Last summer, he was the darling of Oiler blogs everywhere, including this one. Christian Ehrhoff, the veteran puck-moving defender, was the player most bloggers wanted last off-season. As fate would have it, Ehrhoff would sign a one-year deal in Pittsburgh, but spend most of the season on the IR.
The veteran only played in 49 games with the Penguins, and never seemed to get going. He did record 14 points, but he struggled to get into the swing of things as he spent multiple periods of time off the ice. It was a tough season for the German rearguard.
Why Is He Out There:
The Penguins have some decisions to make this off-season, and Ehrhoff will be one of them. As mentioned, the pending UFA never really got going for Pittsburgh, and spent a ton of time on the injured reserve. The Penguins have a plethora of young defenders on the way, and likely won’t want to invest in another veteran who might cost them more than they’d like.
After such a tough season, Ehrhoff may just want to move on. We haven’t heard a thing about him re-signing, and at this point it’s safe to assume he hits the open market on July 1st.
What Does He Do Well:
Christian Ehrhoff is a smart hockey player, that’s the best way to describe him. He sees the ice so well and rarely makes mistakes, he’s a good player. He knows his position well, and is rarely caught out of it and always makes the quick play with the puck.
He is a great skater too, possessing great acceleration according to The Hockey News’ scouting report. Not only is he fast, but he’s also strong enough to handle big-time minutes on the ice. 20+ minutes is the norm for him, even this past season he logged slightly over 21 minutes per game.
He’s a very good offensive defender, with sublime passing ability. He’s terrific at getting the puck out of the zone and to the attacking forwards, and he can more than handle himself in the offensive zone. He has a decent shot, and is certainly capable of handling power-play time. Calling him a power-play quarterback might be a step too far, but he can certainly play on a unit.
He’s good enough defensively to play on the penalty kill, making him a versatile option for whatever team signs him. He’s not an elite defender, and isn’t a top-pairing guy by my eyes, but he’s good. Ehrhoff would certainly help the Oilers, and would slide in nicely to the team’s top-four.
Where Will He Play / Where Should He Play:
Based on merit, Ehrhoff would likely be Edmonton’s second best defender behind young Oscar Klefbom. That means he’d play on the top-pairing, but I think that’s a little too much for him. Ehrhoff is good, no doubt, but he’s likely a number three on a playoff team.
If Edmonton traded for a top-pairing defender and then signed Ehrhoff to a short-term deal, well then that’s what I call a money summer my friends. All in all, this is a high-end second pairing defender.
What Will He Cost:
Christian Ehrhoff only costs money and a contract spot, making him an attractive option. I’d say a one or two year deal gets this done, with the money coming in somewhere around $4-$4.5 million per season. It’s not breaking the bank, but it’s a decent contract for the next season or two.
If Ehrhoff can stay healthy, that deal probably ends up being a steal for whichever team signs him. Edmonton could use a few of those contracts.
Closing Arguments:
If Edmonton wants to compete next season, they’ll need to add two defenders to the stable this summer. If Edmonton can get a top-pairing option, then Ehrhoff would be a perfect fit on the second pairing in my mind. He’s a versatile veteran with slick offensive skills and a sound defensive game.
He’s proven he can handle the role, and he won’t be asking for a killer contract this summer. If Edmonton can get him signed, it would be a perfect under the radar move that could improve this unit immensely.
Keep an eye on this name come July 1st, he’s a favorite of mine and could really help this unit moving froward.
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