Carl Hudson with the Rochester Americans

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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 on the Amerks roster, 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 the Florida Panthers signed Hudson to a one year entry level contract shows that they liked what they saw in his potential future. I'm also sure that Jody Gage and Ted Nolan gave Hudson a positive review and encouraged the signing. 

Hopefully RIT hockey fans (college in Rochester) can get over what he did to their team and support his role on the Amerks. On February 2, 2008 during a game between Canisius and RIT he left the bench during a big fight and was ejected from the game.  Not the best move, but another sign that he stands up for his teammates who had just been sucker punched.. He's #2 in the video: