Should Tanner Glass get a contract?

[Fire]

Originally Posted by RyZ

There is a pretty large sample size out there that suggests that Glass is likely no better than a 4th line/depth AHLer that this point, regardless of how much some people might have liked his last 2 preseason games. He will be Grossman v2.0 almost instantly and the fans new whipping boy from puck drop of game 1 if he somehow manages a contract and a spot on the big team.

I don't think anyone is claiming otherwise. If he's signed it will be for spot 4th line duty. If he struggles he would be sent down to the AHL.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Yrebmi

He turns 34 still this year. That might be getting bit long in the tooth over a whole season. If he only plays a limited amount of games might be just fine.

I don't have a strong opinion either way, but lean towards no.

Ok, I have to call out this line of thinking for a minute. When did 34 become too old to play an entire NHL season? What ####ing Logan's Run nightmare world are we living in where a 33 going on 34 year old can't play in the NHL anymore?

I have to ask how old you are because if you were anywhere near this age you wouldn't say this. I'm nearing 40 and while I doubt I could jump into a professional sports league (mostly because of the dad bod I've developed recently) I'm not some decrepit broken down plough horse ready for the glue factory either. More to the point, anyone who has been in good enough shape to play in the NHL at any point in their lives probably takes 200x the care for their body that I do, and can likely sustain the rigors of an NHL season.

While the NHL has become more of a younger man's league, it doesn't mean that you're useless as soon as you hit 30. It's become increasingly common to write off a player once they hit that threshold, yet lots of very good players are in their 30s. I really wish people understood that more.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I wouldn't hate it if they signed him. He has been playing well. When he doesn't, he sits. When he doesn't look good for a long stretch, the Flames can assign him to Stockton and have his entire salary hidden. I don't really see the downside or risk with it.

I say Freddie Hamilton has been the next best 4th liner (well, 4th liner on the bubble anyway - I don't count Stajan as being a bubble player). I think Glass has been better than Hamilton. Hathaway needs to see what is happening and really pick his game up.

If Glass still out-performs those players, you sign Glass and make him an example. Nothing wrong with that. He will provide much needed toughness on the Flames (rather him 'answer the bell' than Ferland), and if he gets sent down he can be a good example down in Stockton. The only risk is the contract limit, but I can't remember when the Flames were right at 50 in the last few seasons, so I think it may be irrelevant.

I really didn't expect to like Glass, and I thought we were going to really be discussing Cramarossa regarding the 4th line. This has been a surprise - arguably the biggest surprise thus far in the pre-season.

[Frank MetaMusil]

No. Another plug PTO.

[GoJetsGo]

Gonna go with no.

Some of the same people pumping his tires based off two preseason games will be calling for his head after two regular seasons ones.

[Oil Stain]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

While the NHL has become more of a younger man's league, it doesn't mean that you're useless as soon as you hit 30. It's become increasingly common to write off a player once they hit that threshold, yet lots of very good players are in their 30s. I really wish people understood that more.

While you make a good point in general, in the specific case of Tanner Glass, a guy hanging onto NHL employment by the skin of his teeth, losing a half step is the kiss of death.

There aren't too many career 4th line types that make it to 35 still playing in the NHL.

That's pretty much end of the road if you're a plugger.

[Karl]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

Glass has been one of the worst players in the league for the past 5 years.

Some flukey playoff run and a couple of decent pre-season games doesn't weigh over 5 years of having a Corsi in the low 40s. The guys highest Corsi in a year he played more than 11 games is 43%. For reference - Troy Brouwer had the worst Corsi on the Flames last year at 44.4%. So Troy Brouwer last year was better than Glass has ever been in his career.

He's either god awful or he's magically became a NHL player at 34.

https://www.hockey-reference.com/pla...glassta01.html

This exactly. Buyer beware.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

While you make a good point in general, in the specific case of Tanner Glass, a guy hanging onto NHL employment by the skin of his teeth, losing a half step is the kiss of death.

There aren't too many career 4th line types that make it to 35 still playing in the NHL.

That's pretty much end of the road if you're a plugger.

Ok, maybe Tanner Glass isn't the hill I want to die on with that argument, but I see this kind of thing posted far too often to ignore it when I see it.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Tanner Glass is competing for the 13th forward spot. He's outplayed everyone vying for that position. He brings a certain skill set we need in that role, and he isn't afraid to drop the mitts. The Flames could do a lot worse in that role right now. If his performance level doesn't hold, you waive him. It's a league minimum contract, so yeah, he's earned it.

[Strange Brew]

I really don't see the point. The "13th forward" should end up playing a lot of games so would prefer to see a younger player who will have the chance of improving as the season goes along. It is a fallacy that the extra forward will be sitting in the press box every night. With 12 forwards there will be certainly be injuries and even without, it is not as if the Flames are so deep at the forward position that bottom players can't be worked through the lineup.

