Wellwood stats:

2005/2006 Toronto Maple Leafs (True Rookie Year)
GP: 81 Goals: 11 Assists: 34 Points: 45 PIM:14 +/-: 0

Hodgson stats:

2011/2012 Vancouver Canucks/Buffalo Sabres (Also True Rookie Year)
GP: 64 Goals: 16 Assists: 17 Points: 33 PIM: 8 +/-: 8

I'd say the comparison is apt, both were projected to be first line/second line natural playmaking centers. Both played most of the season on the third line, Wellwood on a very bad Maple Leafs team yet his plus/minus is even. Wellwood didn't have the intangibles that Hodgson brings, nor did he score the goals, but Hodgson's +/- is only +8 having played on a very good Vancouver team that is up there in GF/GA with great goaltending.
- DariusKnight

This should get everybody fired up.

This should get everybody fired up.
- fiveandagame

got me fired up and I'm a freaking flames fan.

i really, really don't understand what you're trying to get at with this whole (absolutely insane) comparison. "Wellwood didn't have the intangibles that Hodgson brings, nor did he score the goals, but Hodgson's +/- is only +8"

read that over and tell me if it makes any sense. "only" +8. doesn't have the intangibles, or the goal scoring, and hodgson doesn't project to become a pudgy little dude, but yeah, I can totally see their career arcs taking similar shape.
- chester97

And Wellwood on a VERY BAD DEFENSIVE TEAM was even in plus/minus, didn't play sheltered minutes against the worst D/lines, and still put up 45 points in the process. My original post had to do with someone stating that having a 3rd line scoring center in the playoffs was necessary and I stated we already went that route with Wellwood who was better defensively than Hodgson and that we were bounced twice in the second round. I was defending the comparison using their rookie years seeing as Hodgson is still in his.

You seen Kassian turn down a fight twice in his 1st game the other night.

Kassian lacks a scoring touch and his skating is average at best.

Take it from a Sabre fan, the legend of Kassian is bigger than the man for sure.

Darcy sooooo won this trade.
- TerryPegs

It's hard to screen the goalie from the penalty box.

Canucks don't believe in having a designated goon. They pursued Kassian for his size and ability to contribute to the offense by using that size to give the team an advantage down low. Not some pointless punch up with a useless 4th liner like Bissonette. Hopefully he'll turn down lots of fights over his career.

Solid read as always Tess! I thought both CoHo and Kassian had pretty decent first games with their new clubs. I am looking forward to seeing what MAG can do as well.

does your shoulder hurt? it must've popped out of joint how hard you're reaching. 21 year old traded for a 22 year old. "never" is a big word. but at least it's bolded so that i really know you're serious.

I know the traps of trying to justify a trade that you're not convinced about. it doesn't work.
- chester97

Didn't mean to bold it. Im convinced about the trade. Hodgson was not going to last here. No one is going to say it but Hodgsons party wanted out. He had switched agents 3 times over his tenure here. He wanted more ice time that clearly he was not going to get with Kesler and Henrik ahead of him. He's horrible on the wing so that didnt work. He had to go. The writing was on the wall. He's going to have a great career but it wasn't going to be with the Canucks. If we didnt trade him now he would have asked for one in the off season. His stock was at an all time high and before he would get suffocated in the playoffs with his lack of speed and strength the Canucks decided the time was now to trade him.

They identified the player they wanted where the Canucks head scout had Kassian in there top 5 prospects and it was a type of player they needed. In the end I think both teams won but more Canucks because we filled two needs. A powerforward and defenseman pp quarterback. Schroeder was very very close to Hodgson at the start of training camp. We had half Canucks fans saying Schroeder was better and the other half saying Hodgson. With the Schneider deal looming there is no doubt the Gillis will egt young assets for him. We can even get more for Schneider than Hodgson. We could potentially get a better center prospect back than Hodgson. The Canucks are going forward with a contending window of 10 years/ How are the Flames doing

Excellent write up Pete...miss your thoughts on our team! I was a little upset at the deal and the timing of it, but it's probably for the better. Sounds like Hodgson was never happy with all that transpired in Van City, I believe Rich Winter said they "had different visions" of his role within the team?

What the hell is that suppose to mean...the more I read about it the more I think he wanted out of Vancouver to play a bigger role. Which he clearly wasn't going get here. He hadn't earned that right but yet he felt entitled to it, I wish him well.

