Johnny Oduya is on his way to Chicago after the trade today.
Johnny Oduya is on his way to Chicago after the trade today. REUTERS

The Chicago Blackhawks attempted to address their miserable defensive zone play as they struggle for a playoff spot in the tough Western Conference by trading a second and a third round pick in 2013 to Winnipeg for veteran defenseman Johnny Oduya.

The Blackhawks sit in sixth place in the Western Conference right now with 73 points, five clear of ninth place Los Angeles despite surrendering 189 goals; more than any other team in the West except last place Columbus.

Oduya is a solid defender with a career rating of plus 27. It remains to be seen what kind of effect Oduya will be able to have on Chicago's propensity to give up a ton of goals, as he is just one player and the Blackhawks field a questionable tandem of Ray Emery and Corey Crawford in net.

But at the very least, his arrival should keep players like the moribund Sean O'Donnell from seeing much more ice time in Chicago.

For Oduya, this is the second time he has been traded in his NHL career, he was also sent to Atlanta in 2010 as part of the blockbuster deal that brought Ilya Kovalchuk to New Jersey.

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