UPDATE: Buyout — Roster review: #19 Cody Hodgson

[dudacek]

Moving on from our free agents to players under contract next year 

 

 

#19 Cody Hodgson RW/C (four years left at $4.25 million per, age 25)

Buffalo 78/6/7/13/-28/12

 

Junior hockey officials called Cody Hodgson the Canadian Hockey League 2009 Player of the year, as well as the OHL’s hardest worker, best faceoff man, best penalty killer and most sportsmanlike player the season after he was drafted 10^th overall.

 

Canadian fans called him a hero and the NHL’s best prospect after he led Team Canada to gold in the 2009 World Junior tournament, leading the team in scoring with 16 points in six games.

 

Coach Alain Vigneault suggested he was making excuses when he went to a back specialist after failing to make the Canucks due to a poor training camp the next fall. (The specialist discovered a problem and declared him unfit to play. Hodgson subsequently refused to train with the Canuck staff.)

 

Canuck manager Mike Gillis told the media he was a problem child after trading him to the Sabres in one of the more unpopular trades in Vancouver franchise history while gossip swirled about his helicopter dad.

 

Since the trade, Sabrespacers have called him everything from the solution to the Sabres’ first-line centre problems, to a soft defensive disaster.

 

Yes, people have said a lot of things about Cody Hodgson during his relatively brief career. But they have never said he couldn’t score. Until last year.

 

After averaging 47 points over 82 games in his first three NHL seasons, and leading the Sabres in scoring in 2013/14, the bottom fell out for Hodgson last year. Playing mostly right wing instead of his usual centre, he scored just six times all season, even spending a handful of games as a healthy scratch.

 

By mid-November, he was buried on the third or fourth line and lost his spot on the power play. Perhaps surprisingly, he never complained, even as trades and injuries opened up spots in the top-six and Ted Nolan kept him nailed to the bench.

 

Hodgson’s play was so poor that talk surfaced about the team buying him out this summer. The theory is his trade value at this point is non-existent. Because of his age, the Sabres can buy his contract out at a cap hit of about $800,000 over the next eight years. If they wait, the hit will double and some have argued the team would be better off cutting their losses now.

 

It’s not clear at this point how — or if — Hodgson fits into the plans of Tim Murray and Dan Bylsma. His is a situation that bears watching.

 

Links to the rest of the series:

 

Anders Lindback: http://forums.sabres...nders-lindback/

Pat Kaleta: http://forums.sabres...patrick-kaleta/

Johan Larsson: http://forums.sabres...-johan-larsson/

Matt Hackett: http://forums.sabres...1-matt-hackett/

Andrej Meszaros: http://forums.sabres...ndrej-meszaros/

Phil Varone, Zac Dalpe, Jerry D'Amigo: http://forums.sabres...e-dalpe-damigo/

Mikhail Grigorenko: http://forums.sabres...ail-grigorenko/

Tyson Strachan, Andre Benoit: http://forums.sabres...han-and-benoit/

Mark Pysyk: http://forums.sabres...w-3-mark-pysyk/

Tim Schaller: http://forums.sabres...9-tim-schaller/

Matt Ellis: http://forums.sabrespace.com/topic/23427-roster-review-37-matt-ellis/

Edited June 29, 2015 by dudacek

[Samson's Flow]

Moving on from our free agents to players under contract next year 

 

Cody Hodgson.jpg

 

#19 Cody Hodgson RW/C (four years left at $4.25 million per, age 25)

Buffalo 78/6/7/13/-28/12

 

Junior hockey officials called Cody Hodgson the Canadian Hockey League 2009 Player of the year, as well as the OHL’s hardest worker, best faceoff man, best penalty killer and most sportsmanlike player the season after he was drafted 10^th overall.

 

Canadian fans called him a hero and the NHL’s best prospect after he led Team Canada to gold in the 2009 World Junior tournament, leading the team in scoring with 16 points in six games.

