“Bring it a-round-round
And bring it all back again”
–moe.
Sean O’Donnell never quite looked right in a Ducks uniform. Maybe it was because he has never won a Norris Trophy. Maybe it’s because he doesn’t stomp on an opponent’s ankle while they’re lying on the ice. Or maybe it’s just because when he starts a fight, he actually throws the gloves and fights. Regardless, even though he won a Cup with Anaheim, I always thought he was an undervalued guy that does more for a team than anyone really appreciates.
Fast forward to the present tense—the Kings obtaining Oddie for basically nothing. It’s one of those trades that will fly under the radar as an acquisition of a medium level player by a bad team. But in one player, the Kings were able to address multiple needs on the blue line, as well as the team as a whole.
For months, Dean Lombardi has been talking about the desire to pick up a left-handed defenseman to round out the Kings backend pairings. As the pre-season has started, that need has become more focused as a need for a left-handed shot to go with 2nd overall pick Drew Doughty. Since the incoming player would be paired with a rookie, it was safe to assume that Lombardi was looking for a stay at home guy that could provide guidance for a young player just starting his career.
A few names have been thrown around during the off-season. Before Pavel Kubina’s no-trade clause kicked in on August 15th, he was a name that was getting thrown around. With all of their room under the cap, the Kings would be able to take on his monstrous contract. Thankfully, the Kings leadership didn’t want to part with any of the young talent that Toronto was presumably asking for in return.
The loudest rumors have been the return of Mathieu Schneider. With the Ducks approximately $2-$3 million over the cap (and still needing to sign Selanne), Anaheim needed to move the man who made $5 million per year and had slipped to their bottom pairing. Being a left-handed shot, wanting to keep his family in southern California, and the Kings desperate need for a veteran to fill out the defense corps all seemed to add up to a logical solution. When Schneider was put on waivers late in September, it became clear that a deal wasn’t as easy as it seemed. A few days after clearing waivers, Schneider was traded to the Atlanta Thrashers.
Other names being thrown around were Adrian Aucoin of the Flames, Kyle McLaren of the Sharks, and Bret Hedican who’d like to play in California. For one reason or another, none of the players fit the roll that management envisioned for the open spot. As the offseason passed and training camp opened, a lot of fans became increasingly uneasy with the D Unit that Los Angeles was going to put on the ice each night. Apparently, GM Lombardi is general manager for a reason.
None of the players that had been rumored or suggested fits the part as perfectly as Sean O’Donnell. He’s a stay at home guy that won’t take chances and get beat on the rush. With all of the young defensemen that look to make the Kings opening night roster, Los Angeles didn’t need to find someone spectacular. They needed to find someone RELIABLE. No one will ever mistake Oddie for Bobby Orr; but he’s the right kind of player in the right situation at the right time.
More important than the effect he will have on the ice will be the leadership he’ll be able to bring into the locker room. He’ll be able to pick up the slack as his defensive partner gets beat—but he’ll be able to help his teammates learn from their mistakes on the bench as well. This is a man that has been around the NHL for a while, who has been on good teams and bad, and has won a Stanley Cup. As he’s able to share his experiences in the league, players like Jack Johnson, Drew Doughty, Matt Greene and Thomas Hickey can only benefit from the situation. During his first stint with the Kings earlier in the decade, he was known as a stand-up guy that always put the team ahead of his personal desires. THAT is the reason that he’s the perfect fit.
I, for one, am glad to see O’Donnell back in a Kings uniform. I like him way too much to see him in an Anaheim sweater.
(Picture can be found at Google Images)
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