The Nashville Predators have placed forward Cody Hodgson on waivers, and assigned Viktor Arvidsson to the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL.
Guenin (COL) and Hodgson (NSH) on waivers. Higgins (VAN) clears.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) January 13, 2016
In 72 games in 2013-14, Hodgson scored 20 goals. In the two seasons since, he has nine goals in 117 games.
— Adam Vingan (@AdamVingan) January 13, 2016
Thus ends the journey of Hodgson in Nashville. When he was signed in the summer following a buyout from Buffalo, the hope was he could regain some semblance of play that allowed him to be drafted 10th overall in 2008, and put up 20 goals in 2013-14. For only $1.05 million dollars, the reward far outweighed the risks.
Unfortunately, the results just weren’t there. The David Poile Special turned out to be more Derek Roy and Olli Jokinen than it did Mike Ribeiro. Despite looking like he was doing everything correct on the ice and putting up decent possession stats, Hodgson only scored three goals and eight points.
Does a team take a chance and claim him? It’s possible, especially because of the salary and cap hit. Maybe a contending team or a team fighting in the playoffs decides to take a chance that he’ll bolster their bottom six. But being waived just a few months after being bought out is not a good look, and his lack of production may very well kill any interest.
Arvidsson has also found himself off of the main roster, being sent back to Milwaukee after playing in 19 games for Nashville since his last call up in November. (The club has yet to confirm.) The young Swede hasn’t been getting it done as of late, even though he’s spent some time in the top six. That’s not necessarily an indictment of his play alone, since most of Nashville’s forwards are guilty of under performing, but Arvidsson had been taking several questionable penalties lately, and has seemed a little lost on the ice at times.
The 22-year-old has three goals and five assists in 24 total games this year, but perhaps getting back to the AHL will be the best thing for him right now. Arvidsson was named the AHL Player of the Month for November, and brought back up to the Preds after starting the year with them.
This presumably opens the door for Austin Watson to regain full-time playing duty, and possibly points to Colin Wilson and Gabriel Bourque getting back into the lineup. Either way, the roster needs a bit of a jolt and this is management’s way of doing so.
UPDATE: Colin Wilson has been placed on Injured Reserve, first reported by Adam Vingan.
Colin Wilson, currently nursing a lower-body injury, has been placed on injured reserve. Retroactive to Jan. 8.
— Adam Vingan (@AdamVingan) January 13, 2016