The Chicago Blackhawks are looking to bring back free agent Johnny Oduya and this comes as the team has signed Trevor van Riemsdyk to a contract extension and after the team previously shopped Patrick Sharp in trades at the NHL draft and after the team had to make a tough salary cap move by trading Brandon Saad over signing him to a contract.
The Blackhawks announced the news about the signing of van Riemsdyk on Tuesday, agreeing to a two-year contract extension with the defenseman. According to Pro Hockey Talk, the extension is worth $1.65 million and it comes after he played in 18 games last season for the team after dealing with injuries. The 23-year-old signed with Chicago out of college as an undrafted free agent and he has potential for the team moving forward.
UPDATE: Patrick Sharp has been traded to the Dallas Stars. Read more here. From the Stars: "Stars acquire Patrick Sharp and Steven Johns from Blackhawks in exchange for Ryan Garbutt and Trevor Daley."
According to the Chicago Tribune, the Blackhawks shopped forward Patrick Sharp at the NHL draft and the team could consider trading him this summer. The team reportedly has put a "high price" on sharp in trades, but the Blackhawks likely want to continue making some cap space and his two year deal could fit. Sharp is a $6 million cap hit for the Blackhawks this season and he comes in after scoring 16 goals in 68 games this season.
The Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup over the Tampa Bay Lightning and to help keep the team together, the front office opted to trade Saad over signing him as a restricted free agent. The team was not able to come to an agreement with and now he is with the Blue Jackets. Columbus sent over Artem Anisimov to the Blackhawks and Chicago later signed him to a contract extension. Anisimov reportedly is signing a five-year, $22.75 million contract extension after the trade and that is over $10 million less than what Saad signed for.
ESPN Chicago reported at the start of free agency that Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman said that the team wants to "bring back" Johnny Oduya this summer. The team feels van Riemsdyk adds depth on defense and with the team still not having signed back Oduya, it gives the Blackhawks some insurance at the position. Oduya reportedly is "weighing" his options and ESPN reports that Oduya is considering "returning" to the Blackhawks. Oduya previously was on a three-year, $10.125 million contract extension.
The cap hit for van Riemsdyk on his extension will be $825,000 and his cap hit this year is at $925,000, according to Scott Powers at ESPN Chicago. The team did not have van Riemsdyk for the majority of the season and he played in the last four games of the Stanley Cup after coming back from leg and wrist injuries. The extension goes through the 2017-18 season and gives the Blackhawks a talented player at an inexpensive price on the cap. The Blackhawks won their third Cup in a stretch of seasons and they are a current dynasty team in the NHL.
Check here for more on the Blackhawks moves and the extension with van Riemsdyk.
