Christian Ehrhoff ready for a fresh start with Blackhawks

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When the Blackhawks acquired Christian Ehrhoff for Rob Scuderi on Friday, it seemed an odd transaction.

Both defensemen had had their great moments in previous years but had struggled lately, and both had been waived and sent to the minors recently.

But the trade was about a fresh start for each player. Now with the Blackhawks, Ehrhoff hopes he can recapture his game.

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“For me it’s just another chance and hopefully a better fit for me here,” Ehrhoff said after his first Blackhawks practice on Saturday.

Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman said the trade was about giving each player the chance he wasn’t getting with his previous club.

“It's probably just a style fit. It's one of those trades that's probably best suited for both teams. Ehrhoff just wasn't a fit in Los Angeles, just like Rob didn't work out here,” Bowman said. “I think it’s a chance for both guys to have an opportunity to play in a system that probably plays totheir strengths. So we're hopeful that's going to give us some nice depth on the blue line.”

Coach Joel Quenneville agreed.

“We like our D to join and get involved in the attack and he’s got that part of his game,” Quenneville said. “He can shoot the puck and defensively we’ll see how that goes, but we think he can help us in ways. [He’ll] get a chance to get going here, maybe not tomorrow but expect him this week.”

[MORE: Trade benefits Teuvo Teravainen, Blackhawks' third and fourth lines]

Ehrhoff didn’t want to talk about why things didn’t work out in Los Angeles – “I kind of put it behind me and I’m looking forward not to get a good start here with the Blackhawks,” he said. How much Ehrhoff plays is uncertain, but he’s happy to be getting the opportunity.

“When you play the Blackhawks, [it’s] very up-tempo, a fast skating team,” he said. “That’s something hopefully I can add to.”

BRIEFLY

  • Corey Crawford will start against the Washington Capitals.

  • Marian Hossa is expected to start skating on Monday, said Quenneville, who added Hossa (lower body) could return for the Blackhawks’ game vs. Detroit on March 6.

  • Viktor Svedberg was reassigned to the Rockford IceHogs on Saturday afternoon.
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