Hodgson Outlook

[Diehard1]

As one who watched Hodgson play in Brampton over 30 times (I'm a transplanted BCer living in Toronto), I can tell you definitively he is not living off one great WJC. He was a dominant player in Brampton, yes he was better than Matt Duchene by a significant margin. He was the one who ran that team, not Duchene. To borrow football terms, I would say Cody was the QB, while Duchene the WR - Duchene's speed stood out every game, while Cody was much more cerebral and understood the game better.

While we're on that subject - let's also debunk the myth that Hodgson and Duchene played on the same line. Duchene was on the 2nd line for the most part, Hodgson played with Grachev and Tanski on the 1st line, at least for the whole 2nd half of the season. They did play together on the 1st unit PP, Duchene as a center or RW - basically where Henrik plays now but a little bit more towards the goal - while Hodgson played on the point.

Cody has a very heavy slapshot that he was very good at getting through to the net, and Brampton used to score a lot of goals off rebounds on Cody's slapper. He also has very good hands in tight and scored quite a few goals on dekes that I can remember. He's never been a great skater but he's very solid and hard to knock off the puck.

This is all before the back injury of course - but I see no reason why he can't get back there. He's obviously not ready for the NHL yet, or at least wasn't last year, but a full off-season of training and getting ready where he doesn't have to take it easy should do him wonders. Still, I'd like to see him get some AHL time where he's the 1st line center for the first 30 games or so to get him back into the offensive flow of things. I have no idea what this kid will become, but it's way too early to trade him given his promise. Why would you ever trade somebody when their value is at its low point?

[sagebrush]

Pros & Cons:

The guy has decent hands & great hockey smarts at the age of 21 - you can't teach that. He's only 6' & 185lbs, but was +1 in the 8 reg season games he played. His first few strides aren't going to create break aways, but he hustles down the ice as fast as most guys who will never be more than grinders. Compare the +/- to AV favourites Tanner Glass (-5 in 20 reg season games) & Aaron Rome (+1 in 56 reg season games).

I'd like to see him get regular ice time on the 4th line, even some on the 3rd, so he can get used to the pace & develop with the big boys. If he costs us a couple points in the first half of the season, he will likely pay it back later on. We still need more size, but that's easier to find than someone with like Cody's abilities.

[Madcombinepilot]

I don't think that regular ice time on the 4th line will do anything to help Coho develop. Hodgson needs some serious 2nd line ice time, and some wingers with talent so they have the puck. Having Cody play 4th line shut down time with the other team taking it to them, does nothing to enhance (or capitalize on) his skill set -- we saw that a few time last year.

[sagebrush]

He would progress faster on the 1st & 2nd lines, but that probably isn't best for the team at this point. There are compromises to be made.

He was a + while playing mainly the on 4th line last season. In limited play off time I though he acquited himself reasonably well - compared to our limited alternatives. While not great on the boards, he increased our puck possession time when in the offensive zone.

There is no substitute for experience with NHL's players closing speed & the need for quick moves/decisions with the puck. The AHL doesn't provide this.

[Orcasfan]

Well, it looks like a pseudo consensus is forming here, that Cody should play in the AHL next year for some appreciable time for the experience as well as gaining confidence. That may be the wisest choice at the moment. But, it really does depend on how he does at training camp and during pre-season. If he impresses enough, he may get a look on the big team for a while. I have no doubt that AV will give him the ice-time and a role if he earns it. I also do not see a 4th line role as being much benefit to the kid for his development at this point. And making a splash on the Wolves certainly would be a great way to start the year, before the inevitable call-up.

[Topper]

Unless Cody is capable of playing defence and works his way up through the 4th and 3rd line (once out of the A) he won't be worth a lick.

There isn't a player drafted by the Canucks on the team that did not first prove himself in a defensive role before earning a top 6 job.

[sagebrush]

Needs improvement on the boards & in defensive positioning @ both ends. Guys have worked their way around him to the net, when he could have taken the body. Don't remember him getting danced badly.

[Arachnid]

Could we have done any worse with Cody in the line up in Game 7?

yes

Hey, heeeeeeeeeeey, mind backing that up with esoteric links and a stronger fact based opinions

[ClamRussel]

He would progress faster on the 1st & 2nd lines, but that probably isn't best for the team at this point. There are compromises to be made.

A case could be made to either play him w/ the Sedins or Kesler; start out on the wing. See how it goes. If he goes w/ the Twins then Burrows can slide in w/ Kesler. More realistically he'll start out in Chicago and go from there. The kid needs icetime and loads of it.

[sagebrush]

The kid needs icetime and loads of it.

Ideally, I would like to see him get lots of ice time - say 15min a game or more, with the Canucks.
That isn't going to happen on the 4th line alone. Difficult to get with a coach as conservative as AV.

Cody has the calm disposition that allows you to grow while dealing with more pressure than some could handle. Kind of like Tanev, but with more upside. Look forward to seeing them both both grow.

[LotusBlossom]

The kid needs icetime and loads of it.

Ideally, I would like to see him get lots of ice time - say 15min a game or more, with the Canucks.
That isn't going to happen on the 4th line alone. Difficult to get with a coach as conservative as AV.

Cody has the calm disposition that allows you to grow while dealing with more pressure than some could handle. Kind of like Tanev, but with more upside. Look forward to seeing them both both grow.

This pretty much sums up how quite a few people I have spoken to feel about Hodgson. I see a lot of upside but there is still a lot of work to be done.

[nucksin7]

I like Hodgson, but if there is no room for him & he needs to be traded, then I want a prospect of equal or greater value who plays the wing. example: Evander Kane. Somebody young who is just cracking the NHL lineup & has a terrible amount of skill & upside. Otherwise its just not worth it to move him yet, cause he will be good. No doubt.

[Corb]

I like Hodgson, but if there is no room for him & he needs to be traded, then I want a prospect of equal or greater value who plays the wing. example: Evander Kane. Somebody young who is just cracking the NHL lineup & has a terrible amount of skill & upside. Otherwise its just not worth it to move him yet, cause he will be good. No doubt.

I think you need to compare Hodgson to a prospect who isn't in the league, hasn't scored almost 20 goals, and hasn't re-arranged Matt Cooke's face.

[Uncle dans leg]

CoHo is one injury removed from being one of the top rated prospects in the game. I think hitting the panic button with his development would be a dramatically bad premature ejaculation of a quality young up and coming centre.
This kid can play despite his wheels. I saw him dominate against players who are now very good NHL players. Give him a chance to catch up.

[spooner]

CoHo is one injury removed from being one of the top rated prospects in the game. I think hitting the panic button with his development would be a dramatically bad premature ejaculation of a quality young up and coming centre.

My feelings exactly UDL.