Quote:
Originally Posted by JD
I know we like to hate on the Canucks, and rightly so, but I've watched a lot of the Canucks this year, and Kassian looks really good. You can attribute it to playing with the Sedins if you like, but I think they have a good player here. Hodgson may yet be the better player, but I don't think the Canucks did that badly on that one.
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Hodgson's (lack of) skating ability could seriously hinder his ability to turn into a top center. His top end speed is OK but his acceleration and first few steps are very poor as is his stride. Some of that can be improved but not all of it and how much better his acceleration can get is questionable.
Because of that he's currently getting torched defensively (on the ice for 10 GA in 6 games with at least half of those stemming directly from mistakes he's made) and eventually he's simply not going to get prime ice time if he can't keep up on the defensive side of the game. He doesn't have to be great, but he needs to be a whole lot better.
Check out the two Skinner goals here and watch #19:
http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/con...3,2,43&lang=en
Or the Ward goal here:
http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/con...3,2,65&lang=en
In his 30 or so games with Buffalo where he's gotten top 6 ice time he's been on the ice for more than 1 GA per game which is a pace that would put him among the top 3 worst forwards for GA last year. The risk/reward might be worth it if he was dominating offensively, but 2 of his 3 points this year were goals that bounced off his leg and since joining Buffalo he's only put up a 35 point per 82 game pace.
Kassian will never have Hodgson's shot or his hockey IQ, but he also has many physical tools that Hodgson will never have. They're both works in progress at this point. Kassian has to demonstrate a level of consistency as a pro and Hodgson has to demonstrate that he can perform an NHL level in his own end of the rink or that he can score enough to make you forget about his defensive problems. But if they both turn out, I'd say a Clowe or Franzen type power forward capable of 25 goals and 55 points is more valuable and harder to acquire than a Drury (when he was good) or Langkow (minus the grit) type smallish 60-65 point center. The knock against Kassian is he's probably less likely to reach his potential but he's off to a pretty good start for a 21 year old power forward.