Cody Almond

Cody Almond
Born	(1989-07-24) July 24, 1989 (age 35) Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Height	6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight	199 lb (90 kg; 14 st 3 lb)
Position	Centre
Shot	Left
NL team Former teams	Lausanne HC Minnesota Wild Genève-Servette HC
National team	Switzerland
NHL draft	140th overall, 2007 Minnesota Wild
Playing career	2009–2024

Cody Almond (born July 24, 1989) is a Canadian-born Swiss former professional ice hockey centre who last played for Lausanne HC of the National League (NL). He previously 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.

On February 25, 2025, after not playing all season, Almond announced his retirement. ^[8]

Personal life

Almond received Swiss citizenship in 2012. ^[9] His maternal grandmother Martha is a native of Olten, Switzerland. ^[10]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2005–06	Kelowna Rockets	WHL		23	2	1	3	7		8	0	0	0	0
2006–07	Kelowna Rockets	WHL		68	15	28	43	72		—	—	—	—	—
2007–08	Kelowna Rockets	WHL		69	22	34	56	114		7	1	2	3	2
2008–09	Kelowna Rockets	WHL		70	33	33	66	105		22	10	17	27	51
2009–10	Houston Aeros	AHL		48	7	11	18	77		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	Minnesota Wild	NHL		7	1	0	1	9		—	—	—	—	—
2010–11	Houston Aeros	AHL		65	15	19	34	124		22	0	6	6	20
2010–11	Minnesota Wild	NHL		8	0	0	0	2		—	—	—	—	—
2011–12	Houston Aeros	AHL		46	7	8	15	91		4	1	1	2	6
2011–12	Minnesota Wild	NHL		10	1	0	1	15		—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	Genève-Servette HC	NLA		39	8	22	30	56		7	0	2	2	18
2013–14	Genève-Servette HC	NLA		44	18	16	34	75		12	0	5	5	6
2014–15	Iowa Wild	AHL		5	0	0	0	6		—	—	—	—	—
2014–15	Genève-Servette HC	NLA		20	5	6	11	24		12	3	6	9	16
2015–16	Genève-Servette HC	NLA		4	0	1	1	2		—	—	—	—	—
2016–17	Genève-Servette HC	NLA		38	11	13	24	42		4	1	3	4	14
2017–18	Genève-Servette HC	NL		28	6	4	10	100		—	—	—	—	—
2018–19	Genève-Servette HC	NL		40	12	17	29	30		—	—	—	—	—
2019–20	Lausanne HC	NL		41	9	12	21	46		—	—	—	—	—
2020–21	Lausanne HC	NL		42	7	7	14	84		6	1	0	1	16
2021–22	Lausanne HC	NL		32	7	6	13	63		—	—	—	—	—
2022–23	Lausanne HC	NL		42	3	3	6	55		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				25	2	0	2	26		—	—	—	—	—
NL totals				370	86	107	193	577		41	5	16	21	70

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2015	Switzerland	WC	8th		8	0	2	2	2
2017	Switzerland	WC	6th		7	2	2	4	2
2018	Switzerland	OG	10th		4	0	2	2	25
Senior totals					19	2	6	8	29

References

1. "Thrashers finally solve Wild in regulation after Bergfors backs Hedberg". ESPN. 2010-02-12. Archived from the original on February 20, 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-27.
2. "Canucks survive in OT after blowing late two-goal lead, clinch division title". ESPN. 2010-04-04. Archived from the original on April 10, 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-27.
3. "Wild recall Almond". Minnesota Wild. 2010-11-04. Retrieved 2010-11-04.
4. "Cody Almond - The Mystery Man unveiled". Genève-Servette HC. 2012-06-20. Retrieved 2012-06-20.
5. "Almond an Eagle for five more years" (in French). Genève-Servette HC. 2014-06-23. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
6. "Wild signs center Cody Almond". Minnesota Star Tribune. 2014-07-08. Retrieved 2014-07-08.
7. "Cody Almond back to GSHC" (in French). Genève-Servette HC. 2014-12-01. Retrieved 2014-12-01.
8. "Swiss-Canadian Cody Almond Retires". The Hockey News . 2025-02-25. Retrieved 2025-02-25.
9. "Das Debüt der Doppelbürger". Berner Zeitung . Retrieved 2016-03-14.
10. "Schweizerkreuz statt Ahornblatt und Stars and Stripes". az Solothurner Zeitung. Archived from the original on 2020-07-18. Retrieved 2016-03-14.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com , or  Eliteprospects.com , or  Eurohockey.com , or  Hockey-Reference.com , or  The Internet Hockey Database