Report: Oduya expected to make decision on Blackhawks return next week

Johnny Oduya has been playing the waiting game long enough and he'll soon make a decision on his home for next season.

The veteran defenseman, who has won two Stanley Cups with the Chicago Blackhawks, will reportedly decide next week whether or not he'll return to the Windy City, says the Chicago Sun-Times Mark Lazerus.

Oduya, 33, is one of the top remaining unrestricted free agents available on the open market and could draw interest from a number of teams who may be looking to add a veteran blue-liner with Cup experience.

Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman is interested in bringing back the defenseman, but salary cap restraints seem to be halting a decision from being made.

Bowman also has to work out deals with restricted free agents Marcus Kruger, Viktor Svedberg, and Joakim Nordstrom, which factors into the potential of signing Oduya, who scored 10 points in 76 contests last season, while averaging more than 20 minutes of ice time a game.