Cody Hodgson, Buffalo Sabres New Ville Leino
By Dennis Amo
The Buffalo Sabres must feel like they are in a twilight zone. Last year, they had the troubles of Ville Leino going on a 58 game non-goal streak. The Buffalo Sabres cut ties with Leino or at least they thought they had.
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In some eerily connection or body switching move that one would find on Fringe, the Buffalo Sabres seem to have Ville Leino as a participant on their team again, but in the form of Cody Hodgson.
Ville Leino was a big disappointment for the Sabres last year. Signing a big contract and then losing his scoring touch. He was probably the best puck handler on the team and before last season was able to put the puck in the net but, everything seemed to fall part for him. Cody Hodgson has basically taken on the same form at this point for the Sabres. A top point getter for the Sabres a year ago and now only 2 points in 25 games.
Cody Hodgson lead the team in points last year and was set up to have a decent year again this year, until the Leino affect hit. Hodgson has 2 points so far this year. He has an assist back on Oct. 14th and a goal back on Oct. 25th. It was interesting to see Ted Nolan‘s decision to have Hodgson be the first participant for the shootout, but Hodgson was able to find the back of the net on a nice backhand shot.
Could this be the lift that Hodgson needs to get back on track and be the player that he can be and the Sabres hoped he would be?
One area that is bothering me is that he is playing consistent time game in and game out but yet, the production is not there. By production I mean shots. You can’t put the puck in the net if you don’t shoot.
Last year, Hodgson had 182 shots, which placed him 3rd on the team. He had an 11.00% shooting percentage as well which was 4th overall on the team. This year he has a total of 33 shots in 25 games played. He is averaging 1.32 shots per game. He has a shooting percentage of a 3.00% right now. That just won’t cut it folks. I got thinking about this when I saw his stat sheet from the last game: a minus-1 and 1 shot. Yes he did get the shootout goal which was credited as a game winning goal, but still no excuse for playing over 15 minutes and only tallying 1 shot.
Hodgson is on pace right now to have 108.24 shots on net for the season. Hodgson needs to shoot more on net to allow for rebounds to occur as well as put the puck in the net.
"“I learned that 100 percent of the shots you don’t take don’t go in the net.” Gretzky said in 1996, “My dad says 100 percent of the shots you don’t take don’t go in.”– Wayne Gretzky"
Could not have said it better myself.
Cody Hodgson, you want to score goals, shoot the puck!