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Johnny Oduya Signs Two-Year Deal With Dallas

By Patrick Helper

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It’s done; Johnny Oduya is off the market and will be a member of the Dallas Stars for the next two seasons. Dallas is holding a mini reunion of sorts. Johnny Oduya will join Patrick Sharp in Dallas in what can only be an attempt to catch lightning in a bottle. The Stars are searching for a break, with a new look roster heading into next season the playoffs are becoming a real possibility. The terms of this deal were not disclosed as the Stars standard operation procedures do not allow for that.

With the addition of Johnny Oduya Dallas now has a strong veteran on their blueline; Johnny Oduya will bring a sense of calm to the Stars locker room. Over his nine-year NHL career Oduya has been a part of two Stanley Cup Champion teams, and has 152 regular season points. Oduya will be as much a teacher as he will be a player. This signing is as much about the now as it is about the next four to five years. Adding a player with this kind of experience is almost priceless. Top defensemen do not often hit the market.

Stars GM Jim Nill is slowly building a stable team with some very nice players that complement each other. Johnny Oduya is a strong defense first defenseman; something that in today’s skate and move the

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puck NHL is very hard to find. At 33 years old Oduya still has legs and will bring a clam stable game into Dallas, but still has the talent to join the rush and create some space for his forwards.

"I think it’s a very, very fast team, a team that wants to play hockey, a similar style I think as Chicago; wants to have the puck, create things,” Oduya said. “I think the speed is the thing that stands out the most. It’s a new challenge, a new chapter. It’s going to be a lot of fun for me. I think I’m pretty comfortable with the role that I play and the things I can bring. It’s not really going to change a whole lot for me, and that’s something that I like. NHL"

One knock on this move is it seems to be the safe play on Johnny Oduya’s part. Joining the Stars will allow him to play the same game he did in Chicago. There were reports that Oduya turned down a three-years deal with the Sabres, but let’s face it Buffalo’s name will be brought up in just about every rumor. Sometime playing it safe is the smart move, but when the dust settles it may not be the right move.

One thing is for sure Lindy Ruff has no excuses left.

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