Fan In Van

Hodgson vs. Beach

Let’s be perfectly honest, in every NHL draft there are going to be a handful of fans who think the Vancouver Canucks passed up on a better player for a lesser one. Last June it was David Perron and Patrick White; two years earlier it was Anze Kopitar and Luc Bourdon. Hell, ten years ago it was Alex Tanguay instead of Bryan Allen.

The fact is, how many of us can honestly say we’ve seen both in action? I know I can’t. Everyone, myself included, are only making conclusions based on what we’ve read and the few highlights of both players we have seen. As far as I’m concerned, the only conclusion the “experts” can make is that we cannot yet come to a conclusion.

So far though, I’d say that based on what has been said about Cody Hodgson gives Canuck fans a glimmer of hope for the future. Look folks, this is a guy who has character. Hodgson gives leadership. And to be perfectly clear, he’s a much safer pick then the wild card that is Kyle Beach. The Haliburton, Ontario native is a solid pick, and it was an act of God that he fell to us at ten.

Canuck fans, thank the Hockey Gods that Mike Gillis did not deal away the 10th overall pick for Mike Cammalleri, because Cody Hodgson is going to be a staple of this franchise for years. Think Trevor Linden’s leadership with Rod Brind’Amour’s two-way play. Hodgson could have that rookie ten-game stint in the fall if he has a good training camp and works on his skating.

As for Kyle Beach, I think he’s a phenomenal player. I’m not concerned about his attitude problems, because that can easily be cured with maturity in the NHL. However, his concussion problems scare me. A player’s development can be seriously stunted with head injuries and that throws up a red flag for me. Kyle Beach on the Chicago Blackhawks makes a hell of a lot more sense than if Kyle Beach was on the Vancouver Canucks. The Blackhawks can afford to take a risk on Beach, because they’ve already got an impressive array of young talent in their pool. The Canucks, however, can’t say the same, and had they struck out on Beach in the future, the franchise could be seriously troubled.

I think both Cody Hodgson and Kyle Beach could be great players in the NHL three or four years from now, but the fact is the Canucks could not allow themselves to take the huge risk of drafting Kyle Beach when they had a young, multi-faceted and character player like Cody Hodgson available.

What are your thoughts? Sound off in the comment section.