After less than two seasons with the Dallas Stars, defenseman Johnny Oduya is headed back to Chicago in hopes to win another Stanley Cup.
The Chicago Blackhawks traded for Oduya on Tuesday in hopes to add some strong depth to their defensive corps for another postseason run. In return, the Dallas Stars will receive minor league forward Mark McNeill as well as a conditional fourth round pick in the 2018 draft.
The Stars certainly weren’t hoping to be sellers at this season’s trade deadline. With high profile players such as Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn on the roster, the goal was to make a serious run in the postseason. Unfortunately goaltending issues combined with other team problems have caused Dallas GM Jim Nill to sell off players at the deadline.
“Well, Johnny’s an [unrestricted free agent], and with the situation of our team I think it’s important for us to get the most assets we can,” Nill said. “Johnny’s been a great warrior for us the year and a half he’s been here. It gives him an opportunity to go to Chicago. They’re in the playoffs, and for us, it gave us some assets for down the road.”
Oduya joins a few other players who have already been traded recently including Patrick Eaves (to Anaheim) and Jordie Benn (to Montreal). The Stars organization will also look to deal Patrick Sharp at the deadline.
For Oduya, the situation couldn’t possibly have been set up any better. He rejoins a team with which he won a Stanley Cup in both 2013 and 2015, and who also has a very strong team again this season. The Blackhawks core of Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Artemi Panerin, and Duncan Keith among others, make the team a difficult one to match up against.