Confirmed with Link: Cody Hodgson to Nashville, 1 year deal

[NSH615]

Will Hodgson be a RFA or UFA at the end of this 1 year deal?

RFA per GeneralFanager

 

[Smashville Spence52]

For one guy yes, but a bunch of Nystrom, Hodgson, etc. contracts add up.

I hate nystorms contract but he's a depth and pk player! He's worth the money. If you don't think so watch him on the pk. Look what happen after he got hurt, our pk got worse. I rather pay him that money then lose him and have no replacement for him.

 

[Armourboy]

I hate nystorms contract but he's a depth and pk player! He's worth the money. If you don't think so watch him on the pk. Look what happen after he got hurt, our pk got worse. I rather pay him that money then lose him and have no replacement for him.

Our PK didn't get worse because of him, it got worse because Peks was playing poorly.

 

[AtlantaWhaler]

RFA per GeneralFanager

Yeah, NHLNumbers has him as a RFA as well. Great contract.

 

[Enoch]

Yeah, NHLNumbers has him as a RFA as well. Great contract.

That truly is a huge bonus!

 

[Roman Yoshi]

RE: RFA status

I like that. If Hodgson can put up 35-40 points it will be a significant upgrade to our third line, exactly what we needed. Hodgson is a play maker, so put a guy like Fiala on his wing and maybe Jarnkrok and see where it goes.

If Semin remains unsigned, I would love to give him a one year prove it deal and let him fight Jarnkrok for that right wing spot on the third line.

Neal Ribs Scoresberg
Fiala Hodgy Semin
Wilson Fisher Smith
Nystrom Goose Bourque.
Moses Jarnkrok Beck

That's what I'm talking about. That is true depth.

 

[Scoresberg]

Capfriendly says that Hodgson will become UFA in 2016?

 

[NSH615]

Capfriendly says that Hodgson will become UFA in 2016?

GeneralFanager has him listed as an RFA at the conclusion of his contract, but I think they could be wrong now that I look at it. This all depends on whether or not his first year counts. He played 8 NHL games in 2010-2011 and 52 AHL games. If this counts as one of the seven years then this next season would be his seventh year and he would be an UFA after this upcoming season.

 

[AtlantaWhaler]

Here's the NHLNumbers grid. They say RFA...

http://stats.nhlnumbers.com/teams/NAS?year=2016

 

[Byrddog]

CoHo will be RFA this will be his 5th season in the NHL and he is 25. To become a UFA he would need to be 27 or have 7 years in the league and his Feb birthday.

Group 3 (Unrestricted) Free Agents
The easiest-to-define class. If you've accrued 7 seasons (with the same definitions as laid out about how 18 and 19-year olds accrue differently), you're a UFA. If you haven't accrued those 7 seasons by the time you hit age 27, you get to be a UFA anyway. The birthday issue is a little funny here, in that everywhere else, the date that matters is either September 15 or December 31. Here it's June 30. You could technically have a guy miss out on becoming a UFA because he doesn't turn 27 until July 2nd.

My question is what will his QO be from what gather it wil be based on most current contract. That is somewhat concerning in a case like CoHo who has had a large contract prior to the current one. It sets up a almost guarantee of going to arbitration. And no knowing the outcome until just before the season starts.

 

[NSH615]

Edit: I'm stupid, I just realized one season is listed multiple times due to a trade. RFA it is.

 

[nomorekids]

I hate nystorms contract but he's a depth and pk player! He's worth the money. If you don't think so watch him on the pk. Look what happen after he got hurt, our pk got worse. I rather pay him that money then lose him and have no replacement for him.

Nystrom is a terrible penalty killer. That's most people's gripe with him. He's a defensive specialist that is godawful defensively.

 

[mikemcburn]

CoHo will be RFA this will be his 5th season in the NHL and he is 25. To become a UFA he would need to be 27 or have 7 years in the league and his Feb birthday.

Group 3 (Unrestricted) Free Agents
The easiest-to-define class. If you've accrued 7 seasons (with the same definitions as laid out about how 18 and 19-year olds accrue differently), you're a UFA. If you haven't accrued those 7 seasons by the time you hit age 27, you get to be a UFA anyway. The birthday issue is a little funny here, in that everywhere else, the date that matters is either September 15 or December 31. Here it's June 30. You could technically have a guy miss out on becoming a UFA because he doesn't turn 27 until July 2nd.

My question is what will his QO be from what gather it wil be based on most current contract. That is somewhat concerning in a case like CoHo who has had a large contract prior to the current one. It sets up a almost guarantee of going to arbitration. And no knowing the outcome until just before the season starts.

