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08:23 AM ET 10.01 | Even though he's now rising for 6:30 a.m. practices in the minors, budding Buffalo Sabres star Cody Hodgson is pleased with his current lot in life. In what he believes to be the best shape of his pro career, Hodgson may be the type of player to benefit most from what appears will be a lengthy run in the souped-up AHL. ... "You can only play games and practice and scrimmage for so long. I had a really good summer, but it was long. I'm excited to get back into a competitive atmosphere." The 10th overall pick in the 2008 entry draft by the Vancouver Canucks is certainly one of the candidates to be this lockout's Jason Spezza or Eric Stall, the players commonly mentioned as benefitting the most from the last work stoppage eight years ago.

Jason Spezza, Getty Images

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October 1, 2012 08:47 AM ET

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Please learn to spell Eric STAAL's name correctly or don't use it in your article.

NCCaniac42

Cary , NC

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October 1, 2012 08:55 AM ET

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Letting Cody leave Vancouver for some meat-head was the dumbest move Gillis has made. Well, that and signing Booby Loo to a million year contract. And.......

Canuck eh?

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October 1, 2012 09:12 AM ET

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QUOTE(#2):

Originally posted 08:55 AM ET 10.01 by Canuck eh?

Letting Cody leave Vancouver for some meat-head was the dumbest move Gillis has made. Well, that and signing Booby Loo to a million year contract. And.......

While I agree, I don't know if Lindy McRuff is the coach to get the most out of a centre. I mean, the best Buffalo has produced in his tenure was Mike Peca. You aren't winning a Cup with Mike Peca 2.0 as your top-line C.

dannylimes

Toronto, ON

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October 1, 2012 10:01 AM ET

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QUOTE(#1):

Originally posted 08:47 AM ET 10.01 by NCCaniac42

Please learn to spell Eric STAAL's name correctly or don't use it in your article.

When they post threads using their iPhones, the damn spell check gets them every time.

Otis B. Driftwood

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October 1, 2012 10:12 AM ET

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QUOTE(#3):

Originally posted 09:12 AM ET 10.01 by dannylimes

While I agree, I don't know if Lindy McRuff is the coach to get the most out of a centre. I mean, the best Buffalo has produced in his tenure was Mike Peca. You aren't winning a Cup with Mike Peca 2.0 as your top-line C.

Best Buffalo has produced except for Briere/Drury

uggh

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October 1, 2012 11:44 AM ET

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QUOTE(#5):

Originally posted 10:12 AM ET 10.01 by uggh

Best Buffalo has produced except for Briere/Drury

Neither of those guys were legit number 1 centers either. There was a guy with that job in Colorado when drury won there, and while I do like briere's role in Philly, if they win the Cup anytime soon it won't be because of him.

dannylimes

Toronto, ON

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October 1, 2012 12:11 PM ET

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QUOTE(#6):

Originally posted 11:44 AM ET 10.01 by dannylimes

Neither of those guys were legit number 1 centers either. There was a guy with that job in Colorado when drury won there, and while I do like briere's role in Philly, if they win the Cup anytime soon it won't be because of him.

I disagree. Now Briere is past his prime (turns 35 soon) and Drury was a baby in CO.

While I agree that they were not the top centers in the league if you were building a fantasy team, they were #1s in their prime.

uggh

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October 1, 2012 12:56 PM ET

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OK. OK. So .... we don't have a picture of Cody Hodgson. But, couldn't they have compromised and post a picture of both Jason Spezza and "Eric Stall"?

roamer

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October 1, 2012 05:33 PM ET

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QUOTE(#8):

Originally posted 12:56 PM ET 10.01 by roamer

OK. OK. So .... we don't have a picture of Cody Hodgson. But, couldn't they have compromised and post a picture of both Jason Spezza and "Eric Stall"?

Yeah I was hoping for a full frontal of Kelly Kelly =)

NY Rangers

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October 1, 2012 07:27 PM ET

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QUOTE(#6):

Originally posted 11:44 AM ET 10.01 by dannylimes

Neither of those guys were legit number 1 centers either. There was a guy with that job in Colorado when drury won there, and while I do like briere's role in Philly, if they win the Cup anytime soon it won't be because of him.

Buffalo should have scooped up Hitchcock last year at this time, when Ruff was on the hot seat. No sense dwelling on it now