BLACKHAWKS REUNITE WITH JOHNNY ODUYA
The Chicago Blackhawks acquired defenseman Johnny Oduya from the Dallas Stars for forward Mark McNeill and a conditional fourth-round draft pick in 2018.
What does it give the Chicago Blackhawks
The Blackhawks decided to bring back Swedish veteran rearguard Oduya for another run at the Stanley Cup. Now 35, Oduya has already won two Stanley Cup titles with Chicago (2013 and 2015), but has battled injuries and inconsistency in Dallas this season. He will likely play a depth role this time around. The Stars retained 50 per cent of Oduya's salary for the rest of 2016-17.
What does it give the Dallas Stars
It has been a very disappointing season for the Stars so, instead of buying help for a playoff push this season, Dallas is a seller. After dealing away fellow veteran defenseman Jordie Benn to Montreal recently, Stars GM Jim Nill decided to ship out Oduya in exchange for a conditional fourth rounder (which could turn into a third-round pick) and AHL forward McNeill.
Fantasy impact
There is no fantasy value here, as Oduya is strictly a defensive defenseman who will not put up a lot of points (even with Chicago). McNeill could make his way to Dallas at some point, but is expected to spend most of his time in the minors (even after the move to the Stars organization).
