Predators Training Camp Notes & Quotes: Cody Glass, Ryan O'Reilly, and the Word of the Day

Checking in on Cody Glass, Filip Forsberg, Ryan O'Reilly and the one word players kept mentioning after the first practice of the 2023-24 Predators training camp.

The Nashville Predators took the ice at Ford Ice Center Bellevue Thursday for the first official practice of training camp, and there was plenty to watch with healthy veterans, recently added free agents, and enthusiastic young players. There are 61 players on the training camp roster, and they are divided into three group that practiced consecutively. There was a lot to watch on day one of on ice practice, but here are a few notes and quotes that stood out from Thursday. 

The groups begin scrimmaging on Friday, but during drills Cody Glass and 34-year-old veteran Gustav Nyquist spent a lot of time working together. They were joined on some drills by Denis Gurianov, and while it appeared the chemistry between the trio was instant, they have actually been working together during summer skates. 

There is a lot to like about the little glimpse of Glass and Nyquist together at camp today. Glass scored several tip in goals battling net front, and he and Nyquist connected on quality offensive chances during drills. While there is nothing set in stone as far as the roster, it was a promising start for a duo that management hopes may work well together.

"It was good. They're great guys, great people on and off the ice. They're very speedy, very aggressive with the puck so if I can adjust to them pretty quickly, I think we got some good chemistry."

"First of all, it's a good experience for me. I had a couple of not very good seasons, so now it's time to reload for myself, you know. We have a great team here. Great coaches. So I think play hockey and have some fun, too."

Again, it was only the first official practice of training camp, but if hockey were Tinder, I'd swipe right on this combination. Forsberg and O'Reilly spent most of their on ice time working drills together and  the duo seems to already be building chemistry. Barry Trotz is banking on Forsberg being the offensive leader for this changing Predators team, and O'Reilly may be the spark to get Fil closer to his 42 goal season in 2021-22. 

O'Reilly's reputation preceded him, and his new teammates are seeing all the positives they have heard about the veteran from former teammates and players across the league. O'Reilly understands his role as a part of a new leadership core and is taking it seriously as he spends time with the young players building relationships on and off ice. 

"He's an unbelievable guy. He loves to have fun off the rink and at the rink. He's so driven. You know the details that he is doing on a daily basis. I'm really excited to have him on our side."

The Nashville Predators are beginning a new chapter with management, coaching, and roster. So much about this season will determine just how quickly this team can get back into postseason contention, which young players could develop into a future core for the franchise, and whether offseason investments were worth the price, so it was surprising that one of the words heard over and over from players today was "fun". 

Both veteran and young players commented on how fun it was to play a more offensively minded, faster paced game.  Roman Josi, Cody Glass, and Phil Tomasino used that word to describe their early  look at Andrew Brunette's system. It wasn't just fun being back on the ice — it was fun playing a fast, north, puck possession style of hockey. 

It also seems like the team is having fun getting to know one another and slowly forming a cohesive group. Competition is at the heart of this training camp, but even with the pressure of impressing a new coach, the players showed a lot of energy, excitement, and...well...fun at the first on ice practice of the 2023-24 training camp. 

The Predators will return to the ice at Ford Ice Center Bellevue tomorrow morning at 9:00 am CT.