The Second Coming – Postponed

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Sep 242009
 

People seem to have taken out of context the point of my post yesterday. People have misinterpreted what I said to see it as me having given up on Cody and labeling him a prospect bust before he’s had a chance on the team. That’s far from the point I was trying to make.

I’m not one to fall into the brainwash of mainstream media. This city has fallen into a hype around Cody Hodgson and I’m not buying it. Ever since he was drafted he’s been viewed as the second coming of Trevor Linden and not only have the fans been consumed by this, but the media has perpetuated it by continuing to hype Cody and paint him in a light that he’s been unable to live up to in this pre season because of injury and a lack of conditioning in time for the pre-season.

I’m not taking away from the kid’s talent. But he is just a kid. He’s not the second coming yet. With all that in mind, I don’t care if it’s Heatley, or Hodgson I am not a fan of a player that does not earn his spot. After my post yesterday where I accused him of coasting onto the team because it’s be presumed by many that he’s going to get a spot he had a shot to prove what he brings to this team. He did not have a good game. Vigneault even went out of his way to emphasize that Hodgson’s play was not because he was hampered by a back injury.

He wasn’t hampered, he wasn’t playing well, and again he didnt have that edge that made him worth of a spot. My point was that Hodgson isn’t playing right now like deserves a spot on this team. Shirokov and Hodgson aren’t comparable because their styles of play are so different, but you can compare the two on whether they’re fighting to be on this team, and whether they’re playing like they deserve a spot on this team.

Hodgson’s play last night only confirmed that if one of the two players are going to make the team it’s going to be Shirokov. Every one’s going a little coo coo for Shirokov right now, but they have a right to be. The hype around Hodgson just isn’t warranted and I for one am not going to buy into this second coming that everyone think is around the coming, and that everyone expects. Hodgson’s one of the better draft picks the Canucks have had in a long time, he’s one of the few picks recently that we’re actually going to be able to capitalize on (Schneider who’s useless now that we have Luongo, White was a bust, Bourdon may he rest in peace, and Grabner who’s been invisible this pre-season) however I’m not going to treat him as some god child that goes without scrutiny and I’m going to be his largest critic.

  • http://www.canuckscorner.com Brian Wawryshyn

    Oh its ON tonight Richard…it’s ON! ;)

    My only point is that the kid is 19 and you’re claiming he doesn’t want to make this team. Sorry but that’s just not true in my opinion.

    His injury may not have been an excuse last night, but I can guarantee it effected his preparation for this camp. And, perhaps his head did get a little big with all of the praise heaped on him over the last year. Excuse him, he’s 19.

    Gillis has said all along Hodgson will be here ONLY if he earns a spot. He may be here for the 9 game limit to give him a taste before he’s sent back.

    As for proving themselves, Shirokov has yet to do so when the games start to count, yet you’ve already decided he’s earned a spot. He’s four years older than Hodgson and has been playing in a men’s league the last few years in Russia. It’s no surprise to me that he’s ahead of the curve.

    I’m seeing Hodgson painted in an unfair light here. I’m seeing his character questioned, and I think that’s a tad unfair.

    If you were talking about Grabner, then we would be on the same page.

  • http://www.canuckscorner.com Brian Wawryshyn

    Oh its ON tonight Richard…it’s ON! ;)

    My only point is that the kid is 19 and you’re claiming he doesn’t want to make this team. Sorry but that’s just not true in my opinion.

    His injury may not have been an excuse last night, but I can guarantee it effected his preparation for this camp. And, perhaps his head did get a little big with all of the praise heaped on him over the last year. Excuse him, he’s 19.

    Gillis has said all along Hodgson will be here ONLY if he earns a spot. He may be here for the 9 game limit to give him a taste before he’s sent back.

    As for proving themselves, Shirokov has yet to do so when the games start to count, yet you’ve already decided he’s earned a spot. He’s four years older than Hodgson and has been playing in a men’s league the last few years in Russia. It’s no surprise to me that he’s ahead of the curve.

    I’m seeing Hodgson painted in an unfair light here. I’m seeing his character questioned, and I think that’s a tad unfair.

    If you were talking about Grabner, then we would be on the same page.

  • http://www.canuckscorner.com Brian Wawryshyn

    Oh its ON tonight Richard…it’s ON! ;)

    My only point is that the kid is 19 and you’re claiming he doesn’t want to make this team. Sorry but that’s just not true in my opinion.

    His injury may not have been an excuse last night, but I can guarantee it effected his preparation for this camp. And, perhaps his head did get a little big with all of the praise heaped on him over the last year. Excuse him, he’s 19.

    Gillis has said all along Hodgson will be here ONLY if he earns a spot. He may be here for the 9 game limit to give him a taste before he’s sent back.

    As for proving themselves, Shirokov has yet to do so when the games start to count, yet you’ve already decided he’s earned a spot. He’s four years older than Hodgson and has been playing in a men’s league the last few years in Russia. It’s no surprise to me that he’s ahead of the curve.

