Carol Schram: Vancouver Canucks Game Day: October 17 at Buffalo Sabres – Zack vs. Cody The Vancouver Canucks look to extend their road winning streak to two games as they face off against Cody Hodgson and the Buffalo Sabres.

Going to the game tonight in Buffalo! Likely the only Canuck fan there but I will representin' with jersey on!!! Go 'Nucks Go!!!

I'm sick of hearing about how bad Hodgson's defensive zone play is. He's not here to shut people down, he's here to provide offense. Granted, he's not doing enough of that either (nobody really is on this team), but it's time to let players like Hodgson do what they do best. If he puts up points, I will live with his defensive shortcomings. The same goes for Tyler Ennis too.

I'm sick of hearing about how bad Hodgson's defensive zone play is. He's not here to shut people down, he's here to provide offense. Granted, he's not doing enough of that either (nobody really is on this team), but it's time to let players like Hodgson do what they do best. If he puts up points, I will live with his defensive shortcomings. The same goes for Tyler Ennis too.
- buffalofan19

Agreed. I remember when people were even giving Ovechkin sh!t for not back-checking. You have a 120 point player and are pissed he's not back-checking? Clearly no pleasing some people.

And Cody Hodgson is definitely a better asset than Zach Kassian at this point in time. Anyone who thinks otherwise should probably follow a sport they understand better.

Agreed. I remember when people were even giving Ovechkin sh!t for not back-checking. You have a 120 point player and are pissed he's not back-checking? Clearly no pleasing some people.

And Cody Hodgson is definitely a better asset than Zach Kassian at this point in time. Anyone who thinks otherwise should probably follow a sport they understand better.
- AlexF

Yeah, it's not really close between the two at the moment. Hodgson is clearly further along in his development.

Going to the game tonight in Buffalo! Likely the only Canuck fan there but I will representin' with jersey on!!! Go 'Nucks Go!!!
- deuce22

Good news for you is that Sabres fans currently are more involved with hating the GM and trying to get him fired to worry about hating the other teams fans and players.

Have fun

Agreed. I remember when people were even giving Ovechkin sh!t for not back-checking. You have a 120 point player and are pissed he's not back-checking? Clearly no pleasing some people.

And Cody Hodgson is definitely a better asset than Zach Kassian at this point in time. Anyone who thinks otherwise should probably follow a sport they understand better.
- AlexF

To be fair, power forwards do usually take longer to develop. However, Kassian clearly has a screw loose, which may help him in the long run, but it can completely ruin him too.

Yeah, it's not really close between the two at the moment. Hodgson is clearly further along in his development.
- nucks_94

Which is too bad. I really had high hopes for Kassian. I think he just needs to get his head on straight. If he does that he can be a very effective power forward.

At the present time Hodgson is the better player. Kassian has all the physical tools to be a good player but I question whether or not he has it upstairs.

Which is too bad. I really had high hopes for Kassian. I think he just needs to get his head on straight. If he does that he can be a very effective power forward.
- ImThatGuy

He's shown flashes/shifts of real promise but the consistency is nowhere near where it should be and he seems to balance out those great shifts with entire games of anonymity.

The phrase "the jury's still out" is a cliche that been used with Kassian ever since he arrived to Van. It's still true, but can't be used for too much longer IMO since quite often he's shown to be too ineffective with any linemates he's been placed with not named Sedin.

Of course Hodgson is going to say all that... it's not like he's going to admit to being a cry baby.

I'm sick of hearing about how bad Hodgson's defensive zone play is. He's not here to shut people down, he's here to provide offense. Granted, he's not doing enough of that either (nobody really is on this team), but it's time to let players like Hodgson do what they do best. If he puts up points, I will live with his defensive shortcomings. The same goes for Tyler Ennis too.
- buffalofan19

Not much point in scoring a goal, when you just give it back in your own zone.

This isn't a Jr league, offensive players still need to be accountable in their zone.

But if you're ok with that type of team in Buffalo, good luck.

And for the record, as it stands I think Cody is a great player, and the Sabres won that trade.

Defensive play can be taught, offensive skill and vision can't.

Of course Hodgson is going to say all that... it's not like he's going to admit to being a cry baby.
- Scooby_Doo

Gillis or CoHo, who to believe?

Yep, I'm going with Hodgson.

Not much point in scoring a goal, when you just give it back in your own zone.

This isn't a Jr league, offensive players still need to be accountable in their zone.

But if you're ok with that type of team in Buffalo, good luck.
- moondawg

There are 5 guys on the ice. If one is not solid defensively that hardly equals an automatic goal against. Line him up alongside guys that are more defensively responsible, problem solved.

It's nowhere near the issue it would be were he a offensive defenseman (looking at you Justin Shultz).

Canuck Weekly Prospect Report - October 17th 2013

http://canucksarmy.com/20...ct-report-18-october-2013

And for the record, as it stands I think Cody is a great player, and the Sabres won that trade.

Defensive play can be taught, offensive skill and vision can't.
- moondawg

Cody is a better player than Kassian. There's no debate. It was a stupid trade.
I love how Kassian plays when he decides he wants to crank it up but I'd much rather have a potential successor to Henrik in the system.

