It's well known that he's not my favorite player, but even I never expected it to come to this point with him. I always thought he was a decent NHL caliber player who just needed to play a little further down the line-up to hide his defensive warts. But 18 games into the season, he's got 1 goal and 1 assist and a minus 10 on the season. He's been relegated to one of the last men on the bench by Nolan, and if something doesn't change, he looks like one of the worst contracts in the league. What's going to happen with this player?
He looks like total garbage this year.
You can tell Nolan is in his ear, as these tiny little moments of effort/finish pop up on a single play or a couple shifts. But the consistent effort, style of play, etc that Nolan wants, just isn't there. Cody has no heart.
As for the contract... it's not even in the vicinity of one of the worst contracts in the league. Given his age, and the length of the deal only going through his mid to late 20s... it's simply not even comparable to something like the Clarkson contract.
Hodgson is a "passenger" player on a team with no drivers... if we are stuck with him for a few years, so be it. There is still the possibility that we get through the rebuild and he has value as a passenger player on a team full of drivers.
If we can trade him for something useful, I'm on board. If there is nothing useful out there in trade (im not interested in dumping him for futures of little value), Im fine with living with the growing pains for a few seasons.
Right now, he looks awful in a scoring line role, because there is no talent around him to lift and/or compliment his play. He needs players that create space, drive possession, and feed him opportunities to make plays in the space.
Right now, he looks awful in a bottom 6 role, because there is nothing about his game that fits in that role.
If we are stuck with him for the long haul, I hold some hope that he could potentially be a finisher on a line featuring a ReinMcEichel at center, and puck dominant power forward on the other wing.
regardless, he flat out sucks right now...