So let's keep guys up that have a chance to make a meaningful contribution at the end of the year, instead of who looked better in 2 meaningless pre season games. Players like Tanner Glass will be available pretty much anytime you want to go get them.

[kyuss275]

It's little early to be thinking about signing him. There are still 3 games left and i think the competition will get a bit harder for the home stretch. I will say that he has outplayed players like Hathaway and Stajan. From interviews before camp started, it sounded like Hathaway had an inside track. I'm not so sure now? Stajan is another person that needs to get off his ass. This is the final year of his contract and if he wants to sign a new contract next summer with a team, he is going to need to show he can play. Sitting in press box for 1/2 the season will get him a PTO at best.

[Flamefan1]

No more retreads please. We need to give our young Stockton players incentive to play well and actually have a spot on the big club where they can be rotated to when an injury occurs. Players like Poirier,Shinkaruk and others need hope so don't fill a spot with a 34 year old who will not improve over the season. No more Grossmans please.

[FurnaceFace]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

While the NHL has become more of a younger man's league, it doesn't mean that you're useless as soon as you hit 30. It's become increasingly common to write off a player once they hit that threshold, yet lots of very good players are in their 30s. I really wish people understood that more.

First, I'm older than you. ;-) I'd agree not exeryone falls off a cliff when they hit their 30s but it seems to be accepted that players in their 30s are going to decline if by nothing more than regular wear and tear. There are exceptions of course.

There are many players who were very good in their 20s/early 30s who are still good into the later part of their career or who have been consistent. For examples I'll pick Thornton as a guy who was a PPGer who is now a 50 pt guy thanks to wear and tear. He's still valuable, but He's not what he once was. Second example is Vrbata. Throughout his career he's 20+ goals most years and at 36 now still about the same.

I think if one is building a team there is focus on the youth but adding a mix of more senior guys helps in that unofficial mentoring part of the game and helps from a "been there, done that" perspective. A guy like Glass can sit and eat popcorn for 6 games but still be ready for that 7th because he knows how to prepare. He can also help out in the room and help ensure the 20 year old knows how to prepare for his every game role.

[Sutter_in_law]

I like what Hathaway brought game in, game out last year. And I think he should be given the opportunity to repeat before signing Glass, I'd put Hathaway's resume up to Glass' any day

[CroFlames]

You're first sentence in OP doesn't make sense. You can't judge a guy on 3 preseason games where he's likely playing balls to the wall to try and earn NHL money. You have to take into account his past seasons to make an informed decision.

Having said that, yes a 2 way deal at league min would be ok. Insurance against injuries, especially if Flames go deep.

[TheScorpion]

One more thing -- Tanner Glass has played 67 playoff games in his career. Dude has no shortage of playoff experience. Only Versteeg and Brouwer have played more games in the postseason.

[foshizzle11]

I don't think we should sign any PTO. We have enough prospects on our team who can be the 13th forward. We have to start giving these kids a legitimate chance to play. Why are we even considering a 30+ forth liner to come in and play? He won't make an impact on our success this season. A big no from me.

[GranteedEV]

Pro Tanner Glass:

Argument 1) He's looked competent in a small preseason sample with some serious play drivers on his line

Argument 2) He was hot in a small playoff sample

No Tanner Glass:
Argument 1) Tanner Glass is not a good NHL Player over a bafflingly large sample.

511 games
69 points
-10.4 CF% Rel

Argument 2) Last season, Tanner Glass was not a good AHL player. See below.

Originally Posted by Ashasx

@Ziggy_14
This is how Tanner Glass produced last season. In the league BELOW the NHL.

Spoiler!

Don't really understand this.

Argument 3) We have enough bodies as it is. Plenty of players can sit in the press box and be good teammates

Hmm.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Argument 3) We have enough bodies as it is. Plenty of players can sit in the press box and be good teammates

Then the players he is competing against need to step up and out perform him. This is their chance to shine and earn a shot with a NHL club, and they are letting some scrub not only steal the show, but steal their cheese. These guys should be stepping up, and they aren't. Don't crap on Glass for his inability to crack a roster last year, or even prior to that. Crap on our guys who aren't stepping up and grabbing opportunity by the nuts. That's a challenge to Hathaway, Hamilton, Poirier, Klimchuk, etc. The position is there for the taking and sadly the young guys aren't getting it done. I'm more disappointed in that than anything this camp.

[868904]

It is a given that Glass’s advanced stats are going to be bad, he has a specific role, a specialist, an enforcer. The question is how does his advanced stats compare to Gazdic and even to Cramarossa and even to Bouma. That is the role the Flames are looking to fill. It is pointless to compare Glass’ advanced stats to the play drivers, that is not the role. Hatahway, Lazar, Jagr cant do the things that Glass can.

The only one who can do the things that Glass can AND play better hockey is a guy by the name of Iginla.