Instant Analysis: Hodgson Signing Completes RFA List

On Monday, the Flyers announced that restricted free agent winger Hayden Hodgson has signed a two-year contract. The first year of the term is a two-way deal, while the second is a one-way arrangement. The average annual value (AAV) of the contract at the NHL level is $800,000.

The signing completes the list of Flyers' restricted free agents this summer. They are all now under contract for 2022-23.
Hodgson, who turned 26 on March 2, came out of nowhere this past season to raise his stock from a player likely ticketed for the ECHL to an AHL regular and, ultimately, to a contracted NHL player. He greatly impressed Laperriere with a rugged, straightforward physical brand of hockey along with an unexpected finishing touch.
With the Phantoms, Hodgson posted 31 points and a team-high 19 goals in just 46 games. He also compiled 70 penalty minutes. He served a two-game AHL suspension stemming from an elbowing incident in a road game at Providence on Nov. 12, 2021. Later, he received a three-game suspension for an elbow in another game against Providence.
The Phantoms missed Hodgson tenacity on the forecheck and willing to attack in the scoring areas. He had four multi-goal games in 2021-22 including an AHL career-best four points (2g, 2a) with a tying goal in the final minute of regulation and an overtime assist to cap a 6-5 comeback win on New Year's Eve against the Utica Comets in a game the Phantoms trailed by scores of 4-0 and 5-1. In February, Hodgson put together a stretch of eight points (6g, 2a) in nine games between Feb. 2 and Feb. 23.
On March 22, 2022, the Flyers rewarded Hodgson's hard work by replacing his AHL contract with a two-way NHL contract for the remainder of the season. He made his NHL debut two nights later, registering a goal and an assist in a 5-2 Flyers victory. Hodgson's first NHL tally was scored from the doorstep off a Kevin Hayes rebound. The Flyers interim coach at the time, Mike Yeo, entrusted Hodgson with 16:23 of ice time across 21 shifts.

The next night in Colorado, Hodson skated 16:30 and 24 shifts in a 6-3 loss against the eventual Stanley Cup champion Avalanche. Hodgson dropped the gloves with Nashville's Taylor Jeannot in a 5-4 road loss on March 27; Hodgson's first NHL fight.
Over the final three games he played in the NHL last season, Hodgson's ice time was reduced as he was moved down primarily to the fourth line. He took a pair of undisciplined penalties in a 4-3 overtime road win against the New York Rangers, with the latter coming with 3:11 left in regulation after the Rangers had rallied in the third period from a 3-0 deficit to tie the game.
Hodgson did not appear in either end of a home-and-home set with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He was sent down to the Phantoms for must-win games against the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins and Hershey Bears. In the first game, Hodgson notched a goal that cut a 2-0 deficit to one goal in the third period but Lehigh Valley sustained a 3-1 loss. In the latter, a 4-1 home win, Hodgson assisted on an Isaac Ratcliffe goal that opened the scoring.
Hodgson returned to the Flyers lineup on April 9, earning an assist on defenseman Ronnie Attard's first NHL goal. The winger tipped the puck back to the point off a faceoff and subsequently provided a screen. Overall, Hodgson played 10:04 in the game. The Flyers led 2-0 after the first period, trailed 3-2 by the end of the middle frame and then re-tied the score at 3-3 before Anaheim scored twice to claim a 5-3 victory over Philadelphia.

Over his six games with the Flyers, Hodgon posted three points (1g, 2a), 11 penalty minutes and 10 shots on goal. He was credited with 12 hits. Hodgon averaged 13:12 of ice time including an average of 33 seconds of power play time per game.
The 6-foot-2, 207-pound power winger will be among the players competing for an NHL job under new head coach John Tortorella during the Flyers' upcoming training camp. Hodgson is subject to waivers if he does not make the opening-night NHL roster and the Flyers wish to assign him to the Phantoms.