 

Coach Alain Vigneault suggested he was making excuses when he went to a back specialist after failing to make the Canucks due to a poor training camp the next fall. (The specialist discovered a problem and declared him unfit to play. Hodgson subsequently refused to train with the Canuck staff.)

 

Canuck manager Mike Gillis told the media he was a problem child after trading him to the Sabres in one of the more unpopular trades in Vancouver franchise history while gossip swirled about his helicopter dad.

 

Since the trade, Sabrespacers have called him everything from the solution to the Sabres’ first-line centre problems, to a soft defensive disaster.

 

Yes, people have said a lot of things about Cody Hodgson during his relatively brief career. But they have never said he couldn’t score. Until last year.

 

After averaging 47 points over 82 games in his first three NHL seasons, and leading the Sabres in scoring in 2013/14, the bottom fell out for Hodgson last year. Playing mostly right wing instead of his usual centre, he scored just six times all season, even spending a handful of games as a healthy scratch.

 

By mid-November, he was buried on the third or fourth line and lost his spot on the power play. Perhaps surprisingly, he never complained, even as trades and injuries opened up spots in the top-six and Ted Nolan kept him nailed to the bench.

 

Hodgson’s play was so poor that talk surfaced about the team buying him out this summer. The theory is his trade value at this point is non-existent. Because of his age, the Sabres can buy his contract out at a cap hit of about $800,000 over the next eight years. If they wait, the hit will double and some have argued the team would be better off cutting their losses now.

 

It’s not clear at this point how — or if — Hodgson fits into the plans of Tim Murray and Dan Bylsma. His is a situation that bears watching.

 

Links to the rest of the series:

 

Anders Lindback: http://forums.sabres...nders-lindback/

Pat Kaleta: http://forums.sabres...patrick-kaleta/

Johan Larsson: http://forums.sabres...-johan-larsson/

Matt Hackett: http://forums.sabres...1-matt-hackett/

Andrej Meszaros: http://forums.sabres...ndrej-meszaros/

Phil Varone, Zac Dalpe, Jerry D'Amigo: http://forums.sabres...e-dalpe-damigo/

Mikhail Grigorenko: http://forums.sabres...ail-grigorenko/

Tyson Strachan, Andre Benoit: http://forums.sabres...han-and-benoit/

Mark Pysyk: http://forums.sabres...w-3-mark-pysyk/

Tim Schaller: http://forums.sabres...9-tim-schaller/

Matt Ellis: http://forums.sabrespace.com/topic/23427-roster-review-37-matt-ellis/

Cody Hodgson will be in the top 6 in scoring forwards next season for the Buffalo Sabres. Last year will turn out to be a minor blip on the radar in his career as a top six player. 

 

If I am wrong you all can call me on it, but there is no way we should trade him away or give up now.

 

(I've been waiting for this one) :thumbsup:

[dudacek]

Cody Hodgson will be in the top 6 in scoring forwards next season for the Buffalo Sabres.

 

 

 

The funny and sad thing is he missed being top-six scoring forward this past year by just three points.

[Samson's Flow]

The funny and sad thing is he missed being top-six scoring forward this past year by just three points.

I did not even notice that, but that just further puts into perspective how dreadfully awful last year's squad was at scoring goals and putting up points. Hodgson is also a player that I feel is a little more reliant on having talented scorers around him, as his game is very passing/awareness driven. 

[Huckleberry]

I say we wipe the slate clean and give him anoterh shot, but that is the same as a top 6 spot.

 

Everytime i think of our line up i just don't see the room there for him.

[X. Benedict]

The funny and sad thing is he missed being top-six scoring forward this past year by just three points.

That's funny.

 

Cody Hodgson has good hands, he's strong on the puck, has good vision, and puck handling skills......but just finished a year with the coach that was least likely to create any of the opportunities to use his said skill set. I'm at a loss to think what might become of him.

 

It don't know if he recovers a career from the mess that 2014-15 was.