    I’m seeing Hodgson painted in an unfair light here. I’m seeing his character questioned, and I think that’s a tad unfair.

    If you were talking about Grabner, then we would be on the same page.

  • http://www.heatedskates.com/ The Fly

    Dude, you called Cody a diva and said he’s got a big head because he wants people to pronounce his name right.

    I’m happy that you are backtracking now and just talking about his play.

    There’s no question that his play has been lacking BUT that doesn’t mean that he lacks character.

    You were way off last night, crucifying the kid. (In my opinion of course.)

  • http://www.heatedskates.com/ The Fly

    Dude, you called Cody a diva and said he’s got a big head because he wants people to pronounce his name right.

    I’m happy that you are backtracking now and just talking about his play.

    There’s no question that his play has been lacking BUT that doesn’t mean that he lacks character.

    You were way off last night, crucifying the kid. (In my opinion of course.)

  • http://www.heatedskates.com/ The Fly

    Dude, you called Cody a diva and said he’s got a big head because he wants people to pronounce his name right.

    I’m happy that you are backtracking now and just talking about his play.

    There’s no question that his play has been lacking BUT that doesn’t mean that he lacks character.

    You were way off last night, crucifying the kid. (In my opinion of course.)

  • Sternip

    Yeah it sucks to comparing him to Trevor Linden when he’s not played an NHL game – I remember Sidney Crosby hyped up to be “better than Wayne Gretzky” before his draft year. Things like this can only lead to disappointment and I think have a genuine negative impact on players – if they feel like they have nothing to prove at the crucial 17-20 age.

    This isn’t unique to ice hockey by any means and it’s about time journalists took a step back imo.

  • Sternip

    Yeah it sucks to comparing him to Trevor Linden when he’s not played an NHL game – I remember Sidney Crosby hyped up to be “better than Wayne Gretzky” before his draft year. Things like this can only lead to disappointment and I think have a genuine negative impact on players – if they feel like they have nothing to prove at the crucial 17-20 age.

    This isn’t unique to ice hockey by any means and it’s about time journalists took a step back imo.

  • http://anothersamchan.com Sam

    I am gonna back Mozy up for a sec and applaud him for wrecking havoc through the twitter lines and the hearts of all Canucks fans. It was honestly kind of funny to watch, but I think at certain times as a writer, you have to be firm with your opinion, and even overwrite (My own opinion is that AV is not the dude to lead this team…)

    IF he had simply mentioned, “gee, cody isn’t playing all that well”, it wouldn’t be much of a blog post, now would it. He said what he felt, and it was refreshing to see.

    I did notice the attack of Cody’s character and that is where my opinion differs from Richard’s, I am of the boat that he still needs more time to get back in the groove, and should be thrown into the lineup and he’ll be just fine, enough for a 30-40 point season if he played the whole season. In my opinion though, AV hasn’t really been the coach that is patient with rookies, so who knows what could happen? I’m sure MG will make the right decision.

  • http://anothersamchan.com Sam

    I am gonna back Mozy up for a sec and applaud him for wrecking havoc through the twitter lines and the hearts of all Canucks fans. It was honestly kind of funny to watch, but I think at certain times as a writer, you have to be firm with your opinion, and even overwrite (My own opinion is that AV is not the dude to lead this team…)

    IF he had simply mentioned, “gee, cody isn’t playing all that well”, it wouldn’t be much of a blog post, now would it. He said what he felt, and it was refreshing to see.

    I did notice the attack of Cody’s character and that is where my opinion differs from Richard’s, I am of the boat that he still needs more time to get back in the groove, and should be thrown into the lineup and he’ll be just fine, enough for a 30-40 point season if he played the whole season. In my opinion though, AV hasn’t really been the coach that is patient with rookies, so who knows what could happen? I’m sure MG will make the right decision.

  • Travis Vandenbrand

    Cody was CHL player of the year, he crushed the other scorers in the OHL in PPG, he led the WJC in points…this kid deserves hype. That was all in one year. He seems like a quality character. The only thing that could set him back is the constant criticism he recieves as he tries to adapt to playing in the NHL.
    This Canucks team is the most competitive team to make as a player because of their depth. Give him a year or so break and let him comfortably enter the NHL ala Bobby Ryan. Maybe we’ll get the same results.

  • Travis Vandenbrand

    Cody was CHL player of the year, he crushed the other scorers in the OHL in PPG, he led the WJC in points…this kid deserves hype. That was all in one year. He seems like a quality character. The only thing that could set him back is the constant criticism he recieves as he tries to adapt to playing in the NHL.
    This Canucks team is the most competitive team to make as a player because of their depth. Give him a year or so break and let him comfortably enter the NHL ala Bobby Ryan. Maybe we’ll get the same results.