Darcy just made the nearly ideal move nobody thought he was capable of. Gaustad for a 1st is a steal, undeniably. Zack Kassian, while David Backes-ish, is a decent piece to give when you get a return like Hodgson. Not to mention, it's not unreasonable to think he wont make this team immediately better. He brings offensive center depth. He'll make Staff better, if Staff actually gets excited to play with a new toy. He'll get immediate PP time. It's a move in the right direction because it builds for the future, and gives the Sabres an immediate boost. Now we just have to see the effort.

Did Darcy save his job With this deadline?
- BuffaloKyle

He wasnt losing his job anyway. I know everyone wanted him out but he wasnt going anywhere

The idea of Kassian was great. He didn't have it up in the NHL. For someone drafted mainly for physical play, he didn't show enough of it. Great move for the Sabres, and a ballsy one. From everything I'm reading about Hodgson, he's a great pickup.

AHL depth player that is all he will be
- mccrisp

Won't be resigned IMO.

Congrats Buffalo, Hodgson looks like he is the real deal.

From watching him so far in his career:

Pros: Very slick passer who seems to have a knack for scoring clutch goals. I could easily see him scoring 30 goals and 30 assists in the next year or two if placed in a top six role. Likely future captain material one day.

Cons: Not very physical and can be pushed off the puck rather easily. He also has his questionable moments in the defensive zone, but has improved in this area a lot since the start of the season.
- Brandon_Lee

Ultimately, it sounds like Buffalo and Vancouver swapped first rounders based on their current needs. I'm okay with it.

How is Homie not in here pissing and moaning about why we didn't trade Miller?

The idea of Kassian was great. He didn't have it up in the NHL. For someone drafted mainly for physical play, he didn't show enough of it. Great move for the Sabres, and a ballsy one. From everything I'm reading about Hodgson, he's a great pickup.
- bodger8

Ballsy? It's a no brainer! Hodgson is going to be a #1 centre in the league! What's Kassian? A third liner? Awful move by the Canucks.

IM sure lindy will put him with Kaleta and Boyes
- hubie

That was hysterical only because nothing with Lindy surprises me and this wouldnt...

It's a happy day mh ..

me and you wanted him in the summer
- gerbe75pts

Yep, we sure did, he was on the radar.

Happiest guy today should be Vanek. Hodgson is going to make this guy a 50 goal scorer. He never had the chance to play with anyone here in Vancouver, and he still put up great numbers for a rookie.

Ballsy? It's a no brainer! Hodgson is going to be a #1 centre in the league! What's Kassian? A third liner? Awful move by the Canucks.
- woopstash

Kassian is young too; he has every chance of being a legit top 6 forward as Hodgson does of being a legit nmbr 2 or 1 center.

i love the trade, but not b/c Kassian isnt good, he's just young

http://www.hockeysfuture....om/prospects/cody_hodgson

"Talent Analysis
Hodgson is a solid all around talent. He does not possess blinding speed, or flashy moves, but he tends to get the job done. He has developed into a fine two-way player. Hodgson is an extremely smart player who uses all of his skills in both ends of the ice. Excellent skater, very strong on the puck, can quarterback the powerplay. Hodson has very good hands and excellent on ice-vision.

Future
He has first-line talent but has been injured, and could be problematic to sign."

Won't be resigned IMO.
- dadeadhead

Foligno and McNabb's development made Kassian easier to trade. McNabb also can step in on D this year if needed. I think they moved Grags to give him a change

Moving Grags gives Mcnabb a spot on the roster that's an upgrade.

Decent 6-7 guy with a good shot and okay puck handling skills, does turn the puck over when pressured.Who cares, you guys got Hodgson!
- Nucker101

Sounds like Gragnani to a tee.

Don't we play Vancouver this week?

Sounds like MAG's to a tee.
- LamontSanford

except MAG had a one way contract

Foligno and McNabb's development made Kassian easier to trade. McNabb also can step in on D this year if needed. I think they moved Grags to give him a change
- mccrisp

Agreed.


This was basically Kass and Grags for Hodgson.


Sultzer was a throw in and won't be here next year IMO.

Moving Grags gives Mcnabb a spot on the roster that's an upgrade.
- Flynox

Good point

Great moves by darcy this year for sure. For the first year of him being a gm under a new owner that has no economical strain when it comes to paychecks he has made some huge improvements. Our draft this year should be great we will have 2 x first round picks and 2 x second round picks. Remember guys we got a 2nd round pick in return when we traded for robin regher. 4 picks in the first 2 rounds will be huge to adding some great young players to the team. That is 2 drafts in 1. I love the trade for the new center as well from couver great pickup for sure. Kassian as far as im concerned would have been a bust. Average player who would score 10-12 goals per season. Darcy did good this year for sure only questionable move was the leino signing but then again alot of teams were willing to take that shot so who knows.

So does Darcy keep his job now?

Happiest guy today should be Vanek. Hodgson is going to make this guy a 50 goal scorer. He never had the chance to play with anyone here in Vancouver, and he still put up great numbers for a rookie.
- hertzman

Wasnt that way Roy and Leino were supposed to do?

Don't we play Vancouver this week?
- mhp

I think it is next week but yup!

We get to see Kassian next week.

Seeing that Nashville Predators logo next to Paul Gaustad looks so weird.. bye Goose
- leclercj01

I think he will be back in the summer....getting Hodgson is great.
You want to trade someone like Gaustad to Nashville or Winnipeg, so that they want to come back to your team in the summer......not to LA or Detroit.

San Jose was the team that was flipping back and forth on giving Buffalo a 1 st for Gaustad...because they were working on a bigger deal with Colorado.

Lines:

Leino Ennis Stafford
Vanek Hodgson Pominville
Gerbe Roy Boyes
McCormick Ellis Kaleta
Hecht (on the shelf)

Sekera Myers
Reiger Leopold
Erhoff Weber
Sulzer

May see Sulzer play with Erhoff on the road trip.......

Notice that Hodgson will go from 12 minutes of ice time to about 18 minutes just because he will get lots of opportunity to play in all situations including PP and PK.....

PS. Expect to see someone come up for the trip to replace Tropp and cover for the injured guys Boyes, McCormick and Hecht.....bet on Paul Szczehura or Phil Varone or Mark Voakes getting looks in the next few weeks because they are centers and this team may need another one.

So does Darcy keep his job now?
- gibby111

He always was keeping his job