I do agree with you on that point. Huge drop off from Hodgson to Malhotra or Pahlsson when it comes to creating offense. But I think the Canucks now realize the NHL could care less about the entertainment value of hockey in the playoffs. Especially in the later rounds. ("It's a playoff game! It's already exciting right?!") So it's all about being able to check and check and check and check....and then hopefully score on a turnover.

Kesler got bogged down with checking duties last year so I think the plan this year is to have line 3a and line 3b to do the checking. The Sedins will be doing their usual thing (eating up time with the top defenders and accomplishing pretty much nothing offensively) leaving Kesler and Booth to generate most of the offense with their speed, net drive and shoot first approach.
- YeOldTimer

Yep, totally agree.

AV didn't trust our 3rd line with Cody to shut down any top lines, so Kesler got that duty, pretty much not allowing him to play an offensive game.

Now with a legit shut down 3rd line, they can play against the other teams top lines, I assume the Sedins will play up against the other teams 3rd line checking unit. Leaving Kesler to play against the other teams 2nd line, makes sense but we'll see.

So it's AV's fault that Hodgson was traded... Unbelieveable, the guy is the winningest coach in Canucks history, has won the division almost every year he's coached here, only coach to win us a President's Trophy, one of only 3 who's gotten us to the Cup Finals and one of 2 to get us within a game of the Cup, yet because he wouldn't play a ROOKIE in front of Henrik and Kesler, he's the worst coach in history. Yes folks, it's no wonder people laugh at us for being such idiot fans. Somehow it's all his fault when the players on his team don't perform, but when they do, he's not credited with brilliance, it's just the team he has.

And on the subject of Buffalo's game last night, might that have more to do with RYAN MILLER playing unbelievable? I seem to recall that he made outstanding saves on Perry, Getzlaf, Selanne and Ryan in the third period when they were getting outshot badly.
- DariusKnight

Relax...do we need a repeat of yesterday?

You are totally delusional buddy...I never said any of that. In fact, I worded it so people wouldnt read my post like *yours* where you are making all kinds of crazy assumptions, speculations and stretching the hell out of anything negative you can come up with about Hodgson.

I went the distence to say "speculate this".... and now you are on a rant about blame? Youve made dozens of suggestions but you are getting angry about somene else's. No wonder you are coming up with all this crazy stuff. Look how you jump to conclusions!

Relax...do we need a repeat of yesterday?

You are totally delusional buddy...I never said any of that. In fact, I worded it so people wouldnt read my post like *yours* where you are making all kinds of crazy assumptions, speculations and stretching the hell out of anything negative you can come up with about Hodgson.

I went the distence to say "speculate this".... and now you are on a rant about blame? Youve made dozens of suggestions but you are getting angry about somene else's. No wonder you are coming up with all this crazy stuff. Look how you jump to conclusions!
- boonerbuck

I'm not making crazy assumptions, speculations or stretching things out. Can we agree that Hodgson is not fully developed and that if he hadn't been traded, if we had to rely on him for scoring no matter where he is in the lineup that chances are we aren't going anywhere in the playoffs anyways? I don't think it's a speculation/assumption/stretching the hell out of negatives to say that to have to rely on a rookie to be the difference maker in a playoff series is a good thing. Can we also agree that Hodgson isn't somehow the perfect hockey player YET? And that he needs to work on certain aspects of his game to reach his full potential? Please? Thank you.

Great blog Peter! Thank you for a sober analysis, we haven't been getting too much of that lately. It was a hard deal to make that will hopefully benefit both teams for years to come.

I'm not making crazy assumptions, speculations or stretching things out. Can we agree that Hodgson is not fully developed and that if he hadn't been traded, if we had to rely on him for scoring no matter where he is in the lineup that chances are we aren't going anywhere in the playoffs anyways? I don't think it's a speculation/assumption/stretching the hell out of negatives to say that to have to rely on a rookie to be the difference maker in a playoff series is a good thing. Can we also agree that Hodgson isn't somehow the perfect hockey player YET? And that he needs to work on certain aspects of his game to reach his full potential? Please? Thank you.
- DariusKnight

I still can't follow you. You are all over the place. You are still going on about "perfect hockey player" and all this exaggerated stuff. For me to agree with anything you say means I would have argued those points at some time...which I havent.

