[A] Player Evaluation: Johnny Oduya

[Shantz My Pants]

Writing about Johnny Oduya is a tad more difficult than writing about skaters such as Patrick Kane or Brent Seabrook. One reason being I’ve been able to watch Kane and Seabrook play over 400+ hockey games compared to Oduya’s 24 last season. Another reason is I can’t remember a single shift he played and that isn’t a bad thing. It actually sums up Oduya in the sense that he does everything well, just nothing spectacular.



I’ll admit it. I wasn’t happy to see Bowman waste a 2[sup]nd[/sup] round pick on a defenseman who would more than likely not be around after July 1[sup]st[/sup]. I also wasn’t happy to see Oduya signed to a 3 year deal worth 3.3 million dollars. But after watching how the league was tossing more money at defensemen who are about the same skill wise, if not less, I don’t feel as bad. I would feel even better if Hjalmarsson was gone or season tickets would be cheaper, but I guess you can’t always get what you want. Compared to other players of equal skill level, this is pretty much a steal (Jason Garrison is at 4.6 million, Ron Hainsey is at 4.5 million, Fedor Tyutin is at 4.5 million a season as well).



Now, where in the Hawks lineup does Oduya fit? Well, you currently have Seabs and Keith as your first pairing defenseman, but after that it’s really anyone’s guess. Oduya in my opinion fits nicely with a player such as Nick Leddy on your 2[sup]nd[/sup] pairing. Oduya’s game again is not flashy and he is someone you don’t have to worry about being a defensive liability. He plays a solid North American style of play and can take away some minutes from Seabs and Keith on the penalty kill. He essentially your middle or bottom pairing defensemen that plays a bland style that you are okay with. (Can’t be any worse than O’Donnell am I right…anybody?)



Statistically Oduya isn’t going to blow you away as he isn’t that type of player. Honestly, he’s pretty much a replica of Hjalmarsson, except in my opinion, he has a bit more hockey sense and is more physical. For a team that is lacking in the physical department on the back end, every bit helps. I wouldn’t say he’s a huge hitter, but he’s willing to try and separate his man from the puck.



Again, this was a tough one to write as there isn’t much in his game to really rave or bash which I’m okay with as we need more dependable players on the backend.



PREDICTION: 82 GAMES | 4 GOALS | 21 ASSISTS | 25 POINTS | PLUS-8



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[LordKOTL]

The type of D-man Oduya is is my issue with how he fits in the lineup--as well as his handedness.



Last year, we had all of 2 righties on the blueline: Seabs and Monty--and with Monty down for a good portion of the year, we only had one usuable righty. Going into the next season (whenever it may be), We should have 3 righties: Brookbank, Seabs, and Monty if healthy. The bad news is down the depth chart, the next righty is Lalonde.



I think handedness had an impact last season. With 2 lefties on a pairing, one was on their off-side to the detriment of the pairing's play. Case in point: The Hammer/Seabs paiting wasn't bad at all, but the Keith/Leddy one was atrocious.



How does this all point back to Oduya? Simple: discounting Olsen (who I believe is 2-way and can be Rockforded), we have the 3 aforementioned NHL-level righties and 4 lefties (Keith, Hammer, Leddy, and Oduya). Unless Q and Stan are trying to replicate our defensive problems last season, I think all three of Seabs, Monty, and Brookbank will be iced, meaning one of Keith, Hammer, Leddy, or Oduya will be sat or moved.



IMHO, the biggest issue our team D has was play in the backend--and +/- can indicate how good someone was in the backend. Oduya and Leddy are the weak links. Everyone else was a + last year. Thus, IMHO the ideal situation going into this coming season would have been Keith/Seabs, Hammer/Monty, and Leddy/Brookbank. Unfortunately signing Oduya pretty much means he's taking one of Leddy or Hammer's slots. While arguable we'd be stronger in defense with Leddy being sat, I think it wouldn't do him or the team any good to give up on him now, and Brookbank's game is similar to Hammer's--plus Brookbank hits to boot. Even though IMHO we could use both Hammer and Brookbank, chances are it's Hammer that is sat/moved.

 

[jakobeast]

The type of D-man Oduya is is my issue with how he fits in the lineup--as well as his handedness.