[dudacek]

Everybody is assuming we pick up a veteran top-six forward, or we squeeze two or three of Reinhart/Eichel/Grigorenko/Larsson into the top six.

 

If Evan Rodrigues can go from 14 points to 61 in one season on Eichel's flank, why can't Cody Hodgson?

Edited June 10, 2015 by dudacek

[Samson's Flow]

I say we wipe the slate clean and give him anoterh shot, but that is the same as a top 6 spot.

 

Everytime i think of our line up i just don't see the room there for him.

The line-up issue is a problem, I will admit.

 

Although he was top three in points for the team in '12-13 and '13-14 seasons, so I am not ready to say he is completely useless just because of his poor season last year. Is it concerning? Yes. But he has the prospect pedigree and has demonstrated the ability to put up points in the NHL.

 

If I was another NHL GM, he would be a "buy low" candidate for sure. I hope GMTM doesn't make that mistake.

Everybody is assuming we pick up a veteran top-six forward, or we squeeze three of Reinhart/Eichel/Grigorenko/Larsson into the top six.

 

If Evan Rodrigues can go from 14 points to 61 in one season on Eichel's flank, why can't Cody Hodgson?

:w00t:

[Peanit]

Everybody is assuming we pick up a veteran top-six forward, or we squeeze two or three of Reinhart/Eichel/Grigorenko/Larsson into the top six.

 

If Evan Rodrigues can go from 14 points to 61 in one season on Eichel's flank, why can't Cody Hodgson?

My problem with Hodgson is he seems to take nights, days, weeks and months off. I didn't even know he was playing if I not for the score sheet. Maybe a new coach can light a fire under him. Time will tell.

Edited June 10, 2015 by ESPN Sucks

[woods-racer]

Cody and Glove have a strikingly similar profile, with or without a chicken hat.

 

 

[dudacek]

Cody and Glove have a strikingly similar profile, with or without a chicken hat.

 

 

 

Kim Pegula just walked by on the upper concourse in a short skirt.

[Drunkard]

Whenever I do potential line ups for next season I never seem to have a spot for Hodgson and I voted to either buy him out or trade him for another bad contract. The problem is his contract isn't front loaded which makes him slightly harder to trade.

 

The only way I see room for him is if Reinhart spends the season in Rochester which I don't think is likely to happen.

[nfreeman]

Hodgson may have been the quintessential Darcy player -- an overrated center with no sandpaper in his game who is often completely invisible but had a big contract unnecessarily lavished on him by Darcy as an RFA in order to buy some of his UFA years at a discount IF he made a future leap into very-good-player stature.

 

I don't think that he's GMTM's kind of guy, and I don't think any team will take him in trade, so I voted for the buyout.

[darksabre]

Cody Hodgson will be in the top 6 in scoring forwards next season for the Buffalo Sabres. Last year will turn out to be a minor blip on the radar in his career as a top six player.

 

If I am wrong you all can call me on it, but there is no way we should trade him away or give up now.

 

(I've been waiting for this one) :thumbsup:

[dudacek]

Hodgson may have been the quintessential Darcy player -- an overrated center with no sandpaper in his game who is often completely invisible but had a big contract unnecessarily lavished on him by Darcy as an RFA in order to buy some of his UFA years at a discount IF he made a future leap into very-good-player stature.

 

See this is all true, and I don't want him on the team going forward.

But I just have trouble saying he has no value and cutting the cord completely. It seems like poor asset management.

 

I don't think Hodgson's softness, or his defensive deficiencies are going away.

But I don't think his offensive talent has disappeared either. 

He's 25 and capable of bouncing back, not 30 and done before his time.

He is the player we saw two years ago, not the player we saw last year. And 20-goal scorers have value in this league.

 

I'm sure he's looking at Bylsma as a great personal opportunity.

Put him on the PP. Give him o-zone starts. Play him with guys who can read the play like he does.

Restore his value and then trade him.

[shrader]

Everybody is assuming we pick up a veteran top-six forward, or we squeeze two or three of Reinhart/Eichel/Grigorenko/Larsson into the top six.

