[8-Minute Insights] 32 Minutes of Cody Hodgson - Once Upon a Time, the Future of the Canucks

[CambieKev]

Let's go back in time to January 2012.

21-year-old Cody Hodgson was in the midst of a successful rookie season in the NHL. He scored six goals and 10 points in 11 games that January while playing mostly on the Vancouver Canucks' third line alongside Mason Raymond and Jannik Hansen. It seemed he was the team's answer to their center depth and secondary scoring issues. He was the NHL's January 2012 Rookie of the Month.

Cody Hodgson named NHL rookie of the month

In total, by January 31, 2012, he had scored 14 goals and 30 points in 50 games with an average TOI of 12:42.

Canucks fans had enormous expectations for their 10th overall pick in the 2008 NHL Draft. Only one month later, at the trade deadline on February 27, the biggest news of the day broke: Cody Hodgson had been traded.

Canucks Nation let out a collective gasp.

Here's the Prospect forum thread from 2008 about Cody: Cody Hodgson

Click to read more...

 

[Voight]

Had a ton of hype in junior, including a fantastic World Junior performance in 2009. Was also captain of the Battalion and I recall a lot of the commentators / analysts only ever saying good things about him.

Any Canucks fans know if that back injury and misdiagnosis had a long term effect on his career?

 

[deckercky]

Possibly. Whatever the cause, he lacked NHL speed, and wasn't smart enough defensively to make up for it (his offensive instincts were obviously very good).

 

[tsujimoto74]

Had a ton of hype in junior, including a fantastic World Junior performance in 2009. Was also captain of the Battalion and I recall a lot of the commentators / analysts only ever saying good things about him.

Any Canucks fans know if that back injury and misdiagnosis had a long term effect on his career?

Maybe, but the malignant hypothermia was definitely his downfall.

 

[crazychimp]

From Wikipedia:

In 2017, Hodgson revealed he had retired after having been diagnosed with malignant hyperthermia. The disease, caused by a mutation of his RYR1 gene, significantly worsened his performance in his final seasons and was only correctly diagnosed after his last season, which he described as "a literal struggle." He partnered with the RYR-1 Foundation in creating a documentary to raise awareness of the disease.

It’s unfortunate that he was diagnosed correctly after his last season and not before. There were rumours that he wanted out of Van (no truth to them) because he wasn’t getting the minutes playing a 3c role, and that’s why he was traded for Kassian a type of player the Canucks lacked.

He’s doing some good too with the Predators youth developmental program, who knows maybe one day we see him as a coach with one of the bigger leagues.

 

[Satoru Gojo]

Was billed as a franchise player at one point, its quite a shame

 

[Conbon]

The hype was warranted and that Kassian trade should have been abysmal for the Canucks. But by then the back troubles had already set in and no one can predict something like that. He'd still be a productive #2c today imo.

 

[Baberham Lincoln]

Cody Godson?

 

[DudeWhereIsMakar]

His ceiling and size of the NHL weren't enough for him. Obviously very good though.

 

[Saturated Fats]

The back issue hurt his development and his relationship with the club, but the malignant hyperthermia - which was always there but undiagnosed until 2017 - was clearly the main issue, likely exacerbated by the several surgeries he had relating to his back.

All things considered, it was an unfortunate combination of circumstances. That being said, it's pretty impossible to be a high-functioning athlete with such a condition. It would've reared its ugly head eventually. Otherwise, he had the skill and IQ to be a productive second-third line centre. I hope he finds his footing as a coach.

 

[GoJetsGo55]

I remember his amazing WJC. Thought he was an NHL star in the making after that.