Royal Canuck
Taco Enthusiast
You can teach defense, but you can't teach size or speed. Hodgson's small and slow.
It's not like he's a pushover and can't skate.
His speed and size are fine.
You can teach defense, but you can't teach size or speed. Hodgson's small and slow.
Just ask Stevie Y what happens when a young offensive player learns the other side of the game.
Being good at penalty killing and being good at defense in a 5 on 5 situation is different. PK is favourable to slower players with good positioning (ie. the Sedins, defensemen like Gill and Murray) because foot speed isn't a necessity, like it is in 5 on 5 situations. The Sedins aren't good defensively (in a 5 on 5 situation) and they never will be that good because they don't have the speed to cover the ice well enough.
Did you even watch the Sedins early in their career?Not to change the topic but the best they'll ever be is competent. Too slow- tall, but not big enough. I mean, think about all of the good defensive players that you know.. if they aren't big, then they're at least fast. And if they aren't fast, they're at least big.
Of course, being big and fast doesn't make you a good defensive play automatically, you have to have the IQ too, which explains Booth.
Screams a bad case of post-player-leaving bias/trashing syndrome. Seems like you might be the one in denial that he'll continue to improve into a great player.I know. You have to be in total fanboy DENIAL to blind yourself to this.
The beloved Cody is finished getting any bigger. Hes been TRYING to improve his skating for YEARS so it aint happening anymore. You dont get stronger from here on out. You get weaker. But you get smarter.
This is why young guys wail around the ice at 100mph and accomplish nothing , so it takes them to age 23 or 24 (see Kesler, Ryan, Burrows, Alex) until they get their head out of their arse .
Hodgson already has the smarts. He lives and dies by them. So he aint going to get much better. Just smarter. You cant teach speed or strength. Hodgson uses his stick to hook all the time because he cant play the body.
Lets face it. Hodgson is playing with two of the best NHL players to help pad his totals so what you are seeing now is what you are going to get.
Agreed, no reason he can't be at least serviceable in the D-zone after a few seasons. With that said, he doesn't skate fast for a guy of his size so that's troubling when he's trying to get back.
When you go from being a highly protected 3rd line center, to a top line center in one summer, there are going to be some growing pains. At least he's contributing offensively, the D will get better. Kassian looked a little lost on the game winning goal last game, he'll get better too.
I agree with this. Hodgson needs to learn that there is a fine line between reading the play and guessing. He ends up on the wrong side of the puck far too often. Obviously the Sabres have more time for this than we do. This is why AV makes everyone on the team play the right way and earn his trust. That's how it should be.
Kassian definitely has the easier go of it as a winger.
You dont get stronger from here on out. You get weaker.
The thing with Hodgson is that he's all offensive minded. His game focuses on offence offence offence. Yeah, he had trouble defensively in Vancouver but in junior, he was stellar. Him and John Tavares were an amazing duo in the World Juniors but I guess in the NHL, he wants to succeed offensively. Defence can be taught, like others have said, and give him time and he'll develop better in his own zone.
Immature, doesn't give a crap about defense
When the play goes into his end he doesn't switch his focus from the puck to his man. He's always, always, always watching the puck. He needs to make it a habit it to glue himself to his check and tie up his stick instead of worrying about getting ready for an outlet pass. Footspeed and size shouldn't prevent him from doing that.
Is he still being used on the PK? I ask is because, the only reason I can think of for him being put there is that someone thinks he can take that big hockey head of his, and learn defense.
I don't think Buffalo is going to be able (or even want to, with Ennis as their two way guy) to develop him into a two way player.
Generally, we've really enjoyed Cody (hey, being like 4th in the NHL in ES scoring doesn't hurt)......but.......could you guys send us someone to teach him how to win a blasted faceoff????? Dude is killing us.........
I am wondering what Buffalo's plan to win is?
So are we..........
I know.
Ugly, ugly games for the Sabres so far...
Generally, we've really enjoyed Cody (hey, being like 4th in the NHL in ES scoring doesn't hurt)......but.......could you guys send us someone to teach him how to win a blasted faceoff????? Dude is killing us.........
Fun to watch if you are not cheering for them. Kudos on beating up Boston a bit as well. From a Buffalo perspective Kassian is slowing down as well. So is not the next Cam Neely at least yet
Ya know, I don't think I ever really put 2 and 2 together, but I think you're onto something here. It explains why he's always SO EFFING CLOSE to his assignment, but just either doesn't get there in time or the puck hops over his stick or something (also speaks to a general lack of open-ice physicality). I know he's been on the ice for a lot of goals scored, and there are quite a few that he's been directly responsible for, but he never hangs his head and generally "makes up for it" later.
Generally, we've really enjoyed Cody (hey, being like 4th in the NHL in ES scoring doesn't hurt)......but.......could you guys send us someone to teach him how to win a blasted faceoff????? Dude is killing us.........
Good god, guys. Let it go.