And Wellwood on a VERY BAD DEFENSIVE TEAM was even in plus/minus, didn't play sheltered minutes against the worst D/lines, and still put up 45 points in the process. My original post had to do with someone stating that having a 3rd line scoring center in the playoffs was necessary and I stated we already went that route with Wellwood who was better defensively than Hodgson and that we were bounced twice in the second round. I was defending the comparison using their rookie years seeing as Hodgson is still in his.
- DariusKnight

fair enough. I respectfully disagree as I think that as a third line scoring centre, hodgson is far and away better now that wellwood ever was.

Ian, great read!

This trade could go either way and personally I'm 50/50 on who is going to pay off more for their respective team.
But the Pens had a similar situation with Malkin, Crosby, and Stall and they chose not to let Stall go. That decision has been paying dividends with Crosby and Malkin's injury history the past few seasons.
Stall and Cody may be different in terms of style and ability but as the Pens have proven it never hurts to have a capable 3rd line centre as opposed to the stereotypical checking line center.
Just playing Devil's advocate.

Didn't mean to bold it. Im convinced about the trade. Hodgson was not going to last here. No one is going to say it but Hodgsons party wanted out. He had switched agents 3 times over his tenure here. He wanted more ice time that clearly he was not going to get with Kesler and Henrik ahead of him. He's horrible on the wing so that didnt work. He had to go. The writing was on the wall. He's going to have a great career but it wasn't going to be with the Canucks. If we didnt trade him now he would have asked for one in the off season. His stock was at an all time high and before he would get suffocated in the playoffs with his lack of speed and strength the Canucks decided the time was now to trade him.

They identified the player they wanted where the Canucks head scout had Kassian in there top 5 prospects and it was a type of player they needed. In the end I think both teams won but more Canucks because we filled two needs. A powerforward and defenseman pp quarterback. Schroeder was very very close to Hodgson at the start of training camp. We had half Canucks fans saying Schroeder was better and the other half saying Hodgson. With the Schneider deal looming there is no doubt the Gillis will egt young assets for him. We can even get more for Schneider than Hodgson. We could potentially get a better center prospect back than Hodgson. The Canucks are going forward with a contending window of 10 years/ How are the Flames doing
- Boinker

we suck.

i think you gave away your current insurance policy and future offensive leader for a kid who you think will be a bertuzzi clone, only according to buffalo fans and some watchers, may not get there for a couple years. I think that the canucks could've won (and still could) a cup this year by embracing the puck possession skill game that they've played very well. i think that last year you met the only team in the league who played like the 1970's flyers and it scared your GM into making a move that doesn't make you immediately better.

basically, I think you made a summer move that tries to change the identity of a team at the trade deadline, which seems like a bad idea. and i think that in a conference with the blues, press, kings, etc. that play lock down d or have great goaltending, but aren't overly physical like the bruins were last year, i think you gave away your best edge in having true scoring depth.

i might be wrong, just what i think. if you're convinced the other way, then power to you.

i really, really don't understand what you're trying to get at with this whole (absolutely insane) comparison. "Wellwood didn't have the intangibles that Hodgson brings, nor did he score the goals, but Hodgson's +/- is only +8"

read that over and tell me if it makes any sense. "only" +8. doesn't have the intangibles, or the goal scoring, and hodgson doesn't project to become a pudgy little dude, but yeah, I can totally see their career arcs taking similar shape.
- chester97

They don't have to be exactly equal comparisons to make a point, but Wellwood and Hodgson actually do play a very similar style of game and are similar in stature. Hodgson may one day be superior, but the difference today isn't as dramatic as you make it out to be.

When Kyle Wellwood played 3rd line center for the Canucks in the playoffs, it didn't work even though he played better than we had ever seen from him during the regular season. Even with several years of NHL experience under his belt he just wasn't big enough to be anything more than a perimeter player, so he wasn't overly effective at creating grade-A scoring chances. He also wasn't big enough to knock opponents off the puck in the defensive zone, which resulted in scoring chances against.

Canucks management have already seen that this structure doesn't work in the playoffs. Some people get that.

Ian, great read!

