6th year center Eric O’Dell(19) will take his game over to Russia’s KHL joining HK Sochi for 2016/2017 after putting together a career 2nd 25 goal and 48 point campaign with Binghamton Senators and Rochester Americans.
He posted AHL scoring bests in 2012/2013 with St. John’s IceCaps, the final campaign of his entry level deal.
This performance would ensure he received a qualifying offer and 1-year extension to stay in Winnipeg Jets‘ organization.
He would make his NHL debut in the following season, splitting time between the two leagues scoring 3 goals and 4 assists in 30 games with the parent club, while raising his status to a point-per-game skater with the farm squad.
That would basically be it for him within the team’s system as he appeared in only 11 games through 2014/2015, spending most of his playing time in the minors.
As an unrestricted free agent, he next signed a one-year two-way contract with Ottawa Senators before being dished to Buffalo Sabres to finish the season.
The 26-year old should do well overseas but it may take him a year to get situated and possibly excel better in another country.
Eric O’Dell(14) St. John’s IceCaps
St. John’s IceCaps‘ 2nd year center Eric O’Dell(14) is in the final season of his 3-year entry level deal he signed with parent club, Winnipeg Jets (technically Atlanta Thrashers, who picked him up in a trade at the end of 2010/2011, their curtain closer).
In 13 appearances this season he’s notched 4 goals and 4 assists but like last season he has also found himself on the wrong side of being a healthy scratch on too many occasions. Admittedly though, they did have an uncanny amount of depth on that 2011/2012 squad, which is probably why they went to the Conference Finals.
The one-time Anaheim Ducks‘ 2nd round pick in the 2008 draft (#39 overall) managed only 39 games but struck for 12 goals, which was 9th in scoring, and added 10 assists while skating a +6 game.
It’s a bit of a wonder why the 6’ 195 lbs. forward isn’t in the lineup on a regular basis. It will be interesting to see what the Jets have in mind after this season when he hits restricted free agent status.