Cody Hodgson has arrived.
Two weeks shy of his 22nd birthday, the Canucks’ third-line forward was named the NHL’s rookie of the month after a January in which he scored six goals and added four assists in 11 games.
Hodgson has 14 goals and 16 assists in 50 games this season — the highest point production for a Canucks rookie since 2000-01, when Daniel Sedin scored 34 points and Henrik Sedin 29 points.
Hodgson took the prize ahead of Flyers forwards Sean Couturier (5-4-9 in 13 games) and Matt Read (3-6-9 in 13 games), Senators forward Colin Greening (4-5-9 in 14 games), Blackhawks forward Andrew Shaw (5-2-7 in 12 games) and Predators defenceman Ryan Ellis (2-5-7 in 12 games).
What was really impressive about Hodgson’s month: who he excelled against. He was one of the Canucks’ best players in wins over the Bruins, Sharks and Blackhawks. And in a month where both the top line and second line struggled at times, the line of Hodgson, Jannik Hansen and Mason Raymond stepped up offensively.