You seem pretty hostile about people not liking the timing of this trade....I find that totally strange.

I still can't follow you. You are all over the place. You are still going on about "perfect hockey player" and all this exaggerated stuff. For me to agree with anything you say means I would have argued those points at some time...which I havent.

You seem pretty hostile about people not liking the timing of this trade....I find that totally strange.
- boonerbuck

I'm not hostile, I just don't see how waiting until the summer would have benefited us, especially since people seem to believe that Hodgson is worth 1 for 1 a top 6 forward or top 4 D. That's just not the case, and there's no guarantee that we would get an upgrade in the summer. Team's needs change after the season's over, we might have ended up getting less for Hodgson than now. Schneider too might not fetch us as much as people think because there's quite a few goalies out there that are UFA and could be had for less money than what he's going to be asking in arbitration (although perhaps not with comparable numbers or potential). I also think that people don't realize that the CBA is up for negotiation after the season's over and that could impact the cap by lowering it significantly if the owners have their way and I also think that was a consideration. In the end, it's going to come down to whether you feel Hodgson could have helped us for our run, or whether Kassian/MAG would be better for our run. You believe Cody would, fine, I'll disagree with you there simply because we played most of the playoffs last year without him and made it to Game 7 of the Finals, but maybe you're right, we'll see.

Re: The Hodgson vs Booth doghouse comments.

There is one thing I really despise about AV is he ALWAYS has some one in the doghouse. Morrison Wellwood, Raymond, Ballard, Booth Hodgson.... it will go on.

this is probably the biggest divide between Gillis and AV in terms of approach and it may ultimately be the one which separates them for good. But that is some time off.

Re: The Hodgson vs Booth doghouse comments.

There is one thing I really despise about AV is he ALWAYS has some one in the doghouse. Morrison Wellwood, Raymond, Ballard, Booth Hodgson.... it will go on.

this is probably the biggest divide between Gillis and AV in terms of approach and it may ultimately be the one which separates them for good. But that is some time off.
- Peter.Tessier

...Mitchell, Sundin, OB, M Schneider, Linden, Grabner, ... oh there are more....

I'm not hostile, I just don't see how waiting until the summer would have benefited us, especially since people seem to believe that Hodgson is worth 1 for 1 a top 6 forward or top 4 D. That's just not the case, and there's no guarantee that we would get an upgrade in the summer. Team's needs change after the season's over, we might have ended up getting less for Hodgson than now. Schneider too might not fetch us as much as people think because there's quite a few goalies out there that are UFA and could be had for less money than what he's going to be asking in arbitration (although perhaps not with comparable numbers or potential). I also think that people don't realize that the CBA is up for negotiation after the season's over and that could impact the cap by lowering it significantly if the owners have their way and I also think that was a consideration. In the end, it's going to come down to whether you feel Hodgson could have helped us for our run, or whether Kassian/MAG would be better for our run. You believe Cody would, fine, I'll disagree with you there simply because we played most of the playoffs last year without him and made it to Game 7 of the Finals, but maybe you're right, we'll see.
- DariusKnight

I think part of the problem is your generalizing of everything you are hearing and just lumping into one arguement against individules with different opinions. Your exaggerations are taking from any legitimate points you may be trying to make. When I do this...and we all do at times, and someone points it out, I try and adjust. It's good habit forming even...

If the other 29 GM's in the league were given time to think about whether they need a player like Hodgson and what they could offer for him, it's has to be better than the quiet TDL deal that went down. Didnt a couple of GM's already say they were disappointed they didnt know he was available? I even heard it mentioned that one said they could have offered more for what ever the rumour is worth. True or false, this is logical.

I think part of the problem is your generalizing of everything you are hearing and just lumping into one arguement against individules with different opinions. Your exaggerations are taking from any legitimate points you may be trying to make. When I do this...and we all do at times, and someone points it out, I try and adjust. It's good habit forming even...

