Cody Hodgson was once called the most promising prospect in hockey back when he starred for the OHL’s Brampton Battalion and Canada’s World Junior Championship team. It was thought the Vancouver Canucks stole him in the 2008 NHL draft when they took him with the 10th overall pick – and that they gave him away when they traded him to Buffalo for Zack Kassian.
Friday night, as Hodgson’s Sabres prepared to take on the Canucks in Vancouver, Hodgson was announced as a healthy scratch.
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It’s the second time Hodgson has been made a healthy scratch this season, with the first instance happening against the Calgary Flames on Dec. 11.
Just one season removed from a promising 20-goal, 44-point campaign, Hodgson has completely bottomed out. Through 48 games, Hodgson has just two goals and seven points. For comparison’s sake, Kassian has two goals and five points.
In 2013, Hodgson signed a six-year contract with Buffalo that came with a $4.25 million cap hit. But with his production taking a sharp downturn and his status turning to healthy scratch, Hodgson may be entering buy out territory.
Hodgson for Kassian: It turns out nobody won this trade at all. It’s crazy to even have to ask the following question (taking cap hits into account):
