#10 First Rd:Canucks Pick - Cody Hodgson, Brampton Battalion

[stevethiessen]

discuss.

I'm ok with the pick, I guess. I think I'm more frustrated that Cammalleri only went for essentially the 17 pick, and that Jokinen went for so little (compared to the Sedn demand at the deadline). Could we not have pulled off one of those deals?

As far as Hodgson goes, I know nothing about him, so who knows. I don't like McKenzie questioning his skating, as this is a struggling point for us already, but who knows. Anyone out east get a chance to watch him play much at all?

ST

[levelheaded]

I'm pumped for this pick, as this is the guy I wanted.

THN has this to say about him:

"Ranked at #8

5-11 185lbs C Shoots R

There was a time not long ago when Hodgson's father Chris was being touted as a future premier of Ontario. the younger Hodgson will likely never enter politics, but his future in hockey looks very bright.
Hodgson is near the top of a dominant OHL crop of draftees. More of a playmaker than a scorer, Hodgson has drawn comparisons to everyone from Adam Oates to Cory Stillman to Chris Drury.
" 'He has a very good hockey sense and I think that's the strongest part of his game,' one NHL scout said. "It seems every time he's on the ice, he has the puck on his stick.'
Although he is not a liability defensively, Hodgson's reputation going into the draft has been his ability to create offensive opportunities for both himself and his linemates.
'He just seems to have a great nose for the net and a nose for the puck,' another scout said. 'His offensive ability is his calling card.' "

Taken from my thread. I'll get rid of it as you beat me to the punch ST.

[stevethiessen]

good thing I checked - I was just about the delete mine, thinking you had gotten here first

Did you ever get a chance to see him play? I've heard his name floated a few times, and in more than one mock draft he went higher than 10, so for the first time in a while, we've not gone "off the board" as far as rankings is concerned. Is there any chance Hodgson makes the team out of camp, or is this a pick for a few years from now?

[jchockey]

Hodgson was the second guy I was pining for - the Preds took Colin Wilson, a great pick.

[Kikbutt_10]

I don't remember noticing him for Canada at the world Jrs, but I remember reading something about 10 assists in 12 games? Plus Quinn said he stepped up as a leader and character guy which is a big plus, I would think a player who played at the world jrs and is described as a smart player would have a chance right away?...

[levelheaded]

I don't remember noticing him for Canada at the world Jrs, but I remember reading something about 10 assists in 12 games? Plus Quinn said he stepped up as a leader and character guy which is a big plus, I would think a player who played at the world jrs and is described as a smart player would have a chance right away?...

He didn't play in the WJC, but led the WJ U-18s in scoring and (according to Pierre McGuire) was named best offensive player, best defensive player, best leader, best forward etc. I think we got ourselves a quality guy here. Hell, TSN compared him to Linden. I can live with that.

Edit: and no I didn't see him play, but he got 40 goals and 45a in the OHL last year. Living in Ontario I heard a bit about him in hockey discussions and I knew one guy who really wanted the Leafs to take him and saw him as a future HOFer. Probably won't reach that ceiling, but I don't think it's a stretch to see him as a 30g 70pt guy in the future.

[stevethiessen]

except that he played at the under 18s, not the world jrs. It was 12 pts in 7 games (2-10-12).

[stevethiessen]

Wonder how he would fit with Raymond a few years from now...

[ClamRussel]

I like this pick alot. Beach will probably turn out well in Chicago but would have flopped if he came here. With the Canucks luck you just know something would have gone wrong & his issues would have magnified. Hodgson will undoubtably be better than the last Hodgson we had, Dan.

Steve, I don't think McKenzie questioned his skating at all. He just said he is very comparable to Stamkos overall, only difference is Stamkos has that blazing foot-speed and Hodgson does not. Probably the thing that prevented him from being drafted earlier than he was. I didn't hear anything that was alarming.

[stevethiessen]

Yeah clam, from the hunting ive been doing for the last hour, it appears as though he has good skating, just not the fastest guy in the world. No problem. Maybe we can hire Bure in the front office to teach "power skating"? I've read nothing negative, or worrysome. I don't really care if he doesn't score between the leg goals as long as he puts it in the net. Looking forward to seeing him play. C'mon training camp!

