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Doohickie

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  11. Hodgson or Nolan: Who is more likely gone at the end of the season?

    in The Aud Club

    Posted

    It's hard to imagine a player tanking and given his history

     

    If I recall, a lot of it came from his dad (helicopter parent much?)  Maybe Cody is starting to think for himself.  And maybe he's not tanking "on purpose" but simply working on his defensive game per GMTM's instructions to make him a more versatile player, and simply not worrying about the scoring too much because Murray told him that his biggest assignment this year is to become a true two-way player - that with the talent that's coming it gives him the best shot at a long term NHL career.  If he realized his dad's bluster can't protect him he may be listening to career advice from the Sabres organization.

  12. Hodgson or Nolan: Who is more likely gone at the end of the season?

    in The Aud Club

    Posted

    Oh, it's a stretch.  It's one scenario and I don't blame anyone for not agreeing with my crackpot theories.  If I hadn't voiced it I probably wouldn't believe it from someone else.  That's the beauty of kibitzing on a message forum; there's nothing riding on whether I'm right or wrong.  But think about it if he does get top-6 time next season and improves on his numbers from last season.

  13. Hodgson or Nolan: Who is more likely gone at the end of the season?

    in The Aud Club

    Posted · Edited by Neuvichs Perchatka

    This is a plausible scenario.  We are going to play you with defensive players to develop that portion of your game.

     

    I'd say his two-way game is quite a bit better than when we first got him.  And like i said, he may get the unspoken message and hasn't really been trying to pad the stats, so to speak.  It's just like someone else suggested that Nolan's marching orders were directed more toward changing the culture of the team than winning games.

    Wow. So Hodgson is sucking on purpose now just so we can get a shiny new center to replace him in the top 6 no less. Brilliant! What a guy. Especially after him and his dad made a stink in Vancouver because he wasn't getting top 6 minutes there which is what lead to him getting traded to us to begin with. He must have really had a change of heart.

     

    If he's worried about his very survival in the league, yeah, maybe.  I see him as a winger going forward anyway, and they just traded away his biggest competition (Staff and Stewart).  He's set up for a breakout year next year.

  15. Hodgson or Nolan: Who is more likely gone at the end of the season?

    in The Aud Club

    Posted

    Let me preface this by saying Cody Hodgson has had a bad year, however, I think it  would be stupid to let him go. When looking at his metrics and numbers, it's pretty clear things just aren't going his way when he's playing his normal game (which isn't a defensive one). He's shooting an abysmal 4.3%, when his career average is 10.5%. If he were shooting his average, we're looking at an increase of seven goals getting him to 12 on the year. I know that doesn't seem like much, but once you look at his ATOI, you'll see it's down almost 2.5 minutes per game from his career average and nearly 5.5 minutes compared to last year. In fact, this season's shots total and total TOI numbers are almost even to the 48 game lock-out season. When looking for more usage differences, you'll see that he's starting more shifts in the defensive zone than ever before in his career, which for an offensive player makes little sense. I can't find the PP TOI numbers, but he is averaging 6 PPG per season compared to 0 this year. I was also unable to find a detailed line history for both this season and the last few, though I remember him playing well for a stretch of games with Moulson and Ennis. 

     

    Again, by no means am I trying to make excuses for his play this season, but I do think it's an anomaly. The argument can be made for improper usage by Nolan, but for a Gary Roberts trained athlete, he should be used to the hard work mantra. If Nolan said ice is earned, then Hodgson deserves the season he's having. But that doesn't mean it's clearly an off year. 

     

    GMTM to CoHo last October:  "I think you're a good player and may have a long term future with the Sabres.  That said, this season is going to be more about development than winning.  So you're going to see some different situations than you're used to, and frankly your ice time might go down.  I don't want you to get discouraged; you're an asset in this organization.  But this season is more about bringing some of the other guys along, so you may not be put in situations that will best use your talent.  I need you to work hard off the ice and make sure you're ready when the rest of the team is.  Understand what I'm asking you, Cody?"

    CoHo:  "Yes, sir."  (Unspoken thought bubble over CoHo's head:  TANK ON!")

     

    If there is any one player on the team that is actively tanking for McEichel, it's Cody Hodgson.  I'm not saying he was told to go out there and tank, but if Murray gave him a "pep talk" anything like my imagined scenario above, Cody's probably smart enough to get Murray's drift.  And so when he shoots, he tries extra hard to hit the corners.... and misses.  Maybe he works hard all the way up the ice, but when it's time for that last pass.... it's not the best.  Limiting the output of the previous year's leading scorer (especially if he *wink*wink* "gets it") would be an effective strategy toward the best shot at McEichel.

     

    So maybe CoHo just had an off year.  Maybe he's in on the tank.  Either way I would expect a bounce-back year come next season.

  24. GDT: Buffalo @ Colorado, 9:00 PM EST

    in The Aud Club

    Posted

    Risto is as good as you can expect. You can wish for more but right now he is exceeding reasonable expectations. He is the Xmas present you didn't ask for but can't imagine nit having gotten.

    I don't think it's too early to draw comparisons to Nicklas Lidström.  I was living in Detroit when he came up; Risto really reminds me of Lidström. Rarely made a mistake but was unflappable when he did.

  25. Grigorenko

    in The Aud Club

    Posted

    Due to the Girgensons injury, Larsson finally got a chance and his stock has gone up some. I'd like to see Grigorenko get a legit chance these last 8.

     

    He's been getting it.  He looks pretty good.  I'd like to see Nolan put him out with CoHo and Foligno.  I think that could be a very solid 3rd line in the future.

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