plenty of buzz at the moment is blueliner Christian Ehrhoff, with the Columbus Blue Jackets a candidate to sign him.

"Sources have told the Dispatch that the Blue Jackets and free-agent defenseman Christian Ehrhoff have had discussions, and that a deal could come together if Ehrhoff sits on the market long enough for his price to come down," Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch reported.

Per Portzline's report, the Blue Jackets are one of the teams Ehrhoff would like to sign with, though money appears to be an issue in getting the deal done, as Columbus doesn't have much room under the salary cap. Portzline also noted that Ehrhoff wouldn't be back with the Pittsburgh Penguins, though his agent has noted he would accept another one-year deal like the one he signed with the Pens a year ago. 

"[Ehrhoff] doesn’t mind having the flexibility of a single-year commitment," his agent, Rick Curran, told Pro Hockey Talk in an email, per Jason Brough of Pro Hockey Talk. "He’s confident in his ability to provide a valued role to the right team. If there’s a mutual fit, an extension will likely follow.”

Ehrhoff, 33, appeared in 49 games for the Penguins this season, scoring three goals, adding 11 assists and going plus-eight on the season in 21 minutes and 46 seconds of ice time per contest. Injuries limited him in the 2014-15 campaign, but he's a veteran defenseman who can still help a contender. 

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

As Adam Gretz of CBS Sports noted, he "still has a booming slap shot" and is a "defenseman who can play top-four minutes and probably should have been picked up by now" while noting that he's "a mobile presence to the blue line with the ability to chip in some offense and help keep the play moving in the right direction."

That certainly sounds like the scouting report of a player who should be off the market by now.

But, as Gretz noted, Ehrhoff also ideally wants to play for a contender, and it's pretty clear at this point that he doesn't want to do so for cheap. 

So for the time being, he remains unsigned, with the Blue Jackets looking like his most serious suitor if they can either clear some cap space or if Ehrhoff shaves his contract demands a bit. If one or the other doesn't happen, it could be a long summer for the veteran defenseman. 

Of course, seeing how NHL free agency has developed to this point, it could be a long summer for quite a few intriguing players still on the market.