Sports

Pens Off To Busy Start In Free Agency

July 1, 2014 / 12:16 PM EDT / CBS Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – The free agency period is open in the NHL and the Pittsburgh Penguins are continuing to reshape their roster.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have reportedly signed defenseman Christian Ehrhoff to a one-year deal worth $4 million.

The 6-foot-2-inch veteran defenseman has spent the last three years in Buffalo. The Sabres used a compliance buyout on him last week.

Last year, Ehrhoff had six goals and 27 assists. He has played 692 career games and registered 69 goals and 244 assists.

Ehrhoff will likely help fill the void on defense left by Matt Niskanen, Brooks Orpik and Deryk Engelland, who are all expected to find work with other teams this summer.

Penguins analyst Bob Errey joined 93-7 The Fan shortly after the signing to talk about what Ehrhoff will bring to the team.

"He is a guy that can do exactly what Niskanen can, " Errey said. "He is a guy that can play in your top four defense nut, can fill another bill if need be."

Errey said that this would have been one of the first guys out that they he would have targeted.

"He might have looked bad in Buffalo where everybody looked bad," Errey said. "I think he will be terrific in a Penguins' uniform."

Errey also wondered if this signing could mean that Paul Martin could be dangled as trade bait.

Listen to the interview here:

Listen to Bob Errey

12:44 p.m. UPDATE: Jussi Jokinen has elected to move on from the Penguins as well.

According to Pierre LeBrun, Jokinen signed a four-year deal worth a total of $16 million with the Florida Panthers.

The Penguins now have a slot to fill alongside Evgeni Malkin on the second line.

12:59 p.m. UPDATE: Joe Vitale has signed a three-year deal with the Arizona Coyotes. Financial terms of the deal have not been released at this time.

1:11 p.m. UPDATE: According to TSN's Bob McKenzie, the Penguins have also signed forward Blake Comeau and goaltender Thomas Greiss to one-year deals.

Comeau is listed at 6-feet, 195 pounds and figures to help fill out the bottom six forwards. He had five goals and 11 assists in 61 games with the Columbus Blue Jackets last season.

The deal is worth $700,000.

Greiss was 10-8-5 with a 2.29 GAA and a ,920 save percentage with the Coyotes last year. His deal is worth $1 million.

The Penguins now have three goaltenders under contract (Marc-Andre Fleury, Jeff Zatkoff, Greiss).

1:29 p.m. UPDATE: Brooks Orpik has flipped sides in the Penguins-Capitals rivalry.

According to James Mirtle, Orpik signed a five-year, $27.5 million deal with the Washington Capitals.

1:51 p.m. UPDATE: Chalk up another player on the "players leaving Pittsburgh board.

TSN's Bob McKenzie reports Tanner Glass signed a three-year deal with an annual salary cap hit of $1.45 million.

The Penguins also resigned Nick Drazenovic.

4:57 p.m. UPDATE - The Washington Capitals have signed defenseman Matt Niskanen.

According to Elliotte Friedman, the Caps signed Niskanen to a seven-year deal worth $40.25 million.

5:57 p.m. UPDATE: The Penguins have announced that they re-signed center Marcel Goc to a one-year deal worth $1.2 million.

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