Johnny Oduya

Mar 25, 2008 | By Ben Chaisson | Players Articles Archive

Johnny Oduya (born October 1, 1981 in Stockholm, Sweden) is a Swedish professional ice hockey defenseman with the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League. Oduya is primarily a gritty and aggressive defenceman, although he has shown some offensive skills. He is the younger brother of former NHL draftee Fredrik Oduya. [edit] Playing career Oduya's first club was Hammarby IF, where he played as a junior. In 2000, at the age of 19, he moved to North America to play in the junior leagues. He spent one season in North America, splitting time between Victoriaville Tigres and Moncton Wildcats. After moving back to Sweden, he signed a contract with Djurgårdens IF in the Swedish Elitserien. During the two seasons he spent in the team, he was known as an aggressive defenceman and tough guy. At times he fought with opposition players, as well as getting loads of penalties. However, he was also a very dependable player, and he played regularly in the Swedish national team during Euro Hockey Tour. 2005-06, after he had been dismissed by the NHL-team Washington Capitals, he moved to another Swedish team; Frölunda HC. In Frölunda, he played as a more offensive defenceman, scoring eight goals and eleven assists. The following season Oduya signed with the New Jersey Devils in the NHL. Many expected him to be a minor league player, who maybe would get occasional ice-time in the Devils. When several of the Devils' defenders were injured, Oduya got a spot in the lineup. He played surprisingly well in the NHL, sometimes playing around twenty minutes a game, and played in virtually every Devils game that season except for a few that he missed because of a mid-season injury. However, in the playoffs he wasn't even at the bench when the Devils were defeated in the second round. His benching came mostly from the great play of Andy Greene, who got called up toward the end of the season. He became a good offensive defenseman, and took Oduya out of the lineup after Colin White's injury healed. On February 9, 2008 while playing for the Devils in a game against the Carolina Hurricanes, Oduya scored a rare coast-to-coast goal. He picked up a loose puck behind the goal line in the defensive zone and skated up ice through the Hurricanes' defense, made a move to the left of goalie Cam Ward, and scored.

Johnny Oduya

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