Following weeks of comparative silence on the player movement front, the Penguins pulled off a minor trade today.
Two actually.
In our most recent deal, we acquired 25-year-old center Cody Glass from the Predators, along with a third-round pick in the 2025 Entry Draft and a sixth-round pick in ’26.
The price? Center Jordan Frasca, who outscored heralded teammate Shane Wright in his final season of junior hockey but has thus far underwhelmed at the pro level. He’s spent the vast majority of his nascent career skating for the Wheeling Nailers, where he tallied 33 points in 40 games last season. The 23-year-old was pointless in 11 games spread over two seasons with the Baby Pens.
Glass is a former sixth-overall pick and the very first draft selection of the Golden Knights back in 2017. Like Frasca, the impressive production he compiled in junior with Mike Johnston’s Portland Winterhawks hasn’t translated to the NHL.
After being dealt to Nashville straight-up for fellow first-round disappointment Nolan Patrick in 2021, Glass earned a spot with the Preds in ’22-23 and enjoyed a decent season, tallying 14 goals and 35 points in 72 games. In addition, the Winnipeg native compiled some strong underlying numbers, including an impressive 5v5 goals for percentage of 61.82.
However, last season the bottom dropped out on the 6’3” 205-pounder under new Preds coach Andrew Brunette. He managed just six goals and 13 points in 41 games…an okay 12-goal, 26-point pace over a full season. However, his underlying numbers crumbled.
Whether Glass can bounce back with the black and gold under Mike Sullivan, who like Brunette favors an attacking style, remains to be seen. (FYI: Cody’s under contract for the coming season at a cap hit of $2.5 million. A bit steep in my book for a player with his NHL track record.)
For Kyle Dubas, it continues a trend of acquiring players who’ve been modestly productive in the past but are coming off decidedly down seasons.
Speaking of our POHO/GM, earlier in the day Dubas swapped the second-round pick he’d acquired in the Kevin Hayes trade back to the Blues along with a fifth-round pick in ’26 for a third-round pick in ’25 and a second-round pick in ’26. A deal that enabled the Blues to extend offer sheets to Oilers RFAs Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway.
Attractive young players, both.
Meanwhile, our Pens continue to paddle sideways at best.
Rick
I’m just happy the kids not 5’8 or 5’9 – he at least brings some size!! It looks to me like Dubas
is trying to stock pile picks, which should be beneficial with trades, at the draft table and
moving a bad contract if necessary. I’ve been sort of out of pocket and only picking up bits
and pieces – correct me if I’m wrong.
Hey Mike,
You are absolutely correct!!!
Good to hear from you, as always…
Rick
PS–Regarding Glass being 6’3″ and not 5’9″, he’s probably in Sully’s doghouse already…lol.
Rick
Hey all,
A little after-the-fact add-on. By all accounts Cody’s a really good kid who cares a great deal and is appreciative of the opportunities he’s received.
Certainly the kind of kid you pull for to succeed.
Maybe he can find his footing with the Pens.
Rick