 

If Evan Rodrigues can go from 14 points to 61 in one season on Eichel's flank, why can't Cody Hodgson?

 

The comparison is actually far more interesting than you probably even realized.  Both players would be one who started off well with some promise, then completely fell off the map when they were a part of an truly awful hockey team.  I won't expect that kind of turnaround for Hodgson, there should be a sharp bounce back for him... whether it is here or somewhere else.

[Taro T]

That's funny.

Cody Hodgson has good hands, he's strong on the puck, has good vision, and puck handling skills......but just finished a year with the coach that was least likely to create any of the opportunities to use his said skill set. I'm at a loss to think what might become of him.

It don't know if he recovers a career from the mess that 2014-15 was.

Whether it's in Buffalo or elsewhere, this year we'll find out what kind of character Hodgson has. Will he bounce back, or is he on his way to 'wastin' away again in Ville Leino-land?'

 

Some people say that there's a Nolan to blame; but I think, hell, it could be his fault.

[Randall Flagg]

 

Cody Hodgson will be in the top 6 in scoring forwards next season for the Buffalo Sabres. Last year will turn out to be a minor blip on the radar in his career as a top six player.

 

If I am wrong you all can call me on it, but there is no way we should trade him away or give up now.

 

(I've been waiting for this one) :thumbsup:

:lol:

[dudacek]

Whether it's in Buffalo or elsewhere, this year we'll find out what kind of character Hodgson has. Will he bounce back, or is he on his way to 'wastin' away again in Ville Leino-land?'

 

Some people say that there's a Nolan to blame; but I think, hell, it could be his fault.

 

 

Day after the big date, watching the morning skate,

All of those prospects putting on foil,

Tying my laces, all these new faces,

Those trade rumours, they're beginning to boil.

 

Wasting away again in Ville Leino-ville,

Searching for my lost confidence vault

Some people claim it was Ted Nolan to blame

But I know it's nobody's fault.

 

Don't know the reason that I stayed here all season,

Riding the pine 'cause it's clear that I blew,

But he's a real beauty, that Terrier cutie,

Can I play on his wing, well I haven't a clue

 

Wasting away again in Ville Leino-ville,

Searching for my lost confidence vault

Some people claim it was Ted Nolan to blame

Now I think, hell it could be my fault.

 

I'll call this a tryout, or it could be buyout

One silver lining, Kassian sucks

But Bylsma's got a new blender,

Fingers crossed he might render,

Some hot-shot rookie to feed me some pucks

 

Wasting away again in Ville Leino-ville,

Searching for my lost confidence vault

Some people claim it was Ted Nolan to blame

But I know, it's my own damn fault.

 

Some people claim it was Ted Nolan to blame

And I know it's my own damn fault.

Edited June 10, 2015 by dudacek

[Neo]

Awesome ..

[darksabre]

Day after the big date, watching the morning skate,

All of those prospects putting on foil,

Tying my laces, all these new faces,

Those trade rumours, they're beginning to boil.

 

Wasting away again in Ville Leino-ville,

Searching for my lost confidence vault

Some people claim it was Ted Nolan to blame

But I know it's nobody's fault.

 

Don't know the reason that I stayed here all season,

Riding the pine 'cause it's clear that I blew,

But he's a real beauty, that Terrier cutie,

Can I play on his wing, well I haven't a clue

 

Wasting away again in Ville Leino-ville,

Searching for my lost confidence vault

Some people claim it was Ted Nolan to blame

Now I think, hell it could be my fault.

 

I'll call this a tryout, or it could be buyout

One silver lining, Kassian sucks

But Bylsma's got a new blender,

Fingers crossed he might render,

Some hot-shot rookie to feed me some pucks

 

Wasting away again in Ville Leino-ville,

Searching for my lost confidence vault

Some people claim it was Ted Nolan to blame

But I know, it's my own damn fault.

 

Some people claim it was Ted Nolan to blame

And I know it's my own damn fault.

