Veteran defenseman Johnny Oduya has signed with the Ottawa Senators for one-year worth $1 million plus bonuses. The bonuses can be worth up to an additional $1.25 million. Oduya has been a member of multiple National Hockey League teams in his career and this is another one to add to the list.
Johnny Oduya signed a one year contract with Ottawa. $1M base salary + bonuses.
— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) July 24, 2017
Johnny Oduya Signs with the Ottawa Senators
Oduya was drafted 221st overall by the Washington Capitals in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. He would immediately go back to the his native Sweden to play and mature. Oduya did not get a chance to skate at the NHL level until the 2006-07 season, but with the New Jersey Devils, whom he was traded to, he got his shot.
He spent four seasons with the Devils before going to the Atlanta Thrashers. He stuck with the Thrashers through their move and team change to Winnipeg. In 2011 he was traded to Chicago where he stayed until the conclusion of 2015. With Chicago, Oduya found himself in a solid lineup position and was a part of a two time Stanley Cup winning team. He was then traded to the Dallas Stars, where he stayed for two seasons before finding himself in a Blackhawks uniform again.
Oduya has skated in a total of 798 games, scoring 37 times and adding 145 assists. In 106 Stanley Cup Playoff games, Oduya has scored six times and has tallied 22 assists. He is an experienced, veteran defenceman who is up to any challenge. He has a great amount of postseason experience. At 35 years old, Oduya still has some gas left in the tank, and can be counted on to fill a bottom pairing defensive position while providing younger players in the locker room with veteran guidance.
The Senators have been looking for a veteran defender since losing Marc Methot in the expansion draft.
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