If the other 29 GM's in the league were given time to think about whether they need a player like Hodgson and what they could offer for him, it's has to be better than the quiet TDL deal that went down. Didnt a couple of GM's already say they were disappointed they didnt know he was available? I even heard it mentioned that one said they could have offered more for what ever the rumour is worth. True or false, this is logical.
- boonerbuck

it was amazing, most trades that day went down with a prior "i'm hearing that team x and team y are discussing player A. It's not quite done yet but it's close".
The hodgson trade, all I remember is a tweet saying it may happen from mackenzie, and then about 30 seconds later "cody hodgson is a buffalo sabre". it was head-spinning.

I think part of the problem is your generalizing of everything you are hearing and just lumping into one arguement against individules with different opinions. Your exaggerations are taking from any legitimate points you may be trying to make. When I do this...and we all do at times, and someone points it out, I try and adjust. It's good habit forming even...

If the other 29 GM's in the league were given time to think about whether they need a player like Hodgson and what they could offer for him, it's has to be better than the quiet TDL deal that went down. Didnt a couple of GM's already say they were disappointed they didnt know he was available? I even heard it mentioned that one said they could have offered more for what ever the rumour is worth. True or false, this is logical.
- boonerbuck

I'll admit that perhaps I'm generalizing a bit, but I go by what I read/watch/hear and I also have a background in hockey by virtue of having played major midget (but never having the skill, plus blowing out my knee to make it to major junior) and having family/friends who are deeply involved in major junior/minor league hockey. So I can say with certainty that certain things stick out at me as raising red flags about Hodgson. Maybe not so much about his ability/potential, because I agree with everyone who says he'll likely become a very good to great first/second line center. But there are things like him dumping 3 agents, his refusal to work with any of the Canucks staff (and I admit that he was justified to refuse to work with Gagner because of his back) and the fact that 2 days before the deadline, he goes with his agent to ask for more ice time when he knows he's behind an Art Ross winner/candidate and a Selke winner/nominee. To me that brings up questions about either his character or at the very least, the advice he's getting from his entourage (including his father, who is supposedly very involved in Cody's career). Dismissing every question raised as "speculation", "exaggeration", and "reaching" is also wrong. Maybe I'm reading too much into things, I just think the questions should be raised is all.

I'll admit that perhaps I'm generalizing a bit, but I go by what I read/watch/hear and I also have a background in hockey by virtue of having played major midget (but never having the skill, plus blowing out my knee to make it to major junior) and having family/friends who are deeply involved in major junior/minor league hockey. So I can say with certainty that certain things stick out at me as raising red flags about Hodgson. Maybe not so much about his ability/potential, because I agree with everyone who says he'll likely become a very good to great first/second line center. But there are things like him dumping 3 agents, his refusal to work with any of the Canucks staff (and I admit that he was justified to refuse to work with Gagner because of his back) and the fact that 2 days before the deadline, he goes with his agent to ask for more ice time when he knows he's behind an Art Ross winner/candidate and a Selke winner/nominee. To me that brings up questions about either his character or at the very least, the advice he's getting from his entourage (including his father, who is supposedly very involved in Cody's career). Dismissing every question raised as "speculation", "exaggeration", and "reaching" is also wrong. Maybe I'm reading too much into things, I just think the questions should be raised is all.
- DariusKnight

I think what I'm at disagreement with is how judgemental all the speculation is. A discussion about ice time right after a developing player who was producing ends up on the 4rth line is out of question? This may be the event that had Gillis decide that Cody will never fit under AV and pulled the trigger.... or not. I don't think it is any kind of proof that they wanted a trade out of Van tho...but I could be wrong. Hodgson says no to that...so I'm leaning towards no trade request since everything else is pure speculation. There are details that support and dont support spec but at least we have a definite no out of Cody and agent about a request.

I won't outright deny any of the possible reasosn Gillis traded Hodgson. Obviously he has his own. I personally do think it was premature. We are going to have to see success out of Kassian in the next 18 games and playoffs. If he only contributes as much as a player like Torres...I don't see how moving Cody was neccessary to bring in that eliment now. As soon as we are out of the playoffs, the trade freeze is gone...

I don't see any reasosn not to like Kassian. It's not about that at all. He's going to be a big part of our future....

So it's AV's fault that Hodgson was traded... Unbelieveable, the guy is the winningest coach in Canucks history, has won the division almost every year he's coached here, only coach to win us a President's Trophy, one of only 3 who's gotten us to the Cup Finals and one of 2 to get us within a game of the Cup, yet because he wouldn't play a ROOKIE in front of Henrik and Kesler, he's the worst coach in history. Yes folks, it's no wonder people laugh at us for being such idiot fans. Somehow it's all his fault when the players on his team don't perform, but when they do, he's not credited with brilliance, it's just the team he has.