This trade could go either way and personally I'm 50/50 on who is going to pay off more for their respective team.
But the Pens had a similar situation with Malkin, Crosby, and Stall and they chose not to let Stall go. That decision has been paying dividends with Crosby and Malkin's injury history the past few seasons.
Stall and Cody may be different in terms of style and ability but as the Pens have proven it never hurts to have a capable 3rd line centre as opposed to the stereotypical checking line center.
Just playing Devil's advocate.
- Fedorsbrokenjaw

Apples to Oranges...three very different players!

fair enough. I respectfully disagree as I think that as a third line scoring centre, hodgson is far and away better now that wellwood ever was.
- chester97

Again, I stated that in goal scoring and intangibles, Hodgson has that over on Wellwood, but that Wellwood was better defensively and could handle playing against the top lines. I realize it's somewhat of a poor comparison since Wellwood was established already when the Canucks got into the 2009 and 2010 playoffs and Hodgson had he not been traded would have only been a rookie.

They don't have to be exactly equal comparisons to make a point, but Wellwood and Hodgson actually do play a very similar style of game and are similar in stature. Hodgson may one day be superior, but the difference today isn't as dramatic as you make it out to be.

When Kyle Wellwood played 3rd line center for the Canucks in the playoffs, it didn't work even though he played better than we had ever seen from him during the regular season. Even with several years of NHL experience under his belt he just wasn't big enough to be anything more than a perimeter player, so he wasn't overly effective at creating grade-A scoring chances. He also wasn't big enough to knock opponents off the puck in the defensive zone, which resulted in scoring chances against.

Canucks management have already seen that this structure doesn't work in the playoffs. Some people get that.
- YeOldTimer

fair enough. guess I'm of the mindset that it's pretty dramatic. especially when the third line centre then becomes either malholtra or pahlson, which hurts higgins and lapierre's offence as well.

Ian, great read!

This trade could go either way and personally I'm 50/50 on who is going to pay off more for their respective team.
But the Pens had a similar situation with Malkin, Crosby, and Stall and they chose not to let Stall go. That decision has been paying dividends with Crosby and Malkin's injury history the past few seasons.
Stall and Cody may be different in terms of style and ability but as the Pens have proven it never hurts to have a capable 3rd line centre as opposed to the stereotypical checking line center.
Just playing Devil's advocate.
- Fedorsbrokenjaw

Staal is proably the best 3rd line center in the leauge. He is big, can skate, check, hit and score. Even though he has the talent to play in the top 6, he looks great as the shutdown guy. Hodgson, not so much.

Tonight is the night. The Blues have been pushing us around all season, both through physical play and timely goals. They beat us 3 out of 4 times this year ( I think) with Cody in the lineup. I'm expecting a big game out of Kass tonight. Any world on if Mag is playing tonight?

We had Wellwood and still got eliminated.

We had a hard checking physical winger and didnt win the cup. Torres hit everything that moved in the playoffs knocking several players out of games and series and contributed more that Kassian looks capable of. We didnt win. Kassian doesnt get us closer to a cup this season. I actually believe it's a further out of reach this year if anything when you consider Vancouvers drying up PP lately.

Darius is on full propaganda mode here... even if Cody wasnt happy with his ice time, it doesnt mean this trade had to happen now. Just a few games earlier Hodgson was demoted to the 4rth line for reasons that were not explainable. If he was traded because his agent wasnt happy with that,,,then it sounds too much like a set up situation to me. Demote to the 4rth and then trade because of ruffles feathers?

Pahlsson came here at +10. Cody left at +8. I'm predicting that the 3rd line starts letting a few extra goals in. I'm only basing this on a gut feeling. People like Boinker and Darius keep pointing out Hodgson's foot speed...Pahlsson?

Hey Pete,

Very nice write up, I enjoyed reading your take on the trade.
I hate to see Hodgson go, and do believe the Canucks traded the best player in the deal, but hopefully it will work out.

I would be very interested in reading your take on what happens this off season with Cory Schneider. Will the Canucks give him a similar chance to be a starting goalie on another team, like they did for Cody? Obviously it didn't make sense to trade him now, he is the all important security blanket with the playoffs coming up. What happens this summer, though?

we suck.

i think you gave away your current insurance policy and future offensive leader for a kid who you think will be a bertuzzi clone, only according to buffalo fans and some watchers, may not get there for a couple years. I think that the canucks could've won (and still could) a cup this year by embracing the puck possession skill game that they've played very well. i think that last year you met the only team in the league who played like the 1970's flyers and it scared your GM into making a move that doesn't make you immediately better.

basically, I think you made a summer move that tries to change the identity of a team at the trade deadline, which seems like a bad idea. and i think that in a conference with the blues, press, kings, etc. that play lock down d or have great goaltending, but aren't overly physical like the bruins were last year, i think you gave away your best edge in having true scoring depth.

i might be wrong, just what i think. if you're convinced the other way, then power to you.
- chester97

We have Schroeder still. I like his game. Smart skilled player. He doesn't quite have the vision of Hodgson but he's got the same shot and he's fast and can play better in his own end. Perfect third line center for this team going forward...he'll eventually be in the top 6. So right now our center depth going into the playoffs is.

