From 1952 to 1958, he slowly sharpened his trade in the service of such minor-league clubs as the Edmonton Flyers, the St. Louis Flyers, the Sherbrooke Saints, the Quebec Aces, the Vancouver Canucks, the Springfield Indians, and the Hershey Bears.

Between minor-league stops, Ehman picked up a few games with the Boston Bruins and the Detroit Red Wings with little indication that the sturdy winger was anything more than a spot player. Once an injured forward got back onto his skates, Ehman was bound for his familiar place in the minors.

But in 1958, Leafs' GM Punch Imlach acquired him and tossed him onto a line with Billy Harris and Frank Mahovlich. The trio clicked, giving Ehman his first steady taste of life at the top. During the playoffs of that year, he astounded everyone, including himself, by potting 13 points in 12 post-season games.

The following year, he put in another sound effort, but was shut out during the playoffs. Soon after the start of the 1960-61 campaign, he was sent down to the Rochester Americans of the AHL where he remained until the tail end of the 1963-64 season. Imlach brought him back up for the playoffs, a move that got Ehman's name etched on the Stanley Cup.

After the championship parade, however, he was returned to Rochester where he toiled until the NHL expanded in 1967. The fledgling Oakland Seals secured his rights with the hope that his veteran leadership would help stabilize their new and disparate lineup. And Ehman did just that. Known as "Dad" because of his senior years, he skated on a line with Ernie Hicke and Tommy Williams. The trio performed well with Ehman putting up four-straight seasons of solid numbers in a losing cause.

By the end of the 1970-71 campaign, however, the old winger had run his course. He retired to pursue a lengthy career as a scout for various NHL teams.