And on the subject of Buffalo's game last night, might that have more to do with RYAN MILLER playing unbelievable? I seem to recall that he made outstanding saves on Perry, Getzlaf, Selanne and Ryan in the third period when they were getting outshot badly.
- DariusKnight

'Fault' is probably not the best word, but yes AV had huge input I think. He's never been a Hodgson fan -- right from the first training camp. He said some pretty damaging things about Hodgson -- and he was completely wrong about him and his injury. AV's stubbornness and arrogance would never allow Hodgson to get a great chance to show his best. AV has favourites, plays favourites, has those he doesn't like, diminishes their roles, and always seems to have to have someone in his 'doghouse'. AV is a good coach with an excellent team, but he has very clear weaknesses.

Re: The Hodgson vs Booth doghouse comments.

There is one thing I really despise about AV is he ALWAYS has some one in the doghouse. Morrison Wellwood, Raymond, Ballard, Booth Hodgson.... it will go on.

this is probably the biggest divide between Gillis and AV in terms of approach and it may ultimately be the one which separates them for good. But that is some time off.
- Peter.Tessier

Maybe not that far off. AV is gone if the Canucks do not win it all this year, IMO.

I'll admit that perhaps I'm generalizing a bit, but I go by what I read/watch/hear and I also have a background in hockey by virtue of having played major midget (but never having the skill, plus blowing out my knee to make it to major junior) and having family/friends who are deeply involved in major junior/minor league hockey. So I can say with certainty that certain things stick out at me as raising red flags about Hodgson. Maybe not so much about his ability/potential, because I agree with everyone who says he'll likely become a very good to great first/second line center. But there are things like him dumping 3 agents, his refusal to work with any of the Canucks staff (and I admit that he was justified to refuse to work with Gagner because of his back) and the fact that 2 days before the deadline, he goes with his agent to ask for more ice time when he knows he's behind an Art Ross winner/candidate and a Selke winner/nominee. To me that brings up questions about either his character or at the very least, the advice he's getting from his entourage (including his father, who is supposedly very involved in Cody's career). Dismissing every question raised as "speculation", "exaggeration", and "reaching" is also wrong. Maybe I'm reading too much into things, I just think the questions should be raised is all.
- DariusKnight

Having played a little hockey does nothing for your credibility. If you believe it does, it lessens it. The things you bring up are all pretty much speculation and merit no more credibility than any speculation does. Your credibility is based on what you say...and you're not very close to reality with much of it, IMO.

So as a sane and reasonable Sabre fan what is your take on this Kassian kid?
- CanUSA17

I really liked his game down low. His skating was not always the best but that can be worked on. He has really soft hands for a guy his size. He really was in a Hodgson situation. Sabres had an overload on the wings.

I really think he can turn into a 20/30 guy. I hope he works out for you!

I really liked his game down low. His skating was not always the best but that can be worked on. He has really soft hands for a guy his size. He really was in a Hodgson situation. Sabres had an overload on the wings.

I really think he can turn into a 20/30 guy. I hope he works out for you!
- ImThatGuy

Hopefully we can settle this whole 'who won the trade' controversy a couple of years from now in a Buffalo-Vancouver SCF.

Hopefully we can settle this whole 'who won the trade' controversy a couple of years from now in a Buffalo-Vancouver SCF.
- YeOldTimer

I honestly believe this will be a trade that worked out for both temas, adn neither wins.

Agreed on the SCF though! Can't guarantee i will be this nice though. I will tell you Kassian is the worst player in the world and he is a bum hole.

Hopefully we can settle this whole 'who won the trade' controversy a couple of years from now in a Buffalo-Vancouver SCF.
- YeOldTimer

That is only one of the arguements on the topic. It doesnt even represent half of the arguement even. For example, it has little to do with the arguement about trade requests or the immediate playoff needs etc...

Peter good article!

Dead on.

Peter good article!

Dead on.
- BuffMAN74

Same here. Well written, great read.

this was a really interesting thread and article to re-read.