Sedin
Kesler
Pahlsson
Malhotra
Lapierre
Schroeder
Reinchrept

Im happy with that. Our 3rd, 4th and 5th centers are very hard to play against. Hodgson would chip in here and there but his corsi rating was horrendus. I honestly dont put much stock into that rating because it makes Raymond look like a stud when he actually kinda sucks this year... but when your -5 a game in terms of shots againts your not helping your team in your own end.

We had Wellwood and still got eliminated.

We had a hard checking physical winger and didnt win the cup. Torres hit everything that moved in the playoffs knocking several players out of games and series and contributed more that Kassian looks capable of. We didnt win. Kassian doesnt get us closer to a cup this season. I actually believe it's a further out of reach this year if anything when you consider Vancouvers drying up PP lately.

Darius is on full propaganda mode here... even if Cody wasnt happy with his ice time, it doesnt mean this trade had to happen now. Just a few games earlier Hodgson was demoted to the 4rth line for reasons that were not explainable. If he was traded because his agent wasnt happy with that,,,then it sounds too much like a set up situation to me. Demote to the 4rth and then trade because of ruffles feathers?

Pahlsson came here at +10. Cody left at +8. I'm predicting that the 3rd line starts letting a few extra goals in. I'm only basing this on a gut feeling. People like Boinker and Darius keep pointing out Hodgson's foot speed...Pahlsson?
- boonerbuck

torres was destroying people last year. that seabrook hit......

We had Wellwood and still got eliminated.

We had a hard checking physical winger and didnt win the cup. Torres hit everything that moved in the playoffs knocking several players out of games and series and contributed more that Kassian looks capable of. We didnt win. Kassian doesnt get us closer to a cup this season. I actually believe it's a further out of reach this year if anything when you consider Vancouvers drying up PP lately.

Darius is on full propaganda mode here... even if Cody wasnt happy with his ice time, it doesnt mean this trade had to happen now. Just a few games earlier Hodgson was demoted to the 4rth line for reasons that were not explainable. If he was traded because his agent wasnt happy with that,,,then it sounds too much like a set up situation to me. Demote to the 4rth and then trade because of ruffles feathers?

Pahlsson came here at +10. Cody left at +8. I'm predicting that the 3rd line starts letting a few extra goals in. I'm only basing this on a gut feeling. People like Boinker and Darius keep pointing out Hodgson's foot speed...Pahlsson?
- boonerbuck

You got all this from one game? Give this line up a chance before you say they aren't any closer to a cup. IMO Pahlsson, Kassian, Grangini in and Hodgson out, make this team a better "playoff" hockey team. Gillis has added depth, size and toughness. Before the deadline the entire fanbase was screaming for these 3 things. Lets see how it goes before you call it a bad deal.

We had Wellwood and still got eliminated.

We had a hard checking physical winger and didnt win the cup. Torres hit everything that moved in the playoffs knocking several players out of games and series and contributed more that Kassian looks capable of. We didnt win. Kassian doesnt get us closer to a cup this season. I actually believe it's a further out of reach this year if anything when you consider Vancouvers drying up PP lately.

Darius is on full propaganda mode here... even if Cody wasnt happy with his ice time, it doesnt mean this trade had to happen now. Just a few games earlier Hodgson was demoted to the 4rth line for reasons that were not explainable. If he was traded because his agent wasnt happy with that,,,then it sounds too much like a set up situation to me. Demote to the 4rth and then trade because of ruffles feathers?

