BUFFALO – Cody Hodgson’s Sabres career is over.
The team put the struggling winger on unconditional waivers today, meaning the final four seasons of his six-year, $25.5 million contract will be bought out for one-third the remaining value.
The 25-year-old endured perhaps the worst year of any NHL forward in 2014-15, mustering only six goals and 13 points in 78 games, a stunning 14-goal, 31-point drop in six more appearances.
Hodgson scored one goal in a 47-game stretch from Oct. 28 to Feb. 22. He endured goal droughts of 27 and 19 games and also went 17 straight contests without a point.
It’s easy to forget now, but less than two years ago Hodgson was a player the Sabres began to build around.
He led the Sabres in scoring in 2013-14 and had 15 goals and 34 points in 48 games in 2012-13.
Hodgson’s another player from old Darcy Regier regime general manager Tim Murray has purged. Only six NHL players Regier acquired have a contract for next season.
On Friday, Murray traded center Mikhail Grigorenko and defenseman Nikita Zadorov – two Regier first-round picks – to Colorado in the Ryan O’Reilly deal. Murray bought out defenseman Christian Ehrhoff and forward Ville Leino a year ago.
Cody Hodgson is on unconditional waivers and will have his contract bought out. Since he's under 26, it will cost $6.333M over eight years.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) June 29, 2015