Michael Pachla: Sabres/Canes could swap bad contracts Carolina's Alexander Semin and Buffalo's Cody Hodgson are possible buyout candidates.

Good read..as per usual.

I have to say I didn't pay much attention to Semin this year but I would rather have him in the top 6 than Hodgson...

oh and FIST

thx, striper...might even provoke some interesting responses

I would make that trade in a second.
Couldn't get him off the team fast enough...move on.
If Ted Nolan benches you...well that's not good lol.

The question is, what does this look like from Carolinas POV? Are they equally frustrated to the point of moving him for Hodgeson?

Less risk bringing in Semin - less years, more proven talent. Buffalo wins this if it's a 1 for 1 swap.

Fully agree that Hodgeson isn't the kind of guy GMTM appears to want to build around. Semin could be a great recoup.

The question is, what does this look like from Carolinas POV? Are they equally frustrated to the point of moving him for Hodgeson?

Less risk bringing in Semin - less years, more proven talent. Buffalo wins this if it's a 1 for 1 swap.

Fully agree that Hodgeson isn't the kind of guy GMTM appears to want to build around. Semin could be a great recoup.
- jackzack87

they could buy out Hodgson's four years right now for less than the cost of one year of Semin's contract...

and yes, the 'canes seem to have grown tired of his "moodiness"

Larsson seen with a Swedish hockey league head coach..that would be a bummer

nice blog

roll 4 lines and play Semin with Foligno and Gringo

From a Canes perspective. I admittedly don't know a lot about Hodgeson, except that he was a highly touted prospect that has kind of disappeared. Many Canes fans are not huge fans of Semin, I am not one of them. Now that those disclaimers are out of the way my initial reaction is no because it would be sending a proven talent for a guy that's overpaid for more term, even if it is less money. Semin was coming off wrist surgery last year and has committed himself to improving his conditioning this summer, with Eric Staal. We in Carolina have seen what Semin can do with Staal in the lockout shortened season and I'm one of the few that thinks he can re-accomplish that. If I'm the Canes I want something else coming back like a mid round draft pick or some salary retained, mainly since Buffalo can afford it. The Canes lack top-6 forwards, but have a plethora of options in the bottom 6 and I don't think sending a proven top-6 talent for another third liner would help the Canes unless a change of scenery, turns Hodgeson into a top-6 forward too/again. That said it's one of those trades I could see being win-win, but the risk is greater for Carolina, which is why I would like a little extra.

Larsson seen with a Swedish hockey league head coach..that would be a bummer
- beargk

he had a good finish to the season in buffalo...and he's a restricted free agent...

visiting an old mentor?...or positioning himself for contract negotiations?


hmmmmmmmmmmm...

Semin.[/img]

From a Canes perspective. I admittedly don't know a lot about Hodgeson, except that he was a highly touted prospect that has kind of disappeared. Many Canes fans are not huge fans of Semin, I am not one of them. Now that those disclaimers are out of the way my initial reaction is no because it would be sending a proven talent for a guy that's overpaid for more term, even if it is less money. Semin was coming off wrist surgery last year and has committed himself to improving his conditioning this summer, with Eric Staal. We in Carolina have seen what Semin can do with Staal in the lockout shortened season and I'm one of the few that thinks he can re-accomplish that. If I'm the Canes I want something else coming back like a mid round draft pick or some salary retained, mainly since Buffalo can afford it. The Canes lack top-6 forwards, but have a plethora of options in the bottom 6 and I don't think sending a proven top-6 talent for another third liner would help the Canes unless a change of scenery, turns Hodgeson into a top-6 forward too/again. That said it's one of those trades I could see being win-win, but the risk is greater for Carolina, which is why I would like a little extra.
- Wolfpack5

thx, wolfpack...appreciate the perspective

If Carolina wants to do that 1-for-1, you do it no questions asked.

I don't believe for a second they wouldn't want more though. Semen for Hodgson and a third pick? Maybe. It's probably going to be Hodgson + another player though. Which again, I would probably still do depending on the player. It's too bad Stafford is gone, he was my go-to throw-in guy haha

thx, striper...might even provoke some interesting responses
- Michael Pachla

I think a lot of it has to do with how Murray sees Hodgson. However if we as going to say last season was the anomaly for Hodgson than it most certainly is for Semin as well.