Pahlsson came here at +10. Cody left at +8. I'm predicting that the 3rd line starts letting a few extra goals in. I'm only basing this on a gut feeling. People like Boinker and Darius keep pointing out Hodgson's foot speed...Pahlsson?
- boonerbuck

Gillis is big on selling high and buying low. I'ts money puck. Hodgsons value would get diminished in the next three months and it's at an all time high right now. It's tighter hockey now. AV gave him sheltered minutes and you can bet on your life that coaches would go over game tapes and try to exploit our third line. If we were on the road as soon as our third line went out the other teams top line would go out. Obviously he was our future number one/two center but if he wants more ice time he wasn't going to get it here. He had to be traded and i have no doubt Gillis realized this was the best time to trade him. In the off season we would not have been able to get Kassian for him because his offensive would have started to dry up. Especially in the playoffs. Kassian is going to be a beats in the playoffs. Mark my words. He's ready.

You got all this from one game? Give this line up a chance before you say they aren't any closer to a cup. IMO Pahlsson, Kassian, Grangini in and Hodgson out, make this team a better "playoff" hockey team. Gillis has added depth, size and toughness. Before the deadline the entire fanbase was screaming for these 3 things. Lets see how it goes before you call it a bad deal.
- fiveandagame

Well I'm capable of listening to the people who have watched Kassian every single game he played..yeah, theres that. I'm not counting the other half of the season where he was in the AHL either...yeah, there's that too.

Didn't mean to bold it. Im convinced about the trade. Hodgson was not going to last here. No one is going to say it but Hodgsons party wanted out. He had switched agents 3 times over his tenure here. He wanted more ice time that clearly he was not going to get with Kesler and Henrik ahead of him. He's horrible on the wing so that didnt work. He had to go. The writing was on the wall. He's going to have a great career but it wasn't going to be with the Canucks. If we didnt trade him now he would have asked for one in the off season. His stock was at an all time high and before he would get suffocated in the playoffs with his lack of speed and strength the Canucks decided the time was now to trade him.

They identified the player they wanted where the Canucks head scout had Kassian in there top 5 prospects and it was a type of player they needed. In the end I think both teams won but more Canucks because we filled two needs. A powerforward and defenseman pp quarterback. Schroeder was very very close to Hodgson at the start of training camp. We had half Canucks fans saying Schroeder was better and the other half saying Hodgson. can even get more for Schneider than Hodgson. We could potentially get a betterWith the Schneider deal looming there is no doubt the Gillis will egt young assets for him. We center prospect back than Hodgson. The Canucks are going forward with a contending window of 10 years/ How are the Flames doing
- Boinker

The more I read people write that, the more I am not looking forward to that day that it could happen. Every game I see Schneider play, the more I want him to be our goalie of the future and now even. Even watching Lack play for the Wolves in person this year and seeing his great potential still doesn't make me want to trade Cory especially with every game he plays.

We had Wellwood and still got eliminated.

We had a hard checking physical winger and didnt win the cup. Torres hit everything that moved in the playoffs knocking several players out of games and series and contributed more that Kassian looks capable of. We didnt win. Kassian doesnt get us closer to a cup this season. I actually believe it's a further out of reach this year if anything when you consider Vancouvers drying up PP lately.

Darius is on full propaganda mode here... even if Cody wasnt happy with his ice time, it doesnt mean this trade had to happen now. Just a few games earlier Hodgson was demoted to the 4rth line for reasons that were not explainable. If he was traded because his agent wasnt happy with that,,,then it sounds too much like a set up situation to me. Demote to the 4rth and then trade because of ruffles feathers?

Pahlsson came here at +10. Cody left at +8. I'm predicting that the 3rd line starts letting a few extra goals in. I'm only basing this on a gut feeling. People like Boinker and Darius keep pointing out Hodgson's foot speed...Pahlsson?
- boonerbuck

Once again, you're missing the point, if we have to rely on our 3rd line to score for us in the playoffs we're not going anywhere anyways. Our fortunes were always going to be placed upon the Sedins and Kesler, not Hodgson. But even WITH Hodgson centering the 2nd PP, we STILL weren't scoring, are we a less skilled team with him gone? Yes. Was it strange timing that he was traded? Yes, but his stock was at his highest, and a bad playoff (or injury for that matter which is also possible/likely in the playoffs) might have dropped his stock tremendously. Unless he wins the Conn Smythe, there's no way he would be worth 1-for-1 a top 6 forward/top 4 D in the summer. This is not propaganda, this is FACT, your revisionist history notwithstanding. We made it to Game 7 of the SCF without Hodgson playing a significant role. Time will tell if we made a mistake or not, I tend to think not, we'll see after the run is over with.