[levelheaded]

http://www.thescore.ca/blogs/index.asp?name=juniorhockey/2008/01/cody_hodgson_im.html

ody Hodgson isn’t flashy.

He isn’t the fastest skater. He’s not the toughest guy you will meet.

Off the ice, Cody Hodgson isn’t your typical teenager. He met Pope John Paul II in 2001, and he likes to play chess.

But the 17-year-old Markham, Ontario, native plays a game scouts say will lead to a productive NHL career.

“He’s what they call a franchise player,â€￾ said his Brampton Battalion head coach Stan Butler. “He’s a complete player. He plays good away from the puck. He scores big goals and he’s a good leader on and off the ice. He’s the whole package.â€￾

“I try to be smart on offence and not a liability on defence,â€￾ said the modest and mature beyond his years Hodgson. “I try to play a complete and all around game.â€￾

He is succeeding.

The 6-foot, 185-pound centre had a productive December for the Battalion leading all OHL players with 11 goals during the month as his team went 9-2 in December.

That kind of play has him pegged as a possible top-10 NHL pick come June’s draft.

“Being a first rounder would be a great honour,â€￾ said Hodgson. “Being the first five or 10 players chosen would be pretty special.â€￾

Hodgson picked up 46 points as a rookie last year, and this year he had 57 points in his first 41 games on the year. More impressively – he is a plus-21. In typical form, Hodgson credits his coach for making him a better two-way player.

“Last year I was more of an offensive player, going on offensive breaks looking to score,â€￾ said Hodgson. “But Stan has taught me to play a two-way game and that really helped.â€￾

He is also drawing comparisons to Chris Drury.

“Chris Drury is obviously an incredible hockey player,â€￾ said Hodgson. “It is quite an honour to be mentioned in the same sentence.â€￾

“There are a lot of similarities,â€￾ said Butler. “They both can provide offence and they can kill penalties.â€￾

This is a draft that looks to be heavily dominated by Ontario Hockey League prospects.

Hodgson has ties with Steven Stamkos and Alex Pietrangelo, having played minor hockey with them and they are all still good friends.

“We talk all the time to each other,â€￾ said Hodgson. “Whether we MSN or Facebook. We played summer hockey together for the Ontario Blues and lost one game in four years.â€￾

Hodgson had 47 points in his team’s first 34 games – the best point production in the first half by any Battalion player ever. Better than Wojtek Wolski, Jason Spezza or Raffi Torres.

“I didn’t know that,â€￾ said a surprised Hodgson. “Some great players have played for the Battalion. I don’t know what to say.â€￾

“He can be mentioned in the same group,â€￾ said Butler. “Where he goes in the next few years will determine his future in hockey and in the pecking order of Battalion hockey.â€￾

Now, back to chess? He was pretty good at it, but doesn’t play as much now focusing on hockey.

“When I was younger I would compete in tournaments,â€￾ smiled Hodgson, whose father Chris - during the 1990’s - was a provincial minister in Ontario and was widely considered to be a front-runner to be Premier.

You get the feeling Hodgson will be a captain for an NHL team for years to come.

Sounds pretty good I'd say.

Edit: He had 12 points in 7 WJC U-18 games, that's 3 more than Filatov.

[mattola]

Could we not have pulled off one of those deals?

no

because obviously Florida said no when we apparently tried to get him at the deadline.

[ClamRussel]

Could we not have pulled off one of those deals?

no

because obviously Florida said no when we apparently tried to get him at the deadline.

Ya but he wasn't on the block then....he recently requested a trade thereby changing the situation.

[ClamRussel]

http://www.thescore.ca/blogs/index.asp?name=juniorhockey/2008/01/cody_hodgson_im.html

Sounds pretty good I'd say.

Edit: He had 12 points in 7 WJC U-18 games, that's 3 more than Filatov.

The more I hear about this kid the more I love the selection. I don't think you could ask for more at the 10th pick.

[stevethiessen]

well, at the very least, nearly every mock draft I can find has Hodgson going ninth, with one mock up pegging him at 10 to us, and a few having him at 7 to the leafs. Been awhile since we picked the consesus pick!