Dorion: Oduya turned down more money for chance to win with Senators
Despite having a richer deal on the table, Johnny Oduya was willing to take less money to sign with the Ottawa Senators.
The veteran defenseman, who split last season between the Dallas Stars and Chicago Blackhawks, signed a one-year, bonus-laden deal with Senators on Monday that will see him earn a base salary of $1 million.
The 35-year-old, who tallied nine points in 52 games last season, could take home an additional $1.25 million should he meet certain ice-time and games-played requirements, and if the Senators qualify for the postseason.
But it wasn't about the money for Oduya. Rather, it was the opportunity to win, something the two-time Stanley Cup champion is acutely familiar with.
"He wanted to go to a team that had a chance to win," Senators general manager Pierre Dorion told TSN 1200 on Monday. "I know for a fact that a team offered him more money and he chose to go to (the Senators) just for the reason that he felt it was a better fit and they have a better chance to win."
The Senators proved to be tough competition in last year's playoffs, as they advanced to the conference finals, but came up one goal short against the eventual Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins.
The hope is that Oduya can help build on last year's squad, much of which will return in 2017-18, minus top-pairing defenseman Marc Methot who was lost in the expansion draft. Methot played alongside Senators captain Erik Karlsson last season, a duty that could shift to Oduya in the coming campaign.
Dorion noted that Oduya's experience allows him to fit anywhere on the blue line, but in any event, was happy to get him signed as the two sides had been in contract talks since July 2, just after free agency opened.
"This was the one defenseman that we were really on from the start," Dorion added. "Just what we're looking for, for the right fit for our team."