New Jersey Devils acquires Cody Glass from Pittsburgh

In the last hour before 2025 NHL trading deadlineNew Jersey Devils has been shopping on this day. The devils acquired a tips. They acquired Cody Glass from Pittsburgh. He is a forward. Is he good?

Per. NHL.COMThe 25-year-old glass has four goals, eleven assists and 78 shots online in 51 games. He average 13:25, which suggests he is in Pittsburgh’s Bottom Six. Glass is noticeably bad at just 5.1% this season. Then again, Glass’ Career High was back in 2022-23 when he had 14 goals and 35 points. It’s not like he was ever a big producer. The average of just over one shot per Games support it. He has at least won over half of his faceoffs. But He has only taken 338 on Penguins And earlier seasons saw him win fewer than half of his draw. So no, the devils didn’t pick up any good for pulling either.

Per Natural State Trick has Glass an average of 11:04 of 5-to-5 ice age per day. Match this season. It further supports that he was a bottom-six forward for pens. Among the 13 forward who have played at least 300 minutes of 5-to-5 hockey, glass rates very well. The penguins had the best CF% with glass on the ice (63.34 for, 51.22 MOD, 55.29%); The third best SF% with glass on the ice (28.37 for, 26.35 MOD, 51.75%); and the best XGF% with glass on the ice (2.69 for, 2.02 mod, 57.12%). The only question was the actual goals. While others were turned on more than Glass did, pens scored a lean 1.91 goals per year. 60 with him. A team on ice shooting percentage of 6.77% and a team of ice saving percentage 89.52% make a lot of players look worse than they were. The 5-to-5 rates tell me that glass was at least competent in its role. Which is not easy on a penguin team that has softened goals this season. Combined with production, however, it is Tatar-Esque.

With glass that owns a strong on ice against rates in 5-to-5, it made sense for him to play on penalties. He has done so with Penguins an average of 1:20 per day. Fight and third most total minutes among Penguin -Ferad. When he wanted to be on PK, opponents ran up 117.12 attempts per day. 60 (second worst among the 7 forward with at least 30 short -haired minutes), 61.18 shots against per day. 60 (also the second worst) and an expected target speed of 8.39 (surprise: other worst). But because the Goaltenders were better at making glass savings on the ice, the actual damage has been a refreshingly low 4.37 goal against per. 60. Glass may not need to kill sanctions in New Jersey. But at least he could be an option if a risky one based on his penguins minutes.

So is he good? On his own he could be a decent enough fourth line center. Which is not what the devils really needed to strengthen their middle depth. However, I would argue that it can be an upgrade to the position, even if it is a small one. It speaks to how bad it has been behind the Big Deal and Nico Hischier. Eric Haula has been so bad since his return from an injury that there is a case to make him the worst player in the division. Justin Dowling is just a guy and Curtis Lazar is a guy at times scratched to that guy. It’s been Bad. Cody Glass, coming in to give decent notions, will not move any needles forward the devils. He may prevent the needle from going backwards a little. It is technically an upgrade. This is the best argument I can make for glass. Still, the black hole that is Devils’ Bottom Six remains a black hole. Glass was not a producer of many shots, far less points, with the penguins. I do not foresee him who flipped this manuscript with Nathan Bastian or Paul Cotter or Tomas Tatar or Curtis Lazar (on wing).

Does glass be long? Perhaps? Per Puckpedia is Glass a pending limited free agent. He earned a two-season contract extension after his career season in 2022-23 with Nashville worth $ 5 million. Glass was traded to Pittsburgh Back in August 2024 with a 2025 third and one sixth in 2026 for Jordan Frasca. Nashville would clear that space after a poor season 2023-24, and so did. Glass is likely to command a hit of $ 2.5 million with its next deal. But with it being so late this season, his influence on Devils Ltir Pool will be minimal. Like Lazar before him, he has a shot at earning another season or two of being a depth of guy. As he is a pending RFA, the devils will have some control over whether they retain him in another season. It should mean the possible end of either dowling or lazar or both at the end of the season.

What was the cost of getting him? It is to be sorted out. Per Pierre Lebrun on X, it’s a third round pick and some smaller equal players. Although it has not yet been clarified, we have to go with what looks like a lot for a fourth line center, but given the time (the last hour of the deadline) and the need for the position, that’s what it is.

Update: Well after the trade deadline, The full details came out of Penguins. The third round is in 2027. The devils swapped Chase Stillman and Max Graham for Glass and Jon the gravel. In other words, a late choice in two years and two smaller leagues for glass and a smaller Leaguer. Not a heavy price at all – but not too much gain.

As much as I have stated how glare of a need for the center position was, Glass alone is not really anyone who fully addresses this need. Depth in support of a greater acquisition, maybe. But not on your own. Certainly not with Glass’s lack of violation. I don’t hate this acquisition. Especially if it means less dowling/lazar and forcing Haula to make it better. It is very much a “meh” deal.

Now that the devils have acquired Cody Glass, I want to know your opinion. Are you whale of this trait? Possibly underestimated? Waiting to see what the rest of the conditions are? Does this technical addressing of the position collect you? Leave your answers and other thoughts about this trade in the comments. Thank you for reading.