From John Vogl of the Buffalo News, ahead of tonight’s Sabres-Hurricanes game in Carolina (on NBCSN):
Cody Hodgson will return to center for the Sabres. Ted Nolan says the left wing stay is over because centers can't get Hodgson the puck.
— John Vogl (@BuffaloVogl) October 14, 2014
Hodgson is expected to skate between wingers Chris Stewart and Marcus Foligno.
“A goal scorer needs someone to get him the puck, and right now with the center-ice situation we have, we can’t get [Hodgson] the puck,” Nolan explained, per the News. “Maybe put him with some bigger wingers, the wingers can get him the puck and he’ll have an opportunity to do his thing, that’s shoot and score.”
The Sabres started experimenting near the end of last season with Hodgson on the wing. At the time, it was a way to simplify things for the player, and also to take away some of the defensive responsibilities that are required of centers.
“He’s not known for his great defense, and we don’t want him to play great defense,” Nolan said in April. “We want him to score offensively. But you have to be reliable defensively. One thing about the wing position, it’s not as complicated as playing center ice.”
Hodgson has managed just one shot in Buffalo’s first three games. (It did not go in.)