It's been a challenging start to the season for Cody Glass who missed eight games with injury, but he is choosing to focus on the positives.
It's been a challenging start to the season for Cody Glass who missed eight games with injury, but he is choosing to focus on the positives.
It's not been the ideal start to the 2023-24 season for Nashville Predators' center Cody Glass. Glass played under two minutes in the Predators' October 19 game against the New York Rangers before he left the game with an injury. While the lower body injury could have much serious, the timing of it was extra challenging for Glass.
"You want to get off to a good start. I took a puck to the head in the first game and then four games later, I have to leave after my first shift because I got injured," Glass said.
"It's tough to get out of the mix of things."
Glass missed eight games with the lower body injury he sustained against the Rangers, but the timing of it meant he missed the five game western road trip with his teammates. The physical toll of the injury was one hurdle, but the mental toll of seeing the team head out for the first big road trip of the season without him was another.
"I think people downsize the mental aspect of it, especially them being on a two week road trip," Glass said of staying in Nashville while his team played on the road.
"These are my best friends, so being around the rink really helped me a lot when they were here. When they left I was with Schenner [Luke Schenn]. I was with our trainers. I was with Boro [Mark Borowiecki] who was down skating with me. I tried my best to lean on them, stay at the rink as much as possible with them to talk to them," Glass said.
Passing the time while the team was on the road also meant watching the Predators play from home, something Glass did not enjoy at all.
"I hate watching," he said emphatically. "I hate being at home and not having any control over the game."
Keeping busy helped Glass pass the time while the team was traveling. In between skating, rehabbing his injury, and watching Nashville compete on the road, Glass watched other NHL games across the league.
"I love watching hockey especially because I know so many people around the league now, so I love keeping up with people," Glass said. "I'm just a big fan of the sport and always trying to pick up on things other players do and how they get open and how they score."
"If I can implement that into my game — especially now with not being able to score in six games so I'm getting a bit frustrated — but I'm trying my best to pick up on little things and see what other people do to be creative and get the open chances," Glass said.
In his 72 games last season, Glass scored 14 goals and 35 points, but he hasn't gotten on the scoresheet yet this season.
"I'm getting chances," he said. "Am I putting them in the back of the net? No. It's one of those things where I just need to bear down because I'm getting my looks. I could have three or four goals by now, but obviously they haven't gone in."
"It is frustrating," he admitted. "I just have work as hard as possible and let things come to me. I can't get too frustrated."
Rehabbing an injury, missing eight games and a road trip with his teammates, and feeling a bit "snakebit" offensively could make any player feel discouraged, but staying frustrated isn't a part of Glass's personality. He chooses to focus on the positives.
"It can be hard to be positive when I'm getting those chances and not scoring, but you know that's just how my dad taught me — be positive at all times," Glass said. "It's just kind of who I am. I always have a smile on my face no matter what time of day. If things aren't going right, I still try to be as good as possible."
Missing the road trip was tough, but being positive for Glass means appreciating a little extra time with his fiancée and their dog. Staying positive means being thankful he's back with the team and back on the ice. It also means trusting that the goals will come.
"Good things will happen," Glass said. "Goals come in bunches, and hopefully that punch will come soon."
Predators Practice Report: Maintenance Days, Mental Toughness, and a Lesson from the Hockey Gods
Ryan O'Reilly's One Thousand Games of Hockey Memorabilia
After Parting Ways with Their Head Coach, Will the Oilers Call Nashville about Goaltending?