It's been a long year for Canucks prospect Cody Hodgson and it's not about to slow down.
Having played for about 10 months straight, the 10th-overall pick in 2008 said he's already looking ahead to next season.
"It's been a whirlwind year," Hodgson said yesterday at the prospects camp. "I think I've improved in everything I wanted to in junior. I'm ready for the next step."
His year started back in September with the Canucks' training camp, followed by a season with the Brampton Battalion, earning an Ontario Hockey League MVP title.
After junior ended, he headed down to Vancouver's farm team, the Manitoba Moose, where he played 11 playoff games, scoring six points.
"I was pretty depleted having played 100 something games," said Hogdson, adding that he's lost about five pounds.
After the stint in the American Hockey League, he took about three weeks off, and it showed Thursday as the 19-year-old looked rusty at times - falling down and missing passes - on a few of the earlier drills but he found his legs later on in the morning.
The main goal now for Hodgson is obvious.
"I'm looking for a spot here and I'll do anything to make the (Canucks)," he said. "It's up to the coaches and management and I'm going to do whatever I can to make that an easy decision."
Jordan Schroeder sat out yesterday's drills with a sore hip, as Vancouver's first-round pick in the 2009 NHL draft said he strained a muscle going through the power skating exercises the day before. He most likely won't hike up the Grouse Grind today with the other prospects.
