mathonwy wrote:Ya know, Cody's only 22. I know when I was 22, I just did what other people that knew more than me told me.
So I don't begrudge Coho for anything. He's a classy kid that does whatever his agent and his dad tells him to.
One of these days, he'll become his own man as well as a fantastic hockey player.
You make good points but what you said didn't apply to Cody Hodgson except for the listening to his dad part, which might be the root of the problem. Don't forget that Hodgson has changed agents twice. This is not a kid who simply listens to what his agent tells him.
Hodgson is a hockey player. He's been playing high-level organized hockey since he was a little kid. Just do what the coach tells you to do is probably something that are ingrained in kids like Hodgson. Add to the fact that Hodgson is a smart kid who is suppose to be mature beyond his years and if there is anyone who knows a rookie shouldn't complain about his ice time it's him. Most hockey players don't listen to dad on hockey matters when dad knows nothing. Most dads who know hockey and knows what it takes to get to the NHL and or play in the NHL usually tell their kids to do what the coach tells him to do. It's not rocket science. If you're known as a player who is uncoachable you won't get too far in hockey.
I was a big supporter of Hodgson when he was here. I feared there would be a rift between him and the Canucks, but I figured the rift would go away once Hodgson became a big part of the Canucks. I never expected him to ask for more ice time during his rookie season. That's usually something you discuss during contract negotiations or at least during the exit interviews. But the Hodgson camp has admitted to asking for more ice time. That's a red flag. Rookies shouldn't ask for more ice time, especially on a team with two star centers. You bide your time and wait for your chance to shine.
I don't think Hodgson is a problem player. But he's a guy who thinks highly of himself and needs to be a star player. If he's not he might become a problem until he realizes he's not that good. It's too bad things turned out this way.