Daily Poll: Is Cody Hodgson a Number One Centre?
After acquiring Cody Hodgson from the Vancouver Canucks and then resigning him to a 6 year deal, the Buffalo Sabres made it pretty clear they wanted to move forward with Hodgson leading the way. Then the Sabres landed Matt Moulson, instantly there were concerns about whether Hodgson would be able to play with Moulson and after an 11 game drought there was some doubt.
Rich wrote last week about how Moulson’s struggles could be related to the fact he’s no longer playing with John Tavares. It got me
Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
thinking about whether Cody Hodgson has what it takes to be the Sabres number one centre going forward or if he even has what it takes to be a number one centre.
All throughout his days with the Brampton Battalion Hodgson was thought to be a can’t miss prospect who would have a solid NHL career. He won the CHL player of the year in 2009 and was a key member of Team Canada’s gold medal winning junior team in 2009 where he led the tournament in scoring. Everything was pointing up for Hodgson. He was then taken 10th overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2009 draft and that’s when his career really started to turn.
He was hit with injury after injury and was continually sent back to the OHL and AHL. When he finally did enough to crack the Canucks roster he was nothing more than a 3rd or 4th line centre. He asked for a trade, caused trouble and soon became a member of the Buffalo Sabres at the trade deadline in 2012. He was immediately cast as the Buffalo Sabres number one centre playing on a line with Thomas Vanek and Jason Pominville.
Fast forward to this season and Hodgson is still that number one centre but his game is far from where a number one centre’s game should be. His defencive game is weak and has shown little improvement even under Lindy Ruff who played a defence first game.
One could argue the reason Hodgson is still the Sabres number one centre is because they have no one else to fill the role. Mikhail Grigorenko is not ready to fill those shoes, Steve Ott is not a number one centre and you don’t want Tyler Ennis as your first line centre. Right now the Sabres don’t have any other options for the first line centre; But do the Buffalo Sabres need to go out an acquire a centre or can they get by with Cody Hodgson?
Cody Hodgson has been doing his job this season. He’s leading the team in scoring and is the only player on pace to reach 30 points this season. But going forward does he have it to continue as the number one centre? Or should the Buffalo Sabres go an acquire another number one centre?
When looking at the Cody Hodgson argument you have to look at his time with the Canucks. During his time with the Canucks they were a team that was challenging for the Stanley Cup and Hodgson had a tough time cracking the roster and was no where near the top line centre spot. If he can’t be the number one centre on a Cup contending team, doesn’t that show that if the Sabres want to compete for a Cup they need a new centre?
Vote in the poll below and then sound off in comments below about Cody Hodgson. Also let’s have some fun, who would you like to see as the Buffalo Sabres number one centre in the future?