Buffalo Sabres Players Year In Review: Cody Hodgson

Just two seasons ago, Buffalo Sabres fans were reaping the benefits of what seemed like a lopsided trade with the Vancouver Canucks as Cody Hodgson was putting up consistent points during one of their worst seasons. Just two seasons ago, Fans looked at Cody Hodgson and saw a future top 6 center as he put up 20 goals and 44 points in the 2013-14 campaign.

The start of the 2014-15 season rolled around, and Hodgson was poised to be the top line center and to have the ability to put up points once again. Oh boy did that expectation fall through.

Cody Hodgson found himself getting on former Sabres head coach Ted Nolan‘s bad side due to his lack of effort and inconsistent play. As a result, Hodgson found himself playing right wing on the Buffalo fourth line for more than half of the season. After being shoved down the depth chart, his numbers got even worse and he was never able to dig himself out.

When it came to his numbers, Hodgson had no plus sides. From a player that is supposed to he a top level scoring threat, his abysmal 6 goals and 7 assists were good enough for 11th on the team for scoring. The likes of Andrej Meszaros and Nicolas Deslauriers topped Hodgson for points (and Meszaros played nearly 20 less games).

To add more poor statistics to his count, Hodgson was a disgusting -28 for his plus-minus. He was terrible in his own zone, and lazy beyond comprehension. It was no shock why Nolan had Hodgson sitting on the bench for most of the game.

That level of play is unacceptable from a player like Hodgson. He was downright terrible this year, and without a doubt the greatest disappointment. It took Hodgson until October 25, against the San Jose Sharks to score his first goal of the season (and it was a great goal I’ll admit.) He took a pass while standing in front of the net and pulled the puck to his backhand and tucked it in the net.

After scoring his first goal, it took Hodgson a full month before scoring his next one. His second goal came on December 13 against the Florida Panthers, and his third goal did not come until February 24. A full 2 month gap between goals for a forward that is supposed to be at least a 20 goal scorer is not the kind of production anybody wants.

As the season wore on, Hodgson’s play did not improve very much. Many Sabres fans were hoping to dump him off the team at the trade deadline, but that was not the case. Hodgson finished his season in Buffalo and continued to struggle throughout. Not only did he struggle, but he found himself sitting in the press box a few nights to adjust his behavioral habits on the ice.

It was visible on his face in every interview he had, that he was not enjoying a single second of his demoted status. He was always short with his answers.

For a player of his caliber, he will need to step up to prove that he deserves a top spot once again. If he does not, he will find himself demoted once again, and perhaps even traded away to a team looking for some depth.

As far as what his place on the current team is, I have to say there isn’t one. Hodgson is a center naturally and Buffalo has more than enough center depth to ice two teams. He is capable of playing the wing, but unless he instantly proves his worth there, he is the most expendable player on the roster.

I do not see him fitting in to the immediate or long term future of the Buffalo Sabres anymore. A few seasons ago I would be saying the exact opposite, but his poor attitude and play this year is not something that goes along with the new winning culture attitude. I would not be shocked if Cody Hodgson was packaged in to a deal by Tim Murray at the draft to possibly move up.

Cody Hodgson is still a young player at the ripe age of 25, but at that age he needs to have a much more consistent game. He is still an asset that Murray can use to better the team right now. It will do neither Hodgson nor the Buffalo Sabres any good by having him play on the fourth line. It would be better to trade him.

What do you all think?

Next: Year in Review: Matt Moulson

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