RWJC Posted October 27, 2023 Share Posted October 27, 2023 Hodgson for Kassian: Remembering a controversial Canucks trade Rob Williams Oct 26 2023, 4:41 pm Zack Kassian called it a career today. The 32-year-old put together a 661-game NHL career with the Buffalo Sabres, Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton Oilers, and Arizona Coyotes. Around these parts, Kassian is best remembered for being part of one of the most talked-about trades in Canucks history. Former GM Mike Gillis shocked fans at the 2012 trade deadline when he sent Cody Hodgson and Alexander Sulzer to the Sabres for Kassian and defenceman Marc-Andre Gragnani. The Canucks acquired veteran centre Samuel Pahlsson in a separate deal to fill Hodgson’s place on the third line. The Hodgson-Kassian trade was both surprising and controversial at the time, as it saw the Canucks give up on a highly-touted prospect picked 10th overall in the draft less than four years earlier. “I’m still very shocked right now,” Hodgson told TSN at the time. Kassian, who was also a first-round draft pick, was caught off-guard too, saying: “I was not expecting this at all.” Gillis had clearly grown tired of dealing with Hodgson, with the Canucks GM telling reporters after the 2011-12 season: “I spent more time on Cody’s issues than every other player combined on our team the last three years.” After determining that they would trade him, Gillis boasted that the Canucks inflated Hodgson’s numbers. “We made a determination that he didn’t want to be here, we built him into something we could move,” Gillis said at the time. “We put Cody on the ice in every offensive situation we possibly could.” In a poll question posted by CBC on the day of the trade, 70% of fans voted that Buffalo won the deal. But who actually won the trade? It was debated for years. The answer turned out to be nobody. Hodgson had early success with the Sabres, scoring 34 points in the lockout-shortened 48-game season in 2012-13, and posted 44 points in 72 games the year after. But the Toronto native’s career took a turn for the worse after that. The Sabres bought him out in 2015, following a disappointing year that saw him score just 13 points in 78 games. After a one-year stint with the Nashville Predators, he retired at the age of 26. We later learned that Hodgson was dealing with a rare muscle disease called RYR-1, which forced him to stop playing. “My final year of playing, I was having some severe symptoms; I was having trouble breathing,” Hodgson said. “I was blacking out. My muscles were extremely tight; my whole body was just shaking.” Kassian’s career was nearly cut short as well. Battling alcoholism, Kassian hit “rock bottom” in 2015 after being traded from Vancouver to Montreal, where the vehicle he was riding in crashed into a tree… link to rest of article: https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/hodgson-kassian-controversial-canucks-trade 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwarrior Posted October 27, 2023 Share Posted October 27, 2023 I remember watching that deadline coverage. And I was pissed. But I guess it was a trade of a problem child for a project. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crabcakes Posted October 27, 2023 Share Posted October 27, 2023 7 minutes ago, gwarrior said: I remember watching that deadline coverage. And I was pissed. But I guess it was a trade of a problem child for a project. Oh, Kassian was a problem too. He was suspended in Jan 2010 for 20 games for a head shot while playing for the Windsor Spitfires. This was after he was drafted 13 OA by the Sabres in 2009. Then, after the Spitfires won the Memorial Cup in 2010, Kassian was arrested after a bar room brawl in Windsor. The next season, Kassian was again suspended for 3 games after a play was deemed "intent to injure" so Kassian was nothing short of being a loose cannon before he even made it to Buffalo. Less than 1 season in Buffalo saw the enigmatic Kassian being offered up for the Canucks problem child. 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devron Posted October 27, 2023 Share Posted October 27, 2023 Funny story. I had a buddy order a Hodgson jersey. It was in the mail when the trade happened 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy Hronek Posted October 27, 2023 Share Posted October 27, 2023 Kassian a.k.a. the guy that was supposed to be our answer to Milan Lucic in the Canucks-Bruins 2012 Cup Finals rematch, lol. Enjoy your retirement Zachary. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy Hronek Posted October 27, 2023 Share Posted October 27, 2023 Hodgson's greatest moment as a Canuck: Kassian's greatest moment in his..............career? 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeremyCuddles Posted October 27, 2023 Share Posted October 27, 2023 A trade where both players had very heartbreaking careers. I think both had a lot more to offer. Hodgson's health derailed him and I think Kassian's issues also shortened his career. 12 years is nothing to scoff at, but he had a golden platter in front of him with a spot next to the Sedins and a lot of talent as well. Not Hodgson level talent but he could have been a real mini-Bert. Hodgson was starting to light it up in Buffalo before his health took him out. 1 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DownUndaCanuck Posted October 27, 2023 Share Posted October 27, 2023 Crazy to think that Kassian ended up being the better NHLer but it just shows that every now and then, you get a high pick with bad character issues. Ever after that, Canucks GMs have scouted character more than many other attributes and rightly so. What a waste of a pick. Ironically who gets picked right after Hodgson in the 2008 draft who we could have taken? Tyler Myers, Luca Sbisa and Del Zotto. Eberle and Carlsson were around who would have been nice picks but a lot of teams whiffed on them, wasn't a great draft in the end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iinatcc Posted October 27, 2023 Share Posted October 27, 2023 2 minutes ago, DownUndaCanuck said: Crazy to think that Kassian ended up being the better NHLer but it just shows that every now and then, you get a high pick with bad character issues. Ever after that, Canucks GMs have scouted character more than many other attributes and rightly so. What a waste of a pick. If you are referring to Hodgson having character issues I think it was mostly rumors. Besides what ended his career was his medical issues and not his attitude. Besides anyone who decided to coach young kids is someone, I don't think, has character issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WillisD Posted October 27, 2023 Share Posted October 27, 2023 I was a big Hodgson fan so I was freaking choked when I heard they made the trade. Too bad he didn't have a better career but he made it to the nhl and that's so much more than most. I hope he's doing well and is happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
27 Percent Posted October 27, 2023 Share Posted October 27, 2023 8 hours ago, Devron said: Funny story. I had a buddy order a Hodgson jersey. It was in the mail when the trade happened I ordered a Hodgson signed Allstar puck. Arrived the day of the trade. Still have it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tas Posted October 27, 2023 Share Posted October 27, 2023 I didn't read the blog but the most important thing that should have been learned from that trade is for fans to take a deep breath and just say "meh". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tas Posted October 27, 2023 Share Posted October 27, 2023 2 hours ago, iinatcc said: If you are referring to Hodgson having character issues I think it was mostly rumors. Besides what ended his career was his medical issues and not his attitude. Besides anyone who decided to coach young kids is someone, I don't think, has character issues. theo fleury might have a bone to pick with that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John.Tallhouse Posted October 27, 2023 Share Posted October 27, 2023 8 hours ago, JeremyCuddles said: A trade where both players had very heartbreaking careers. I think both had a lot more to offer. Hodgson's health derailed him and I think Kassian's issues also shortened his career. 12 years is nothing to scoff at, but he had a golden platter in front of him with a spot next to the Sedins and a lot of talent as well. Not Hodgson level talent but he could have been a real mini-Bert. Hodgson was starting to light it up in Buffalo before his health took him out. Painfully accurate. I remember being so excited about Hodgson back in 2011/12. And he wore my favourite number . Bummer all around but at least they got to play the game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devron Posted October 27, 2023 Share Posted October 27, 2023 10 hours ago, Jeremy Hronek said: Hodgson's greatest moment as a Canuck: Kassian's greatest moment in his..............career? That slap shot goal was nasty though wow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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