Nashville Predators: Recap of Episode 1 of NHL Network’s “Behind the Glass”

There was a lot of anticipation building for the season premiere of NHL Network’s docuseries “Behind the Glass”, which is featuring the Nashville Predators training camp this year.

The first episode didn’t disappoint as it showcases a wide variety of storylines from training camp practices, front office roster decisions, one-on-one player interviews, and family life.

“Behind the Glass” is an in-depth look at what goes into the grind of an NHL training camp, giving diehard hockey fans a pretty amazing treat into a world we don’t usually get to see behind closed doors.

The episode opens with a look over the skyline of downtown Nashville, which is an underlying theme throughout. Showcasing the live music scene, the party atmosphere, and also it being a “hockey hotbed” as they call it.

Before giving my main takeaways from Episode 1, I must preface by saying that I was locked into every second of the production and they have me hooked for the next one. Outstanding work by everyone involved in producing it at NHL Network.

Takeaways from Episode 1 of “Behind the Glass” featuring Nashville Predators

After finishing the entirety of the first episode of “Behind the Glass”, the first thing I really took away from it was how many different storylines the episode covered. A lot of intriguing topics to follow in NHL training camp, and I don’t think you have to be a fan of the Nashville Predators to get into this docuseries.

What better player to follow to open this four-part series following the Nashville Predators than the Captain and Norris Trophy winning Roman Josi? As many of us know, the team was dealt a tough blow being swept by the Colorado Avalanche in last season’s playoffs, and Josi states they all had to “look in the mirror”.

On the ice, I really like how they go in-depth behind the scenes to the coaches and General Manager David Poile on making roster decisions.

A team has to cut their training camp roster down from 55 players to 27 players in just 15 days. The episode does a great job showing the viewer the complex process in evaluation for Head Coach John Hynes and his staff.

This Nashville Predators team has a nice blend of young and veteran talent. A prospect pool that is buzzing to go along with some proven veterans like Josi, McDonagh, Forsberg, Mattias Ekholm, and Matt Duchene.

Speaking of Hynes, he comes off as a player’s coach, which has always been his reputation if you follow the Nashville Predators. He is very straightforward with his players on his expectations and preaches speed and aggression on the puck.

In one clip of the episode, Hynes tells his players before training camp practices begin that “practices will matter” and he doesn’t mean that as a threat. Talks about the quick timeline due to the Global Series, and that player evaluation in practices will happen.

This is cool stuff seeing how a coach communicates with his player at this critical time just before the regular season begins.

Watching it now that the 27-player roster for the Global Series has been officially announced by the team makes it even more interesting to see how it unfolded beforehand.

Closer looks at McDonagh and Glass

We also got a heavy dose of the newest players on the Nashville Predators, Nino Niederreiter and Ryan McDonagh. These two have been covered a lot over the offseason as upgrades that can put the Predators over the hump in the playoff and get out of the first round for the first time since 2018.

McDonagh joining the Predators as a player who has won two Stanley Cups and knows what it takes to be part of a championship team is something that Poile mentions is very important to making the Predators a better team.

Finally, the episode focuses closely on Cody Glass and his push for an NHL roster spot. He was in the running to play on the Predators last season out of camp but was quickly sent down for almost the entire remainder of the season to play with the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL.

Glass took the opportunity to get better at the AHL level and knocked it out of the park. The one-on-one conversation with Hynes was cool watch in the episode, and Glass would pot a goal in one of the preseason games shortly after.

Even if you’re not a fan of the Nashville Predators, this is must-watch for all hockey fans. “Behind the Glass” is featured on NHL Network and will be a four-part series leading up to the October 7 season-opener from Prague, Czech Republic against the San Jose Sharks.