Cody Almond Explained

Cody Almond
Birth Date:24 July 1989
Birth Place:Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Height Ft:6
Height In:2
Weight Lb:199
Position:Centre
Shoots:Left
League:NL
Team:Lausanne HC
Former Teams:Minnesota Wild
Genève-Servette HC
Ntl Team:SUI
Draft:140th overall
Draft Year:2007
Draft Team:Minnesota Wild
Career Start:2009

Cody Almond (born July 24, 1989) is a Canadian-born Swiss professional ice hockey centre for Lausanne HC of the National League (NL). He has formerly played for the Minnesota Wild in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Playing career

Almond was originally selected by the Minnesota Wild in the fifth round, 140th overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft from the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League. He made his NHL debut on February 12, 2010 against the Atlanta Thrashers,[1] and scored his first goal on April 4, 2010 against the Vancouver Canucks.[2]

Almond started the 2010–11 season with Minnesota's AHL affiliate, the Houston Aeros, but was recalled to the NHL on November 4, 2010.[3]

On June 20, 2012, Almond left the Wild organization for Europe and was signed to a three-year contract with HC Genève-Servette of the Swiss National League A.[4]

In his second season with Genève-Servette in 2013–14, Almond broke out offensively whilst still providing a physical two-way game in contributing with 18 goals and 34 points in 44 games. Approaching the final year of his contract he re-signed to a five-year contract extension with Genève-Servette on June 23, 2014.[5]

Only two weeks after in signing his extension, Almond was granted a release from the Eagles, after earning a one-year, $550,000 contract to return with the Wild on July 8, 2014.[6] Almond was unable to make the Wild's opening night roster for the 2014–15 season, and was assigned to AHL affiliate, the Iowa Wild. After just five games, going scoreless, and recovering from an injury, Almond opted to leave Minnesota and return to Switzerland on his initial five-year agreement made with Genève-Servette HC on December 1, 2014.[7]

In June 2018, Almond opted out of his contract with Genève-Servette HC to sign a three-year deal worth CHF 1.6 million (+ bonuses and additional costs) with Lausanne HC for the 2019/20 season. Almond should have joined Lausanne in the summer of 2018, but both clubs failed to find an agreement, forcing Almond to stay in Geneva through the 2018/19 season.

During his tenure with Servette, Almond was largely criticized for his inconsistency and his lack of physical condition as he failed to play a single full season over 7 years in Geneva. He eventually played 213 regular season games with Geneva (139 points) and 35 playoffs games (20 points), before moving to Geneva's biggest rival, Lausanne HC.

Personal life

Almond received Swiss citizenship in 2012.[8] His maternal grandmother Martha is a native of Olten, Switzerland.[9]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Team League GP GPG A Pts PIM
2005–06Kelowna RocketsWHL23213780000
2006–07Kelowna RocketsWHL6815284372
2007–08Kelowna RocketsWHL6922345611471232
2008–09Kelowna RocketsWHL703333661052210172751
2009–10Houston AerosAHL487111877
2009–10Minnesota WildNHL71019
2010–11Houston AerosAHL651519341242206620
2010–11Minnesota WildNHL80002
2011–12Houston AerosAHL4678159141126
2011–12Minnesota WildNHL1010115
2012–13Genève-Servette HCNLA398223056702218
2013–14Genève-Servette HCNLA4418163475120556
2014–15Iowa WildAHL50006
2014–15Genève-Servette HCNLA205611241236916
2015–16Genève-Servette HCNLA40112
2016–17Genève-Servette HCNLA3811132442413414
2017–18Genève-Servette HCNL286410100
2018–19Genève-Servette HCNL4012172930
2019–20Lausanne HCNL419122146
2020–21Lausanne HCNL42771484610116
2021–22Lausanne HCNL32761363
2022–23Lausanne HCNL4233655
NHL totals2520226
NL totals37086107193577415162170

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2015SwitzerlandWC8th80222
2017SwitzerlandWC6th72242
2018SwitzerlandOG10th402225
Senior totals 1926829

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Thrashers finally solve Wild in regulation after Bergfors backs Hedberg . https://web.archive.org/web/20100220021103/http://espn.go.com/nhl/recap?gameId=300212030 . dead . February 20, 2010 . ESPN . 2010-02-12 . 2010-04-27.
  2. Web site: Canucks survive in OT after blowing late two-goal lead, clinch division title . https://web.archive.org/web/20100410184626/http://espn.go.com/nhl/recap?gameId=300404022 . dead . April 10, 2010 . ESPN . 2010-04-04 . 2010-04-27.
  3. Web site: Wild recall Almond . . 2010-11-04 . 2010-11-04.
  4. Web site: Cody Almond - The Mystery Man unveiled . . 2012-06-20 . 2012-06-20.
  5. Web site: Almond an Eagle for five more years . French . . 2014-06-23 . 2014-06-23.
  6. Web site: Wild signs center Cody Almond . . 2014-07-08 . 2014-07-08.
  7. Web site: Cody Almond back to GSHC . 2014-12-01 . 2014-12-01 . French . .
  8. News: Das Debüt der Doppelbürger. Berner Zeitung. 2016-03-14.
  9. Web site: Schweizerkreuz statt Ahornblatt und Stars and Stripes. az Solothurner Zeitung. 2016-03-14. 2020-07-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20200718033227/https://www.solothurnerzeitung.ch/sport/schweizerkreuz-statt-ahornblatt-und-stars-and-stripes-128671589. dead.