I was kinda surprised to hear he'd be RFA after this season myself, I mean, because of the Sabres contract which, even bought out, took him thru to UFA. I just keep thinking there's a caveat somewhere that hasn't been noted, but whatever.

I'd guess that there's not a lot to be concerned about for his next contract anyway...

If he returns to offensive form and makes it 4 of 5 seasons that he's a 40+ point producer, but doesn't fully develop and showcase his defensive and physical game, I see last year's "disaster" tempering his contract expectations. Not merely because he'll be getting paid by the Sabres still too, but because it's just hard to imagine a guy who went thru a year of open and near constant humiliation to actually *want* to put the target on his back again any time soon. So yeah, if he puts up the points but is still looking weak on the defense and physical game, I could see him readily taking a contract that pegs him as a secondary offensive contributor, a line-rider not line driver. Say $2.5-$3.5 for a couple years, depending on how much offensive production?

However... if he does show up in September having worked thru whatever mental block has stifled his development since that rookie year injury and actually shows himself to be more of the top 6 natural pivot he was projected to become, then he'd probably have the confidence to want back that $4.0+ with term contract. But then, if he shows himself to be what he was projected to become, that's an easy contract for a club to offer.

Another way of looking at it - he'll be 26, so unlike when the $4.25 Sabres deal was done, the parties will be looking at terms that reflect more of what he *is* rather than what he might become.

 

[Byrddog]

Cody is just one example of why im leary of what Poile might give Smith and Wilson. If they flame out like Cody did in Buffalo your looking at buy outs and more lost cap space. Right now Smith has played 277 NHL games and has 144 points Wilson has 368 games with 178 points. a year or two of decent numbers for a player is just too chancy to gamble with at this point when every year now theres another drop of young guys expecting to get paid. . The more I look at it the less I think Wilson will be here at all and if Smith is unreasonable in his expectations Poile will pass on him as well. CoHo is a good chance to take at 1 mil if he flamesyou put him on waivers and he gets picked up If Wilson or SMith flame at 3.5 to 4 you have another Stalberg situation.

 

[Jumptheshark]

sorry to bump an dead thread--but how did he look in camp?

 

[sparkle twin]

He didn't get much time. I know I saw him on the first day, but with so many players in camp it was hard to get a read on some of them. Then I guess he got hurt a bit so was held out of practice some. I think he only got one or two games to play in, but he did score a goal. Though I think the team as a whole didn't play well in either of the last games, I didn't see either of them, so I don't know how much you can really judge by those games.

 

[nomorekids]

sorry to bump an dead thread--but how did he look in camp?

He missed most of it with an injury, came back at the end and scored a goal in one of the two games he got into. Will start the season as our third line center.

 

[Robongo01]

He missed most of it with an injury, came back at the end and scored a goal in one of the two games he got into. Will start the season as our third line center.

How's his skating looking? I ask this because of this:

The Tennessean’s Adam Vingan had a note about Cody Hodgson going to Sweden to learn some different skating techniques. For years, he’s worked with Dawn Braid, an excellent teacher who helped John Tavares to new heights. Before the summer, Claude Lemieux, one of his agents, told him, “The best guy in the world is in Sweden, do you want to see him?â€

“Why not?†Hodgson replied.

“The three weeks were so helpful that I stayed for three more,†Hodgson said last Thursday in an interview. He actually worked with two instructors: a former speedskater named Andreas Larsson and a biomechanics expert, Peter Froberg. He explained how they changed his workouts on and off the ice to re-calibrate his “firing patterns."

"The ankles, the joints, it was all about repetition to get it ingrained in your muscle memory,†he said. He didn’t want to get too specific, but between working with Gary Roberts and going to Sweden, Hodgson overhauled almost everything to turn around his career.

source: http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/30-thoughts-the-aftermath-of-the-mike-richards-settlement/

 

[mikemcburn]

How's his skating looking? I ask this because of this:

source: http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/30-thoughts-the-aftermath-of-the-mike-richards-settlement/

If you're from Vancouver, did you catch what he looked before and after that back injury? I ask because while I realize he was drafted as much for his above average two-way game as his offensive talents (which infers his skating had to be at least average and there had to be something of a physical game) by the time I started seeing him (as a rookie), he'd lost that year of development to the back injury and seemed pretty much sub-par in those basics (which no doubt contributed to his eventual rep as a "defensive liability"). If you saw him as a prospect (pre injury), I'm curious if you noticed a difference?

Anyway, to answer your question -

As someone who has watched him since his post-injury rookie Vancouver days thru his tenure in Buffalo, I'd say the kid's skating has seen a 180. While in Buffalo I cringed for the kid so often that I swear I've got wrinkles now. He'd have flashes, especially toward the end of last year, where he seemed to shy less from the physical game, but nothing consistent to say he'd turned a corner. Since the off-season in Sweden, I've been seeing a totally different player.

