The New Jersey Devils have had bottom-six problems all season long. After an initial stretch by Stefan Noesen and Paul Cotter actually put them into the top six, the Devils haven't had much from guys not named Jack Hughes (who's done for the season), Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, or Timo Meier. Sheldon Keefe has tried different lineups to get the bottom six working, including playing Meier and Bratt down there, but it has only had small successes.
Then, the Devils finally made the moves it needed to fix the bottom six. They added Cody Glass and Daniel Sprong to bring offense in unique ways. The Devils are finally getting secondary scoring, led by Glass.
Glass had 15 points in 51 games for the Pittsburgh Penguins. That’s hardly impressive, but something clicked when he came to the Devils. Whether it’s his fit in the Sheldon Keefe system or waking up after yet another trade, he’s been fantastic in New Jersey. He’s had six points in eight games since coming over at the deadline.
We’re usually not fans of paying a player when he’s at his height, and there are a few reasons to think there’s a letdown coming, but this one makes sense. Glass is a highly talented forward who never hit his potential. The 25-year-old was the sixth overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft. The Vegas Golden Knights got the sixth pick in what was an elite top five (outside Nolan Patrick).
Glass isn’t going to be a superstar like some thought back in 2017. He lost a ton of momentum on his development during the pandemic, but he does have a 14-goal season with the Nashville Predators under his belt. That was just two seasons ago. He could easily be a 15-goal player.
The Devils don’t need major moves this season. They need to get their best players healthy, and they need to find a sustainable offensive model. This season isn’t as devastating as it feels right now. They fell off the face of the Earth since Christmas, and they haven’t recovered. One week, the offense can’t score. The next week, the defense can’t stop a soul. Then, the goaltenders crumble after weeks of dominance.
What is Cody Glass worth to the New Jersey Devils?
The contract the Devils should offer to Glass shouldn’t break the bank. His floor is still pretty low, but there’s a reason he’s working so well for the Devils. What he is doing is sustainable, and the Devils should want that type of production next season.
Glass is a restricted free agent this offseason. That means the Devils still own his rights. They don’t need to overpay Glass because he can’t go anywhere. He probably just wants a secure NHL opportunity moving forward, so offer him the exact deal he’s playing on right now and see what he says. He signed a two-year deal for $5 million. If he needs a third year without raising the cap hit, give it to him.
This is a 25-year-old player. We’ve seen first-round picks turn into very productive bottom-six players when they accept the role. Glass has clearly done that, and he could be very productive for the Devils as they enter their contention window.