Updated

VANCOUVER - Christian Ehrhoff's days as a Vancouver Canuck are done.

The Canucks announced Tuesday that the rights to the defenceman have been traded to the New York Islanders in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick in 2012.

Ehrhoff becomes an unrestricted free agent on Saturday, the start of the free-agency period. The Islanders will have exclusive negotiation rights with the German veteran until then.

The move comes hours after the Canucks signed top defenceman Kevin Bieksa to a US$23-million, five-year contract extension.