The official Devils website has this short message up: Johnny Oduya has re-signed with the Devils!
The only details is that it's for a multi-year contract, salary has not been announced yet. Gulitti reports that the salary should be between $3-3.5 million. He also has this quote from Lou:
"We are delighted to have Johnny Oduya stay with the organization," Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello said in a statement. "He has developed into one of the more talented young defensemen in the National Hockey League."
True. Speaking of Lou, Gulitti asked him about team needs earlier this morning and the response was pure-Lou:
Will the Devils be looking to fill any specific needs through free agency?
"If we can get better, we'll get better," Lamoriello said.
Will the Devils be looking to add a center and/or a defenseman?
"If we can get better, we're going to get better," Lamoriello repeated.
Classic Lou.
I will update this when his salary becomes known later on. Offer your thoughts on Lou's terseness and how happy/unhappy you are with the re-signing of Oduya. Personally, I'm very happy by this move for the reasons I said last night when Chere first reported that the re-signing of Oduya was nearly done.
MONEY UPDATE: Gulitti has the contract information. It's a three year deal with a $3.5 million cap hit:
It is a three-year contract for a total of $10.5 million. Oduya will make $3 million in 2009-10, $3.5 million in 2010-11 and $4 million in 2011-12. That's an average -- and annual cap hit -- of $3.5 million.
I think the money is fair for both sides. It shouldn't hamstring the Devils on their cap, and should Oduya improve as I think, he can stand to demand much more when he's 30.
