Report: UFA turned down big money for a shot at the Cup

Sometimes it’s nice to hear that it’s not all about the money.

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 6 years ago
Report: UFA turned down big money for a shot at the Cup
Keystone Press

Two-time Stanley Cup champion Johnny Oduya just can’t get enough of winning. And according to Ottawa Senators general manager Pierre Dorion, that’s exactly why the 35-year-old defenseman signed a one year, $1 million contract with the Sens despite having a larger offer on the table.

"He wanted to go to a team that had a chance to win," Dorion said on TSN 1200 radio earlier this week. "I know for a fact that a team offered him more money and he chose to go to (the Sens) just for the reason that he felt it was a better fit and they have a better chance to win."

The question is, are the Sens really in “win now” mode or was last year’s run to the Eastern Conference Final an aberration? Both the player and the team are pinning their hopes to the latter. One thing is clear, Dorion had his eyes set on Oduya, possibly as a replacement for the departed Marc Methot, since the opening of free-agency:

"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."

Source: TSN 1200