Islanders, Ehrhoff Fail To Get Deal Done, Defenseman's Rights Traded To Sabres

UNIONDALE, N.Y. (WFAN/AP) -- The New York Islanders traded negotiating rights to defenseman Christian Ehrhoff to the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday, a day after acquiring the rights from the Vancouver Canucks.

New York received a fourth-round pick in 2012 from Buffalo, the same thing it traded to Vancouver.

The Islanders were compelled to make the deal after contract talks with the coveted defenseman fell apart on Wednesday afternoon. It is believed GM Garth Snow offered Ehrhoff a package more substantial than the five-year, $23 million deal he turned down from the Canucks.

Ehrhoff, set to become an unrestricted free agent Friday, had 14 goals, 36 assists and a plus-19 rating in 79 games for Vancouver last season. He had two goals and 10 assists in the Canucks' run to the Stanley Cup finals, but was a minus-13.

The 28-year-old German defenseman has 53 goals, 173 assists and 338 penalty minutes in 500 regular-season games with San Jose and Vancouver. He has seven goals and 27 assists in 73 playoff games.

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