Former top pick Cody Hodgson is making an NHL comeback at 34 years old
His last NHL game was in 2016!
HockeyFeed
Here's a name you probably haven't heard in a long time: Cody Hodgson.
The former Nashville Predators, Buffalo Sabres and Vancouver Canucks forward hasn't played an NHL game since the 2015-16 season, but he's attempting to make a comeback in 2024 at age 34.
Hodgson announced via NHL insider Elliotte Friedman that he has recovered from the rare muscle disorder that forced him into early retirement at just 26 years old and is now looking to resume his pro hockey career. Friedman reports that Hodgson has no illusions of being gifted an NHL job immediately and is willing to work his way up from the AHL or even the ECHL.
Hodgson was drafted 8th overall by the Canucks way back in 2008 and was seen as one of the top prospects in hockey thanks in large part to his heroics with Team Canada at the World Juniors in both 2008 and 2009. He joined the Canucks in 2011 for the Canucks' Stanley Cup Playoff run and made a name for himself the following season, putting up 16 goals and 33 points in 63 games as a rookie. He was traded at the deadline that season though to the Buffalo Sabres in a blockbuster trade for fellow rookie Zack Kassian. The move was seen at the time as an attempt from Canucks GM Mike Gillis to add some toughness and snarl to his lineup by adding Kassian. Hodgson, meanwhile, had a few productive seasons with Buffalo and signed a six year, $25.5 million contract with the team in 2013. He was bought out of the deal just two years into it though and then signed a one year deal with the Nashville Predators.
His condition became too much to bear though and he was forced to retire midway through the 2015-16 season, which be split between the Predators and their AHL affiliate Milwaukee Admirals.
Now, having overcome malignant hyperthermia, Hodgson is looking to fulfill all the promise he showed as a youngster.
Personally, I'm intrigued by this story and I'm pulling for the guy. Again, he showed so much promise as a prospect and looked like a sure fire, can't miss player. Here's hoping that we're all in store for a classic comeback story.
