Cody Hodgson is one of Buffalo’s highest-paid players and was last year’s leading scorer, but you wouldn’t know it based on what’s transpired this season.
Hodgson, who has just one goal and two points through 10 games, was dropped to the fourth line at today’s practice -- less than 24 hours after Buffalo mustered just 10 shots on goal in an “embarrassing” 4-0 loss to Toronto:New #Sabres lines: Moulson-Ennis-Stafford Mitchell-Girgensons-Gionta Stewart-McCormick-Foligno Hodgson-Reinhart-Deslauriers-Flynn-Kaleta
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) October 29, 2014
Hodgson’s been moved back and forth between the wing and his natural center position this year, seemingly in an effort to spark his game. The former first-round pick was goalless for the majority of the season before notching his first in Saturday’s 2-1 win over San Jose, something head coach Ted Nolan saw as a potential positive in getting Hodgson on track.
“As with a lot of our players, he kind of went into a little bit of a funk, but last couple of games I thought he’s gotten a little bit better,” Nolan said after the Sharks game, per the Buffalo News. “We expect Cody to be Cody. He’s got to get himself available to shoot the puck, the more he shoots it, the more will go in.”
Hodgson did have one of Buffalo’s 10 shots last night, getting one on Jonathan Bernier during the first period.