Cody Hodgson Future Looks Bright

Vancouver Canuck fans and media may have been very pessimistic coming into this season, but as the season goes on there are a lot of things Canucks fans have to be very happy about. 

With Mats Sundin shortly due to play and Luongo back and skating, the team in the present looks very strong.  The future of the team however looks even stronger with the emergence of real diamond in 18 year old Cody Hodgson.  The Canucks first round pick of '08 has been simple splendid since being drafted 10th overall. 

He was very close to making the Canucks in training camp but has flourished even more in the minor leagues this season.  In 23 games so far this season, he has scored 20 goals and 22 assists good for 12th place in OHL scoring, but more importantly has helped his team, the Brampton Battalions to first place in their division.  Hodgson has shown an incredible amount of poise and unselfish play with the knack to set up a lot of goals.  He has also shown great leadership on the ice with his play and the way he conducts himself off the ice. 

His play at the World Juniors has been even more impressive as Pat Quinn has shown a lot of faith in the youngster (who was with Quinn for the U-18 gold last year) putting him out in several key power play situations and late in games.  Hodgson so far in the tournament has three goals and nine assists in four games which ties him with fellow teammate John Tavares in scoring with 12 points. 

He may not have made the Canucks team this season, but with his play so far this season in Brampton and his play in the Juniors, it should not be long before he has the city of Vancouver eating out of his hand.  To be able to perform the way he has in the stiffest Junior competition you will see is a testament to how quickly he has developed and at 18 years old—he can only get better.  This youngster from Toronto was brought up in a city full of pressure and could very well be an NHL superstar for a lot of years to come.