Last year, we had all of 2 righties on the blueline: Seabs and Monty--and with Monty down for a good portion of the year, we only had one usuable righty. Going into the next season (whenever it may be), We should have 3 righties: Brookbank, Seabs, and Monty if healthy. The bad news is down the depth chart, the next righty is Lalonde.



I think handedness had an impact last season. With 2 lefties on a pairing, one was on their off-side to the detriment of the pairing's play. Case in point: The Hammer/Seabs paiting wasn't bad at all, but the Keith/Leddy one was atrocious.



How does this all point back to Oduya? Simple: discounting Olsen (who I believe is 2-way and can be Rockforded), we have the 3 aforementioned NHL-level righties and 4 lefties (Keith, Hammer, Leddy, and Oduya). Unless Q and Stan are trying to replicate our defensive problems last season, I think all three of Seabs, Monty, and Brookbank will be iced, meaning one of Keith, Hammer, Leddy, or Oduya will be sat or moved.



IMHO, the biggest issue our team D has was play in the backend--and +/- can indicate how good someone was in the backend. Oduya and Leddy are the weak links. Everyone else was a + last year. Thus, IMHO the ideal situation going into this coming season would have been Keith/Seabs, Hammer/Monty, and Leddy/Brookbank. Unfortunately signing Oduya pretty much means he's taking one of Leddy or Hammer's slots. While arguable we'd be stronger in defense with Leddy being sat, I think it wouldn't do him or the team any good to give up on him now, and Brookbank's game is similar to Hammer's--plus Brookbank hits to boot. Even though IMHO we could use both Hammer and Brookbank, chances are it's Hammer that is sat/moved.

If I was a betting man, my money would be on Monty not coming back.,

 

[Shantz My Pants]

I don't see Leddy being sat. He moves the puck well and his defensive play isn't bad, just raw. Don't forget, he played Minnesota HS hockey, than one season in NCAA before going straight to the NHL (some time in AHL). Last season was his first full season of NHL play. He also had more points than Hammer and Oduya combined.



I take Oduya over hammer as Oduya is more physical imo, not much more but more.



Also, who knows where Montador is health wise right now? He might start the season on the IR.

 

[LordKOTL]

That's the thing...I don't see him being moved either, as raw as he was. I also thing that Hammer somehow being a plus (in spite of being pared with Leddy) has to factor into all of this.



I think Oduya was just signed on as insurance in case Monty doesn't come back. If he does come back we do have an extra d-man to move.

 

[Shantz My Pants]

That's the thing...I don't see him being moved either, as raw as he was. I also thing that Hammer somehow being a plus (in spite of being pared with Leddy) has to factor into all of this.



I think Oduya was just signed on as insurance in case Monty doesn't come back. If he does come back we do have an extra d-man to move.

3.375 million dollar cap hit is kind of high for a #7 defenseman. I get what you are saying, I just don't think they plan on using him as their #7.

 

[the canadian dream]

I agree with Lord regarding shot hands playing an important roll.



I also agree with Jako regarding concerns with Montadores longevity which hampers the overall right shots on this team also. Olsen also showed some promis last season (hes slow though) and there again is another lefty. Won't be room for Olsen which is too bad because he does show promis.



Oduya is a tricky one. I saw more positives than I did negatives in his short time here last season. I think at the time of the trade it was a nice move by Bowman as Oduya def helped a struggling unhealthy blueline. THe second round pick was and still is a concern but Bowman can get that back. Playoffs he was lousy but he can't be singled out..not even close.



I don't mind Hammer still being around while Oduya even though they are similar players (I believe Oduya does have a better offensive side though). Rather have a righty than Hammer but depth doesn't hurt either.



Good write up Trev.

 

[LordKOTL]

Oh, I agree..I don't think they'd be spening Oduya, Hammer, or even Monty money to rot in the pressbox or Rockford what with Olesz and Possibly Frolik as well. I also think given what Brookbank brings to the table (on paper), he will likley be our 5/6 and not be pressboxed.



I just think that if there's a season, whether it starts on time or not, if/when Monty is ready to go one of Leddy, Oduya, or Hammer will prove expendible which could mean another 3+mil we're swallowing.



Or, just hope Lalonde made some massive strides in the offseason.