Predators Take a Chance on Cody Hodgson - The Hockey Writers -

The Nashville Predators have come to terms with forward Cody Hodgson on a one-year deal worth $1.05 million.

Cody Hodgson deal worth $1.05 million for Predators. Nice low-risk move for Nashville.

— Craig Custance (@CraigCustance) July 1, 2015

This isn’t the first time the Predators have taken a gamble on a veteran player who has had a fall from grace (I’d say in terms of their stats, but they’ve also signed players who have other kinds of falls too). Hodgson was bought out of the remaining four years on a contract with an AAV of $4,250,000.

Hodgson was signed to a six-year deal in 2013 that was intended to lock him up as the team’s number one center for years to come. He was coming off a 15-goal, 19-assist performance in the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season. He followed that up by posting 20 goals and 24 assists after signing the contract.

However, last season didn’t go as well. He scored just six goals and seven assists while averaging only 12:51 of playing time, the lowest mark of his career. Last season also saw him post the lowest P/60 of his career at just 0.8.

A little silver lining can be found in his possession numbers. He’s never consistently been a great possession player, but he did post a score-adjusted CF%Rel of 1.5% last season. Though, on a historically bad Buffalo team, it might not be translatable. His score-adjusted CF% was 37.4%. It’s maybe not a silver lining as much as it’s mind-blowing that any player with a 37.4% CF% could have positive relative possession numbers.

Keep up with all the free agent signing with the The Hockey Writers’ Deal Tracker.

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