Nashville Predators general manager David Poile spoke to The Tennessean Wednesday, addressing his decision to put forward Cody Hodgson on waivers.
Hodgson, 25, signed a one-year, $1.05-million contract with Nashville in July but hasn’t provided the offence expected of him, registering only eight points in 39 games this season.
“We’re now past the halfway point of the season and we’re not where we want to be,” said Poile, whose team is 19-17-7. “Because of that, it’s time to make some changes, whether it’s sitting a player out or taking a drastic measure to put (Hodgson) on waivers with the plan that if he’s taken, that would be good for the player.
“If not, he will be going to (AHL) Milwaukee. … I think we gave him a good opportunity. That’s for him to (decide) whether he agrees or not.”
Hodgson was taken 10th overall in the 2008 NHL Draft by the Vancouver Canucks, but was traded to the Buffalo Sabres at the 2012 trade deadline.
He signed a six-year $25.5-million deal with the Sabres ahead of the 2013-14 season where he saw career highs in goals (20) and assists (24). However, following a disappointing 2014-15 campaign that saw Hodgson total just 13 points, the Sabres bought out the remaining four years of his contract.
The Predators figured he’d be a worthy gamble to provide some scoring to a team that’s typically known for excellent defence and goaltending.
Nashville currently holds the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference, but has scored just 109 goals, the lowest in the Central Division.
“We signed him to enhance our (offence) and it didn’t happen,” Poile said. “You look for other areas that maybe a player can help you — checking or penalty killing or some other area. Really, I think we were pretty honest with Cody and told him that he had to produce offensively, and he hasn’t.
“This is the move.”
