Report: Blackhawks GM would like to bring back Oduya, working through 'financial hurdles'
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Even the Stanley Cup champions have problems.
One lingering issue that's front and center with the Chicago Blackhawks is that their lack of cap space - currently listed as $381,540, according to General Fanager - is preventing them from making certain moves.
One of those moves is re-signing unrestricted free agent defenseman Johnny Oduya, who general manager Stan Bowman wants back, but doesn't have the cap flexibility to sign him.
Bowman (on @NHLNetwork) on Oduya: "We would like to try to bring him back; we have financial hurdles we’re working through." #Blackhawks
— Tracey Myers (@TramyersCSN) July 3, 2015
Oduya earned $2.825 million last season with a cap hit of $3.375 million, so Bowman may have to pull a rabbit out of a hat to free up the necessary dollars to bring back the veteran, who is waiting for Chicago to clear the necessary space.
Defenseman Johnny Oduya has been waiting for #Blackhawks to clear cap space. We'll see if that continues.
— Chris Kuc (@ChrisKuc) July 3, 2015
Oduya, 33, was an integral part of Chicago's blue-line corps last season, logging big minutes in the postseason when the Blackhawks shortened their defensive rotation.
He earned 10 points in 76 regular-season games and added another five in 23 postseason contests.