Vegas Golden Knights: Projecting Cody Glass’ role in 2020-21

Projecting Glass’ Role in 2020-21

As I write this, no one really knows if hockey will return this year if at all, and if it does then it could take on one of many different forms.

For instance, there is a possibility that the postseason could take on a 24-team format, while a plethora of players have expressed their wish to finish the regular season before jumping into the playoffs.

But, whether the NHL returns this year or not, we are going to assume that Cody Glass is done until 2020-21.

We are also going to assume for the sake of this article that the 2020-21 Regular Season will go ahead as normal.

So, with those perimeters set, what role will Cody Glass take on for the Vegas Golden Knights in 2020-21?

It is an intriguing question.

To start off, Head Coach Peter DeBoer hasn’t really had a good look at Glass other than studying tape, so Training Camp will represent a fresh start for the forward.

With fellow center Peyton Krebs a potential dark horse to win a roster spot out of camp, Glass will need to have a strong preseason in order to hit the ground running and prove why he should be on the NHL roster to begin the year.

Now, there are a couple of things that are trending in the right direction for Glass in his battle to win a roster spot.

Firstly, Glass did mesh incredibly well as the pivot on a second-line with Max Pacioretty and Mark Stone in the early stages of this season, while the trio were a legitimate threat on the power play together.

There is already electric chemistry established between the three and Glass’ elite vision and playmaking ability would be perfect for Stone and Pacioretty, who are both proven scorers in the NHL.

Also, by having Glass as your second-line center you could bump Paul Stastny down to the third-line, therefore adding more depth to the bottom of the lineup.

Or, as we mentioned in a piece on Friday, should the Compliance Buyouts return in 2020-21 and the Golden Knights decide to use one on Stastny in order to free up some much-needed cap space, then Glass is a cheaper option on that second-line with a much higher ceiling.

The alternative of course is that Glass is used on the third-line either as a wing or as a center, maybe alternating between the two depending on if pending RFA’s Nick Cousins, Chandler Stephenson and Nicolas Roy all re-sign.

However, given Glass’ elite potential and his outstanding ability to read the open ice before making a game-changing play, the young center should be given every opportunity to succeed in his second year in the NHL.

Therefore, it makes the most sense for Glass, should he impress in Training Camp, to start the 2020-21 regular season as the second-line center between Max Pacioretty and Mark Stone, giving the Golden Knights a dominant and explosive second line while keeping the top line of Jonathan Marchessault, William Karlsson and Reilly Smith together.

Cody Glass has already shown that he has what it takes to light up the NHL and, if put in the right position, he could really break out for the Vegas Golden Knights in 2020-21.