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Monday, November 15, 2010

Prospect Profile: Cody Hodgson

Photo property of www.canada.com

Cody Hodgson
Height: 6'0
Weight: 185lbs
Current Team: Manitoba Moose
NHL Rights: Vancouver Canucks
Draft: 2008 - 10th Overall

After being drafted 10th overall in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, the hockey world was screaming "steal." A two way center that can find the net, Cody Hodgson is as complete of a forward prospect as you see drafted these days. However after 3 consecutive years of not making the big club in Vancouver, many of those same fans are screaming "bust."

Hodgson first broke on to the scene in his first season with the Brampton Batallion of the OHL where he was the leading rookie scorer for the team with 46 points in 63 games, adding four more in as many games in an abrupt playoff run against Barrie. The following season was the key to Hodgson's top 10 draft status. Back with Brampton for his sophomore season, he tallied 85 points in 68 games, however the Batallion were once again eliminated by Barrie, with Hodgson scoring 5 goals in 5 games.

The following summer Hodgson was drafted 10th overall by the Vancouver Canucks, later than many had speculated. His most touted attribute had been his hockey sense, however Mike Gillis, GM of the Canucks also stated that Hodgson's leadership and character were an important factor in picking him with their first round selection. Hodgson was subsequently signed to a 3 year entry level contract, worth the rookie max of $2.625 Million. This signing along with Hodgson's production in the OHL led most fans to believe that he would make the team straight out of camp, however one day after the signing Hodgson was sent back to Brampton. This raised many eyebrows in Vancouver, many fans and experts started questioning whether Hodgson was the star center they envisioned drafting, however most still believed in his talents, given his undeniable sense for the game.

Upon returning to Brampton, Hodgson was named the team captain, and was expected to dominate in his third year in the juniors. Hodgson did just that, racking up 92 points in 53 games, adding 31 more in 21 playoff games en route to the OHL Finals where they came up short against the Windsor Spitfires. Hodgson racked up the awards for this outstanding season. He won the Red Tilson Trophy for being the OHL's most outstanding player, the William Hanley Trophy for being the OHL's most sportsmanlike player, CHL Player of the Year while making the OHL's First All Star Team. This performance put any doubt of Hodgson's ability on hold, in fact Vancouver fans were pleased to find out that Hodgson would be joining the Manitoba Moose for their playoff run. Hodgson was expectantly productive in his 11 games with Manitoba, scoring twice and also assisting on 4 goals.

Adding to his impressive resume for the year, Hodgson was selected to play for Team Canada for the 2009 World Junior Championships in Ottawa. Dominating yet again, Hodgson led the tournament with 16 points en route to Canada's 15th Gold Medal at the event. Hodgson was named to the all star team for the tournament as well.

The doubts once again resurfaced the following summer, when Hodgson was injured while working out in preparation for the 2009-2010 training camp, taking two months away from his summer training with diagnosis of a bulging disc in his back. In September Hodgson was cleared to play by Canucks medical staff, however he looked out of place in the pre-season, and many believed that he had not fully recovered from his back injury. As a consequence of his poor performances, Hodgson was once again sent to Brampton. Not convinced that he himself was 100%, Hodgson sought another opinion at a clinic in Ohio, in response, Canucks coach Alain Vigneault indirectly suggested that Hodgson was using the injury as an excuse for a poor training camp. The Cleveland Clinic discovered an injury that was not diagnosed, a muscle strain which was aggravated during rehabilitation for a bulging disc.

Photo property of www.canucks.nhl.com


Hodgson missed out on the first 50 games of the OHL season, returning February 4, 2010. Soon after, there was some media controversy, when it was suggested that Hodgson did not want to work with Vancouver trainer Dave Gagner. However the truth was that Hodgson said he would be working with Canucks staff in Toronto, not that he was avoiding Canucks staff. Mike Gillis was noticeably upset about the writer's version of what happened, stating that there was a "serious gap" from the reports, to the truth. Luck still wasn't on Hodgson's side, he injured his foot eight days after his return, and 9 games later it was revealed that he had a hairline fracture in a few bones in his foot. Hodgson finished the season up with a total of 20 points in 13 games, as well as 10 in 11 playoff games. He was once again supposed to join the Manitoba Moose for another playoff run, but after his statement that he was never fully recovered from his toe injury, as well as a failed assessment by Canucks team doctors, it was determined that he would sit out.

The following off season, with Canucks approval, Hodgson trained with Gary Roberts who had trained with Steven Stamkos prior to his 51 goal season. Roberts himself returned from a major neck injury to play many more seasons, so the tension of Hodgson's injury was slightly relieved with this information. Once again battling for a roster spot with minor injury issues, Hodgson was eventually sent down to Manitoba. Hodgson up to now(11/15/2010) leads Manitoba in points and goals, and has looked very promising thus far.

So what is to make of the story of Cody Hodgson? Through the ups and downs it is important to look through to the facts. Cody Hodgson as a prospect has an elite skill set, as well as an outstanding sense for the game. His run of bad luck seems to have been his biggest set back, Hodgson isn't an injury prone player, and he has performed at the top of every level he has played at to date.

His upside is still a probable top six center, potentially a gamebreaking center. Players like Hodgson who are sound in most(if not all) aspects of the game, and have great instincts, don't usually bust. He has all the makings of a Jonathan Toews/Ryan Kesler type of center, and if he continues to progress in the AHL, there is no reason to think Hodgson won't become an impact player at the NHL level.

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