:worthy:

[X. Benedict]

Day after the big date, watching the morning skate,

All of those prospects putting on foil,

Tying my laces, all these new faces,

Those trade rumours, they're beginning to boil.

 

Wasting away again in Ville Leino-ville,

Searching for my lost confidence vault

Some people claim it was Ted Nolan to blame

But I know it's nobody's fault.

 

Don't know the reason that I stayed here all season,

Riding the pine 'cause it's clear that I blew,

But he's a real beauty, that Terrier cutie,

Can I play on his wing, well I haven't a clue

 

Wasting away again in Ville Leino-ville,

Searching for my lost confidence vault

Some people claim it was Ted Nolan to blame

Now I think, hell it could be my fault.

 

I'll call this a tryout, or it could be buyout

One silver lining, Kassian sucks

But Bylsma's got a new blender,

Fingers crossed he might render,

Some hot-shot rookie to feed me some pucks

 

Wasting away again in Ville Leino-ville,

Searching for my lost confidence vault

Some people claim it was Ted Nolan to blame

But I know, it's my own damn fault.

 

Some people claim it was Ted Nolan to blame

And I know it's my own damn fault.

:lol:

Now we will see what you can do with Grigorenko and Cheeseburger in Paradise.  B-)

[Taro T]

Day after the big date, watching the morning skate,[/size]

All of those prospects putting on foil,[/size]Tying my laces, all these new faces,[/size]Those trade rumours, they're beginning to boil.[/size]Wasting away again in Ville Leino-ville,[/size]Searching for my lost confidence vault[/size]Some people claim it was Ted Nolan to blame[/size]But I know it's nobody's fault.[/size]Don't know the reason that I stayed here all season,[/size]Riding the pine 'cause it's clear that I blew,[/size]But he's a real beauty, that Terrier cutie,[/size]

Can I play on his wing, well I haven't a clue[/size]Wasting away again in Ville Leino-ville,[/size]Searching for my lost confidence vault[/size]Some people claim it was Ted Nolan to blame[/size]Now I think, hell it could be my fault.[/size]

 

I'll call this a tryout, or it could be buyout[/size]

One silver lining, Kassian sucks[/size]But Bylsma's got a new blender,[/size]Fingers crossed he might render,[/size]Some hot-shot rookie to feed me some pucks[/size]Wasting away again in Ville Leino-ville,[/size]Searching for my lost confidence vault[/size]Some people claim it was Ted Nolan to blame[/size]But I know, it's my own damn fault.[/size]Some people claim it was Ted Nolan to blame[/size]And I know it's my own damn fault.[/size]

:worthy: :worthy: :worthy:

 

That is friggin' awesome! :beer:

[...]

The irony that such a gold-standard thread is about Hodgson.

 

Dudacek is hitting home-runs in every post here.

[LGR4GM]

Day after the big date, watching the morning skate,

All of those prospects putting on foil,

Tying my laces, all these new faces,

Those trade rumours, they're beginning to boil.

 

Wasting away again in Ville Leino-ville,

Searching for my lost confidence vault

Some people claim it was Ted Nolan to blame

But I know it's nobody's fault.

 

Don't know the reason that I stayed here all season,

Riding the pine 'cause it's clear that I blew,

But he's a real beauty, that Terrier cutie,

Can I play on his wing, well I haven't a clue

 

Wasting away again in Ville Leino-ville,

Searching for my lost confidence vault

Some people claim it was Ted Nolan to blame

Now I think, hell it could be my fault.

 

I'll call this a tryout, or it could be buyout

One silver lining, Kassian sucks

But Bylsma's got a new blender,

Fingers crossed he might render,

Some hot-shot rookie to feed me some pucks

 

Wasting away again in Ville Leino-ville,

Searching for my lost confidence vault

Some people claim it was Ted Nolan to blame

But I know, it's my own damn fault.

 

Some people claim it was Ted Nolan to blame

And I know it's my own damn fault.