In July 2024, the Ottawa Senators signed Hayden Hodgson to a one-year, $775,000 contract. At the time of the signing, Hodgson had not played an NHL game since he played in one game for the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2022-23 season.
It wouldn't be until April that Hodgson would get NHL action for the Senators. Hodgson played in two NHL games in April and recorded no points in both games. The biggest moment for Hodgson in his two NHL games was getting into a fight against Michael Pezzetta of the Montreal Canadiens on April 11.
Hodgson wouldn't play in the 2025 playoffs for the Senators. With not playing in the playoffs and only playing in two NHL games during the season, it could potentially put the Senators in a tough position of what to do with the 29-year-old forward.
Hodgson's one season with Senators makes it a tough call to re-sign him
In his career, Hodgson has recorded just three points in nine NHL games. Hodgson has spent majority of his hockey career in the AHL, but his one season in the AHL with the Belleville Senators was tough and grinding one.
Hodgson recorded 11 points in 43 games in Belleville. Hodgson's 11-point season was the third lowest point total for a season in his AHL career.
One number that was incredibly high for Hodgson during the 2024-25 season was 156. That number represented the amount of penalty minutes Hodgson had in Belleville over the course of the season.
Hodgson's 156 penalty minutes not only was the most for a single season in his AHL career, but it lead Belleville's roster as well. The second highest player with the most penalty minutes on Belleville's roster was Jorian Donovan's 83 penalty minutes. Seventy-three more penalty minutes than the second highest on the roster could be a concern for some teams.
Despite leading Belleville in penalty minutes, re-signing Hodgson could offer as a another one-year prove it contract. Hodgson would also bring his toughness and grit back as someone who isn't afraid to drop the gloves and get a spark going.
Re-signing Hodgson would also bring depth to the Senators in case of injuries and players struggling. The Senators will face decisions to re-sign or not to re-sign fourth liners Adam Gaudette, Matthew Highmore and Nick Cousins this Summer. If one or both of them don't re-sign, it could potentially lead to the Senators wanting to re-sign Hodgson.