James Nichols
With the way the NHL trade market is shaping up, the New Jersey Devils should consider trading Cody Glass. However, they should only consider it for one reason.
The Devils have been seeking an upgrade in their top-six for quite some time. They want to add a forward with scoring prowess that can play on a line with Jack Hughes—a void that’s been left ever since Tyler Toffoli was moved two deadlines ago.
Seeing as the Devils’ playoff hopes are all but dead, while the NHL trade market is seemingly bloated, moving Glass to help the Devils accumulate assets to help them reel in the scorer they seek seems like an obvious move.
Glass is in the first year of a two-year contract. He has a favorable $2.5 million cap hit and he doesn’t own any trade protection.
Plenty of teams that are in the hunt or are going to the postseason are in the market for a center.
The Colorado Avalanche, Carolina Hurricanes, Montreal Canadiens, and Glass’ former club, the Vegas Golden Knights—playing Mitch Marner as a center currently—all fit the bill.
Perhaps the Edmonton Oilers, too. However, they just acquired Jason Dickinson from the Chicago Blackhawks, and are likely set at the center position.
Glass playing on a favorable cap hit while scoring at a 20-goal pace with elite defensive metrics as a third-line center who can also kill penalties make him a desirable add for most playoff teams.
The Devils forward explained that before he played in New Jersey, he never really had a designated role. Sheldon Keefe defining said role for Glass has led to the success he’s seeing this season.
Thus, an inquiring team should be able to see similar success with Glass. Especially now that they know what they’re getting in the former sixth overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft.
So, what can the Devils get for Glass?
Well, recent history has seen the Nashville Predators trade Michael McCarron to he Minnesota Wild for a 2028 second-round pick. Sticking with the Predators, they sent Cole Smith Vegas for a 2028 third-round pick and a prospect.
Seeing as those are the prices for depth forwards who don’t have a scoring touch, Glass can certainly retrieve more, especially because he plays a premium position.
Is a first-round pick out of the question? Especially for a team like the Avalanche? They don’t own that pick this year, but they do have their 2027, and there’s no reason to beleive that first-round pick won’t be closer to the second-round than the top half of the first.
Even if it’s not that high, a couple of second-round picks in 2027 seems plausible as well. That’s gives the Devils enough compensation to be flexible with their assets to reel in a goalscorer.
The Devils are reportedly open to moving Simon Nemec in the right deal. Add the compensation acquired by dealing Glass, or perhaps something a bit better that New Jersey owns, and perhaps they can walk away with a Jordan Kyrou.
And if there’s not a move to be made by the trade deadline, then perhaps the Devils can be seriously in the mix for the likes of Jason Robertson should he not work things out with Dallas this summer. Or, dare I say, Brady Tkachuk, if things come to a head in Ottawa.
But, why trade Glass if you’ll just end up needing Glass in the future?
Well, for starters, the Devils could always keep Nick Bjugstad. That was their intent, after all. However, he’s likely more of a fit in a 4C role.
Yet, there will be PLENTY of options this summer via free agency.
Some names that come to mind—if they reach July 1st—are Charlie Coyle, J.G. Pageau, Bobby McMann, and Boone Jenner. Dare I say, Erik Haula will even be available.
It’s certainly important that the Devils don’t allow their 3C position to become a black hole again. However, the bigger hole sits to Jack’s left, where the Devils have craved a goalscorer for far too long now.
The Devils should trade Glass, but only if they can use the compensation they acquire later to reel in the goalscorer they seek in the top six.
I don’t know about you, but I’d rather have Kyrou over Glass.