Give me a player like Semin getting PP time with Eichel I think he would be back to that 55-60 point range, and I am not sold Hodgson would ever get there

If Carolina wants to do that 1-for-1, you do it no questions asked.

I don't believe for a second they wouldn't want more though. Semen for Hodgson and a third pick? Maybe. It's probably going to be Hodgson + another player though. Which again, I would probably still do depending on the player. It's too bad Stafford is gone, he was my go-to throw-in guy haha
- OnPoint

Weber is the new Staff

thx, wolfpack...appreciate the perspective
- Michael Pachla

No problem I'm just sick of the Canes giving up on players only to see them go elsewhere and see their careers reignited... Ladd, Vrbata, Seidinberg come to mind and I see the same thing happening with Semin.

Weber is the new Staff
- homiedclown

Yes please

I don't want Semin anywhere near a Sabres uniform. I'll take a 24 year old underachiever who still hasn't hit his prime and got dog-housed by one of the most incompetent coaches ever in Buffalo, and got on the poop-list of Adam Vigneault but who works out with HoF's in the offseason any day over a 31 year old lazy Russian.

I do like your scenarios from the past few days, but this is just a horrible idea.

And I dislike Cody A LOT. I mean, I seriously hate his face. But he's still young, put up 20 goals last year and will benefit from a new head coach. I say we try to let him pace for 25 goals and flip him at the deadline for someone better than Semin. Let his value rise and go for something much better, because Semin's value will never get higher.

I don't want Semin anywhere near a Sabres uniform. I'll take a 24 year old underachiever who still hasn't hit his prime and got dog-housed by one of the most incompetent coaches ever in Buffalo, and got on the poop-list of Adam Vigneault but who works out with HoF's in the offseason any day over a 31 year old lazy Russian.

I do like your scenarios from the past few days, but this is just a horrible idea.

And I dislike Cody A LOT. I mean, I seriously hate his face. But he's still young, put up 20 goals last year and will benefit from a new head coach. I say we try to let him pace for 25 goals and flip him at the deadline for someone better than Semin. Let his value rise and go for something much better, because Semin's value will never get higher.
- DynamicThreads

Fun fact Semin is a career plus player...fun fact #2 Hodgson is not....fun fact #3 Semin put up 19 points playing in 57 games last season, Hodgson 13 in 78, fun fact again 2 seasons ago was the only season Hodgson outscored Semin (by 2 points and playing in 7 more games), Semin has scored over 20 goals 7 times in his career Hodgson once, Semin has scored over 3 three times and 40 once, Hodgson's career high is 20.

Semin's value is and will get higher than Hodgson's especially come deadline time if both players return to form. Former 30 goal scorers fetch more at the deadline than an underperforming still developing player, not to mention Semin's contract is shorter than Hodgson's.

I don't want Semin anywhere near a Sabres uniform. I'll take a 24 year old underachiever who still hasn't hit his prime and got dog-housed by one of the most incompetent coaches ever in Buffalo, and got on the poop-list of Adam Vigneault but who works out with HoF's in the offseason any day over a 31 year old lazy Russian.

I do like your scenarios from the past few days, but this is just a horrible idea.

And I dislike Cody A LOT. I mean, I seriously hate his face. But he's still young, put up 20 goals last year and will benefit from a new head coach. I say we try to let him pace for 25 goals and flip him at the deadline for someone better than Semin. Let his value rise and go for something much better, because Semin's value will never get higher.
- DynamicThreads

- jochfr

I missed that one...

I was just coming in to say the same thing about Hodgson's face; very punchable.

He struck out in Washington, was called lazy. Went to Carolina for a "Fresh start", they can't get rid of him fast enough, called lazy. I got to say that he's probably lazy. I don't want to take on any unwanted, bloated contracts. Would rather buy out Hodgson, and spend some money on guys worthy of the rebuild.

I missed that one...
- Stripes77

I have the maturity of an 18 year old sometimes...

He struck out in Washington, was called lazy. Went to Carolina for a "Fresh start", they can't get rid of him fast enough, called lazy. I got to say that he's probably lazy. I don't want to take on any unwanted, bloated contracts. Would rather buy out Hodgson, and spend some money on guys worthy of the rebuild.
- bobmack13

I wouldn't say he struck out in Washington he averaged 64 points a year and .925 ppg.

That is far from striking out and "lazy". He might not be good in his own zone but neither is Hodgson. At least he can produce better.