Dave Gagner: Cody Hodgson Is Ready For NHL

by Sean Zandberg on Jul 9, 2009 4:28 PM PDT in Cody Hodgson Comment 29 comments

Tip to the folks at CDC for finding the story at the Team 1040 website. Gagner, the Canucks' Director of Player Development said:

"In my opinion, he is. He's proven everything he can at the Canadian hockey league level - Player of the year. It was the type of year that he was able to experience everything, which is very unique. At the World Junior Championships, he led that in scoring and played a big part in a gold-medal win. At the end of the season, he helped get his team in the OHL final and after that played in the Calder Cup final (with Manitoba). In terms of the experience he gained this year, we couldn't have asked for anything more. I believe he's ready - Cody's going to have to come in and prove that to everyone on the coaching staff - but in my opinion, he is ready."

Don't expect Hodgson to be a lock (or do..whatever gets you up in the morning), but this is exciting to hear Gagner say that. Hodgson will have to haul ass at training camp, which you can be assured he will. There is no way in hell he wants to go back to the OHL.

This is where it must be a bit nerve-wracking for Mike Gillis. If Hodgson steps in and performs masterfully, where does Kyle Wellwood go? The same applies with Michael Grabner. In the end we may have more depth or commodities than we think.

UPDATE: Via the Province, Hodgson's slot on the team is his to lose.

0 recs | Comment 29 comments | Share

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Grabner to Leafs for something…

We are all Canucks.

by Chinese Canuck on Jul 9, 2009 4:56 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Ian White. I’m still stuck on that guy. He’d be a great fit.

Nucks Misconduct

by Sean Zandberg on Jul 9, 2009 4:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’ve put up with this Ian White rubbish long enough. STOP IT Zanstorm. Watch a few games and tell me then if we need a slow, soft defenceman who can barely crack Canada’s worst teams lineup.

You don’t know what you’re wishin for…

by Nuckels on Jul 9, 2009 7:09 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’ve seen enough of White, and I see progress.
OK, let’s start a rally for Kaberle then

Nucks Misconduct

by Sean Zandberg on Jul 9, 2009 7:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

TOMAS, not Frantisek

Nucks Misconduct

by Sean Zandberg on Jul 9, 2009 7:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ian White played some of the hardest minutes on a Leafs team with terrible D last year and was a positive player doing it.

http://www.behindthenet.ca/2008/5_on_5.php?sort=&mingp=70&mintoi=15&team=TOR&pos=D

Look at his QCOMP (quality of competition) and GFON/60 vs GAON/60. His Corsi is also positive.

Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.

by Chemmy on Jul 10, 2009 7:06 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for those stats, Chemmy.

Nucks Misconduct

by Sean Zandberg on Jul 10, 2009 7:11 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Zan, I don’t think Hodgson being good is anywhere near the top of the list of things that make Gillis nervous. “Oh no, we have better players than we thought, and now we have problems with our roster because we have too many good players”

by Beantown Canuck on Jul 9, 2009 5:02 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

It’s not that as much as the brass has to make a choice on how they fill the remaining voids on the roster. Gillis is being uber-patient right now and I’m wondering if they are already expecting Hodgson to make the team. I’m also wondering what exactly he has in mind to fill the d-man holes, as many of the decent UFA’s are snagged up now.
I hate being patient and I hate waiting. So, sure, Gillis may not be ‘nervous’ per se. But in a sense isn’t he waiting to see how some of these kids develop as well? You want your prospects to kick ass so their value increases.

Nucks Misconduct

by Sean Zandberg on Jul 9, 2009 5:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sigh. If only we had Luc Bourdon. We’d have no holes to fill right now, could sign Welly easily, and jump and skip our way until September with 2.5 mill available on the cap to tinker mid-season.

by Beantown Canuck on Jul 9, 2009 5:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Damn, there isn’t a week that goes by where I don’t think about that. Such a sad waste.

