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Devils Forward to Become Unrestricted Free Agent; What it Means | Report
The Devils are reportedly not qualifying Cody Glass. What does it mean?
According to a report on Friday night, it appears New Jersey Devils forward, Cody Glass, is heading for free agency.
READ MORE: Haula Traded: 4 Internal Options for Devils to Fill Gap
Via his latest 32 Thoughts the Blog, Elliotte Friedman reports that Glass is unlikely to be qualified, and he will head to free agency.
“New Jersey is not expected to qualify Cody Glass, making him a free agent.,” Friedman writes.
The Devils acquired Glass and Johnathan Gruden at the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for forward Chase Stillman, unsigned prospect Max Graham and a third-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft.
There are a few reasons why the Devils may have chosen this route. First, Glass’ qualifying offer is $2.5 million, a number that the New Jersey likely don’t feel comfortable meeting to pay him at a minimum. Second, if the Devils did extend Glass a qualifying offer, the 26-year-old is arbitration eligible. That means a third party negotiator could determine Glass should be making more than $2.5 million.
Now, does that mean he won’t be returning to New Jersey at all? Not necessarily.
It’s certainly within the realm of possibility that the Devils and Glass’ camp can still negotiate a deal that would come in under a $2.5 million average annual value.
It also could mean that general manager Tom Fitzgerald feels he can obtain equal or better value in the open market at a cheaper price point.
Thus, the purge of the Devils’ bottom-six is on. Fitzgerald stated plainly that he believes the Devils lacked depth scoring in 2024-25. He’s already uprooted Erik Haula to the Nashville Predators in a cap-clearing trade. We know Tomas Tatar won’t be returning. And now the very real possibility that Glass’ Devils tenure lasted for 14 regular season games and five playoff contests.
We’re one week away from the 2025 NHL Draft, and just 11 short days away from unrestricted free agency. There could be a new-look in Newark soon.
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