Photo: Cody Hodgson

Aug. 19, 2009

Cody Hodgson, the Canucks top-choice in 2008 and reigning CHL Player of the Year, faces enormous pressure to make and succeed at the NHL-level with the Canucks this upcoming season. 

And while Vancouver-based fans and media are firmly on Hodgson's bandwagon, his play with the Manitoba Moose last spring has some Winnipeg scribes leery of Hodgson's chances of making an impact with the Canucks this season.

Gary Lawless, who follows the Moose for the Winnipeg Free Press, told Blake Price Wednesday that Hodgson is nowhere near ready for the NHL.

"This is a shame what's going to happen with Cody Hodgson this year, because we got to watch him. He's not good enough to make Vancouver.  I know there's lots of guys in your local media who are slobbering over him, but he's got big holes in his game right now. He's clearly going to be a good player down the line, but just like Mason Raymond wasn't ready, Cody Hodgson isn't ready either.  He's going to come to camp and they're not going to keep him, and they'll have to send him back to junior, which is a complete waste."

Hodgson is too young to play full-time in the AHL this upcoming season, so the Canucks have nine games to decide whether to hold on to Hodgson or return him to Brampton, where he had 43 goals and 92 points in 53 games last season.

Lawless told Blake that the overwhelming offensive numbers mask Hodgson's inefficient defensive game.

"Defensively, he's very deficient - he doesn't have a clue to be honest with you. He hasn't had to play that part of the game in junior hockey because he's so good, he's so much better than everybody else. He gets the puck and he keeps it for 90 seconds. He hasn't played in his own end and in the NHL, he'll cost you more than he gets you right away. Maybe he'll stick around for a little while, but when they have to make the decision (after nine games), he's going back to Brampton."

Listen: Gary Lawless, WPG Free Press - Hodgson nowhere near ready.mp3

Hodgson had two goals and six points in 11 playoff games in Manitoba.

He's spent much of the summer resting after playing over 100 games last season - counting OHL regular season and playoffs, the World Juniors, and the AHL playoffs.  Hodgson is also recovering from a back injury, but is expected to be ready in time for Canucks prospects camp, which gets going September 7th at UBC.