Nucks Misconduct

by Sean Zandberg on Jul 9, 2009 5:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

RIP #28

by Beantown Canuck on Jul 9, 2009 5:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think we use Grabner to acquire another defensive prospect. I don’t think that we’ll be able to replace Bourdon this way, but we ought to be able to bolster the back-end a bit.

by CarolinaCanuck on Jul 9, 2009 6:38 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Chosen One:

Not to put too much pressure on the Kid, but Hodgson strikes me as someone
who’s going to get his name chiseled on the Cup one day. He’s got the pedigree for sure.
The trick is to make certain Cody’s with the Canucks when he wins it.

by Sneps-ish on Jul 9, 2009 6:22 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Twitch

Excuse me. Trade away someone who could end up as a pure goal scorer?
Twitch
Considering how often scoring has been Vancouver’s biggest problem over the years, pardon the hesitation.

by Thursday on Jul 9, 2009 6:47 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Thank you, another voice of reason speaks up :)

by Nuckels on Jul 9, 2009 7:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

No way on trading Grabner. Let him knock someone else (Raymond, Bernier) out with his play, but give him a chance.

'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.

by Yankee Canuck on Jul 9, 2009 7:06 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Grabner is simply not a two-way player. Considering the type of player he is, Grabner needs to knock either Burrows or Kesler off one of the top two lines. Do you think this likely? I just don’t think the Canucks have room for him, but someone else will: hopefully we can use that to address our need to solidify our blue-line.

by CarolinaCanuck on Jul 10, 2009 10:06 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Grabner

Could be extremely valuable next year of cap drops significantly.

by NuckFan on Jul 10, 2009 11:31 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Raymond, Hodgson and Grabner are the future of this team. As much as I love Wellwood, there’s really no room for him unless Hodgson needs some time in Manitoba. We’re getting depth up front though that’s for sure, and depth is what makes Detroit what it is. It isn’t a bad idea to emulate that.

by sfont on Jul 9, 2009 7:41 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Well what do you think the Nucks could get in return for Wellwood then? A prospect.
Maybe he’ll go ion a package deal.

Nucks Misconduct

by Sean Zandberg on Jul 9, 2009 8:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fuck being conservative. Play Raymond, Hodgson and Grabner on the same line (The Kid Line) and let them evolve together. I dislike the kind of thinking that heaven forbid if the line struggles—the players will never recover and will become minor leaguers for the rest of their careers. I’d take the chance.

by Bobby Canuck on Jul 9, 2009 9:51 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree mostly. They aren’t labeled as saviours on line 3 anyway. Pressure’s off

Nucks Misconduct

by Sean Zandberg on Jul 9, 2009 11:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

“The Kid Line” is not a bad idea, but I don’t think it would last longer than 3 games with AV as coach…

by CarolinaCanuck on Jul 10, 2009 10:13 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wellwood and Schneider to wherever for a solid defenceman. I would have said Toronto but now that they have Gusstavson I don’t think Burkie will be looking for someone to back up Toskala.

by sfont on Jul 10, 2009 12:08 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

No but they need the help up front. That’s where Grabner comes in (as an example)

Nucks Misconduct

by Sean Zandberg on Jul 10, 2009 7:12 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

In a potential trade that is.
Hey we should trade negotiating rights to the Sedins in 5 years to Burke NOW for Tomas Kaberle. Then he won’t get accused of tampering in the future.
heheh

Nucks Misconduct

by Sean Zandberg on Jul 10, 2009 7:14 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hodgson Can't Play in the AHL

If he doesn’t make the ‘Nucks, he’s sent back to junior, and he’s got nothing more to prove there. That’s why I think he’ll stick with the big club unless he totally tanks it in camp and pre-season.

Grabner, on the other hand, could certainly use some AHL seasoning for his defensive development. He’s one of the few pure goal scorers Vancouver’s ever had in their system: he may end up being another King, but he could end up much more. I’m happy to wait a couple years for his potential to go one way or another.

by Thursday on Jul 10, 2009 9:41 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs