Islanders Acquire Rights To D Ehrhoff, Send 4th Round Pick To Canucks

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) -- The Vancouver Canucks are sending the rights to defenseman Christian Ehrhoff to the New York Islanders.

The deal, completed on Tuesday, gives the Islanders exclusive negotiating rights with Ehrhoff, who could become an unrestricted free agent on Friday. New York traded a fourth-round pick in next year's draft to Vancouver.

Ehrhoff had 14 goals, 36 assists and a plus-19 rating in 79 games with Vancouver. He added two goals and 10 assists during the Canucks' run to the Stanley Cup finals, but was a minus-13 in the postseason.

The Canucks made the move shortly after announcing a new deal to keep defenseman Kevin Bieksa, agreeing to terms on a five-year contract worth $23 million.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)