The injury bug has not been kind to Cody Glass in 2023-24, but the dynamic and talented young center is close to returning to action for the Nashville Predators.
Glass has been cleared to play and has resumed skating for the Predators, and now it's just a matter of if he's ready to play or needs a little more time.
Two different long-term injuries has plagued Glass so far this season. He originally took a lower body injury on October 19 against the New York Rangers, and wasn't able to make it back to game action until November 11. After just four games of action, and his first point of the season, Glass returned to the shelf with an upper body injury.
With Cody Glass Back, Preds can be at their Full Force at the Forward Position
Glass solidifies the center position for the Predators. With him in there, it allows Juuso Parssinen to move to a wing position, and leaves you with Ryan O'Reilly, Colton Sissons and Tommy Novak as your other viable centers.
Novak can also move to a wing position, as can Sissons. This gives Head Coach Andrew Brunette flexibility, but one thing we do know is that Glass is a prototypical center that the Predators need back.
You can't really judge Glass' 2023-24 campaign yet because he just hasn't had time to get comfortable in Brunette's system. He's been in and out and needs a long stretch of hockey under his belt for us to really see what he can produce in this run and gun style of play.
Busy morning skate in Toronto. Lankinen in the starter’s net for #Preds.
— Willy Daunic (@WillyD1025) December 9, 2023
Carrier & Glass both on ice, Barrie taking reps with PP2. pic.twitter.com/iyGe6GkVhy
Glass taking pregame warmups against the Toronto Maple Leafs is a great sign that he could start as soon as today, but nothing official has been announced as of this writing. He could be taking part in warm-ups but still remain a healthy scratch for one more game.
The Predators have been experiments with running with 11 forwards and seven defensemen, but with Glass back in the picture you have your full force of forwards you want to run with.
Liam Foudy was recently put on waivers and cleared to head to the Milwaukee Admirals, which also suggests Glass is about to return as soon as Saturday against the Maple Leafs.
Glass lived up to the expectations last season playing in 72 games and putting up 35 points. He earned himself a two-year deal over the offseason from General Manager Barry Trotz.
Awesome to have Glasser back. Hopefully the bad fortune in the injury department is behind him.