His first Preds game was more so-so and I figured it was possible that I was being too hopeful for the kid. But the last 2 games, just swell to see the very notable difference, especially last night (the rare penalty notwithstanding) when he saw legit 3rd line minutes and seemed to be able to get more into the flow of the game.

I'd guess it's not all on the off-season training regime, I mean some of it will be due a re-focus on his whole game (don't think being drop-shipped into 1C in Buffalo as a rookie helped his development either, lol), sorta getting back his basics in that way, as well as refreshed confidence, etc. But the kid's skating stride itself is simply different, less "stumbly", he transitions faster a nd gets into the play quicker. And of course the bonus is that he's then into the play harder, better positioning on the back check, etc.

I'm not saying he's Flash Gordon, lol, but so far he looks at least like he can skate in the NHL again. Accounting for more time needed to fully adjust to the new team, systems, coach's expectations, linemates (if there ever really is a definitive 3rd line)... Well give him another 7-10 games to fully acclimatize and then re-evaluate the skating basics. I'm imagining his physical development trajectory might be along the lines of the Sedins, who will never been known for their speed and took to 26-27 to even get where they are now but don't appear to be slowing down quickly

 

[Drake744]

I tried to focus as much attention as I could on Hodgson last night and he seems to be filling the role of 3rd line center who is simply out there not to screw things up, which he did late with his penalty. His penalty reeked of someone desperate to make his mark on a scoresheet and make a strong play at the end. No business taking that penalty at all, like many have said. Granted yeah it was a hustle play but you just have to let him go and get back. I also know that he missed most of camp so he hasn't gotten the reps that others have but I can't help but wonder if he's getting frustrated.

 

[mikemcburn]

To me the penalty on Hodgson seemed weak, but then I only saw it once and I'm biased, so who knows. From PL's expression (very unimpressed with either the player or the call), how weak it was/wasn't in his mind might just show up in tomorrow's roster tweaks Whichever though, it was obviously poorly timed and only not terrible as it became the catalyst to opening up the score sheet - and adding to franchise history, lol.

If it was owed in part to Hodgson being frustrated with his part of the scoresheet, maybe that's almost a good thing? Don't want him ever going back into self-preservation rut of helplessly accepting poor results.

For what it's worth, btw, Hodgson doesn't have a tendency of racking up penalties (what he does get is typically for holding or the odd incidental trip), and he's always been on the good side of penalty differentials (draws more than he takes).

 

[Orvald]

Buffalo fan here, Main problem with Hodgson last year is that he was coasting and never really back checking.

Always loved his shot, and he has been working on his speed during the summer, just wondering how he is performing for you guys because this is pretty much his last shot.

 

[predfan24]

Haven't been impressed in the slightest thus far. Weak skater, weak player, not good in corners, doesn't seem great defensively. He either didn't have the strength or the motivation to tie up Lee in the Isles first goal and let him get body position for an easy tap in goal.

The problem with Hodgson, Jarnkrok and Ardivisson/Watson whoever on the same line is those players might have good individual skill but none can create space for themselves. They are only going to be effective in transition.

 

[mikemcburn]

Haven't been impressed in the slightest thus far. Weak skater, weak player, not good in corners, doesn't seem great defensively. He either didn't have the strength or the motivation to tie up Lee in the Isles first goal and let him get body position for an easy tap in goal.

Funny that, I've seen the near total opposite - skating stronger and playing harder, quick to put his body in a scrum even, digging along the boards and winning enough to be putting the puck back to the d, heck, he's even putting up multiple hits per game (3 last night), and for sure isn't been standing out as a weak link in his zone - the first goal against last night notwithstanding, lol (and seeing how he'd spent that shift on the move and digging in his zone, I wouldn't put the play down to either strength or motivation, more likely to be one of or a mix of still lacking in stamina/staying power and hesitating on Lee).

I wouldn't say I'm "impressed" in a general sense, but certainly impressed on the improvement over last year. Leeway for having missed most of game, being only 4 games with a new team/system, etc. on limited es time, no special teams, and revolving linemates... Well, I'm hopeful to be impressed as the season - and his integration - progresses.

The problem with Hodgson, Jarnkrok and Ardivisson/Watson whoever on the same line is those players might have good individual skill but none can create space for themselves. They are only going to be effective in transition.

Yup. Totally. None look "bad" individually, but seeing three individuals who aren't complimenting each other and who need to be complimented.

 

[nomorekids]

I've actually been reasonably pleased with the third line. They're generating shots and keeping the puck in the offensive zone, which is more than could be said at any point last year. Bourque\Hodgson\Jarnkrok was effective vs Ottawa.