It’s the ninth day of free agency in hockey and although some of the top free agents have signed elsewhere, the news that the Florida Panthers signed defenseman Carl Hudson to an entry level contract is great news.  There’s still a need for a veteran defenseman, but I’ll take the news for the day.  Hudson was one of the bright spots on the Rochester Americans defense at the tail end of the 09/10 season and into the playoffs.

In his last season at Canisius College, Hudson had 14 goals and 20 assists in 35 games.  In the 12 games he played for the Amerks he only had one assist but the stats don’t tell the whole story.  Hudson played a physical defensive game, something some of the other players failed to do.  Hudson will help fill the role of a physical defenseman, something returning players Keaton Ellerby, Jordan Henry and Michael Caruso aren’t exactly known for.

In his first professional game he dropped the gloves with  Andre Deveaux of the Toronto Marlies.  He didn’t exactly win the fight, but he stepped up to show he wasn’t going to be pushed around and would stand up for himself.

The fact that [...]Read More