Gillis has traded far too many pieces with nothing to show for it other than Kassian and Horvat and neither are helping the team this year. Bye bye Schneider, Cody, Grabner, 1st rounder, two 2nd rounders, Oberg and Connaughton. Hello Kassian and Horvat. That's all he has to show.

Gillis' trade record is awful. His FA signing is decent. His ability to get key guys to sign extensions has been excellent. Basically, he's a good agent. He's not a good GM.

Mike Gillis, you've failed this city.

There are 5 guys on the ice. If one is not solid defensively that hardly equals an automatic goal against. Line him up alongside guys that are more defensively responsible, problem solved.

It's nowhere near the issue it is were he a offensive defenseman (looking at you Justin Shultz).
- AlexF

I disagree, but that is ok.

An offensive player not back checking or picking up his man, in a league with this much skill, often ends up in the back of your net.

Carol Schram: Vancouver Canucks Game Day: October 17 at Buffalo Sabres – Zack vs. Cody
The Vancouver Canucks look to extend their road winning streak to two games as they face off against Cody Hodgson and the Buffalo Sabres.
- Carol Schram

I voted for Kassian, but then I'm a Buffalo fan.

I used to love playing you guys back in the Naslund days. We've always had a solid connection as franchises - going back to our inaugural seasons. Good luck tonight, I kind of don't think you'll need it with the state of our franchise.

Cody is a better player than Kassian. There's no debate. It was a stupid trade.
I love how Kassian plays when he decides he wants to crank it up but I'd much rather have a potential successor to Henrik in the system.

Gillis has traded far too many pieces with nothing to show for it other than Kassian and Horvat and neither are helping the team this year. Bye bye Schneider, Cody, Grabner, 1st rounder, two 2nd rounders, Oberg and Connaughton. Hello Kassian and Horvat. That's all he has to show.

Gillis' draft record is awful. His FA signing is decent. His ability to get key guys to sign extensions has been excellent. Basically, he's a good agent. He's not a good GM.

Mike Gillis, you've failed this city.
- therealagent

God, that is nasty.

Cody is a better player than Kassian. There's no debate. It was a stupid trade.
I love how Kassian plays when he decides he wants to crank it up but I'd much rather have a potential successor to Henrik in the system.

Gillis has traded far too many pieces with nothing to show for it other than Kassian and Horvat and neither are helping the team this year. Bye bye Schneider, Cody, Grabner, 1st rounder, two 2nd rounders, Oberg and Connaughton. Hello Kassian and Horvat. That's all he has to show.

Gillis' trade record is awful. His FA signing is decent. His ability to get key guys to sign extensions has been excellent. Basically, he's a good agent. He's not a good GM.

Mike Gillis, you've failed this city.
- therealagent

Well said.

EDIT: You forgot Booth, the 4.25m anchor. And might even mention that we lost Ehrhoff for nothing.

Cody is a better player than Kassian. There's no debate. It was a stupid trade.
I love how Kassian plays when he decides he wants to crank it up but I'd much rather have a potential successor to Henrik in the system.

Gillis has traded far too many pieces with nothing to show for it other than Kassian and Horvat and neither are helping the team this year. Bye bye Schneider, Cody, Grabner, 1st rounder, two 2nd rounders, Oberg and Connaughton. Hello Kassian and Horvat. That's all he has to show.

Gillis' trade record is awful. His FA signing is decent. His ability to get key guys to sign extensions has been excellent. Basically, he's a good agent. He's not a good GM.

Mike Gillis, you've failed this city.
- therealagent

That's brutal.

EDIT: Grabner- 7 points in 6 GP this season. Hodgson- 6 points in 8 GP this season.

Well said.

EDIT: You forgot Booth, the 4.25m anchor. And might even mention that we lost Ehrhoff for nothing.
- AlexF

these are just guys who we traded away so i didn't include erhoff. yeah, add sturm and samuelsson to the list and we get booth. i'd rather have sammy.

Cody is a better player than Kassian. There's no debate. It was a stupid trade.
I love how Kassian plays when he decides he wants to crank it up but I'd much rather have a potential successor to Henrik in the system.

Gillis has traded far too many pieces with nothing to show for it other than Kassian and Horvat and neither are helping the team this year. Bye bye Schneider, Cody, Grabner, 1st rounder, two 2nd rounders, Oberg and Connaughton. Hello Kassian and Horvat. That's all he has to show.

Gillis' trade record is awful. His FA signing is decent. His ability to get key guys to sign extensions has been excellent. Basically, he's a good agent. He's not a good GM.

Mike Gillis, you've failed this city.
- therealagent

This is about the worst bash Gillis post I have ever seen.

Evan Oberg

Sabres won the trade, as I said the day it was made. You just don't trade a young player showing he belongs and is producing at the NHL-level for one that hasn't done squat yet. I'm still holding out hope that Kassian is developing at slower pace than Hodgson as a power forward but he needs to take a step forward this season for me to believe that. Sure, Cody's defensive game could use a lot of work, but I'd rather have a player that can help me offensively rather than one who hasn't contributed significantly at either ends of the ice yet. Not to mention that the Sabres have been a pretty bad team so quite a few of their big-minute players have and will continue to be one the ice for many goals against.

Again, whether Hodgson demanded a trade or if Gillis just really wanted to move him him or not, the only issue I have is that he wasn't dealt or packaged up for a player that at least shown the ability to be an effective NHL player(like Cody did).