Heading into the Predators’ 2023-24 training camp, forwards Cody Glass and Philip Tomasino were considered two of the organization’s more promising prospects.
Both were former first-round picks, Glass taken by Vegas with the sixth overall pick of the 2017 NHL Draft and Tomasino selected by the Preds with the 24th overall pick of the 2019 draft.
In addition, both had played roles in keeping Nashville afloat during the 2022-23 playoff race, with Glass posting career-high marks of 14 goals, 21 assists and 35 points in 72 games.
But Predators coach Andrew Brunette made it clear Tuesday that Glass and Tomasino — each of whom suffered performance dips during the 2023-24 season — have work to do if they expect to make Nashville’s 2024-25 roster.
Though the 25-year-old Glass had what appeared to be a breakthrough in 2022-23, he was unable to carry that momentum over in Brunette’s first year. In 41 games of a season slowed by injuries, Glass totaled just 13 points (six goals, seven assists).
After the March 8 NHL trading deadline, when the Predators added forwards Jason Zucker and Anthony Beauvillier, Glass played just five games. He didn’t make an appearance in Nashville’s first-round Stanley Cup Playoff loss to Vancouver. When the Preds needed a forward to replace the injured Cole Smith in Game 6, Brunette turned instead to Juuso Parssinen, who had been recently recalled from Milwaukee of the American Hockey League.
“I considered everything throughout the series, and he was definitely a strong consideration,” Brunette said of Glass. “I just felt for the fit and for the type of season he had, Parssinen might have been the better fit for that game.
“And we thought about [Glass] in a couple different games, of putting Cody in. [But] his play wasn’t up to the standard to put him in. I didn’t know if that was going to overly help the team enough. So there are coaching staff decisions that are hard, and we decided in a different direction.”
Brunette said Glass’ challenge moving forward is more mental than physical.
“I think he’s got to find himself a little bit,” Brunette said. “He lost a lot of confidence ... along the way. I think he lost a little bit of his reason — why does he play. He’s on his own little journey of finding that. He has all the skills in the world. He had a tough year. Got hurt, lost his mojo, came back, got hurt for a shift, and then he just had trouble getting his feet underneath him the rest of the year.”
Brunette delivered a hard message to Glass before he left for the offseason, telling him he had regain his former productive self in order to earn a roster spot.
“It’s a complete reset,” Brunette said. “Find his reason why he plays and come to camp … I kind of talked to him today, that he’s got to make the team, and he’s going to have a really hard summer, working on his body, working on his game and working on his mental fortitude to come to camp and earn a spot.”
The situation with Tomasino, 22, is not all that different.
As far back as 2021-22, Tomasino appeared to be on the rise, as he played 76 games as a rookie with the Preds that season, totaling 32 points (11 goals, 21 assists).
But he played just 31 games on the NHL level in 2022-23, spending the bulk of his time in Milwaukee. This season, Tomasino was on the Nashville roster for 41 games, collecting 20 points (seven goals, 13 assists).
However, Brunette was not happy with Tomasino’s all-round game, which is why he was a healthy scratch on numerous occasions. The team reassigned him to Milwaukee on Feb. 12.
Tomasino never returned to the Predators, winding up with 18 points (11 goals, seven assists) in 22 regular-season games for the Admirals. He has scored once in Milwaukee’s first two playoff contests.
“The reports I’ve got, he’s played real well there,” Brunette said. “I think it’s probably been good for him. We talked about it at mid-season, where we felt for his development, to have the opportunity to be the type of player we believe he can be, he ... needed more ice time, a bigger role. He had to grow a little bit, both on and off the ice a little bit. From all the reports I got, he’s right on course.”
But Brunette offered some critical analysis for Tomasino as well, indirectly referencing Tomasino’s all-round game.
“I think he needs to [take] hold of our identity we’ve created here, and he has to have a little bit more of that in him,” Brunette said. “If he can, and if he puts the work in, and he’s relentless, then his skill will take over. But if he … at different times this year where he wanted the skill first without the work, I’m not sure he has a chance to play for us next year. So we’re building him. I think [playing in Milwaukee] has been really good for him. This playoff run will be really critical for his career, and I hope he rises to the moment, and I believe he will.”
Predators General Manager Barry Trotz weighed in on Tomasino as well, offering a mixture of praise for his game and advice on how to return to the NHL on a permanent basis.
“I can tell you this — [Tomasino went to Milwaukee] with a really mature attitude, and he wants to be a big part of this,” Trotz said. “I think sometimes the struggle is that [players] want it so quickly, and they’re looking at trying to get there quicker [than is realistic] … I know he got injured a little bit in Milwaukee, but he’s been a really big part of becoming a go-to guy, which is important for him because I think he’s got a good skillset.
“He’s putting the value in on every game, every shift, and working towards that. So I’m hoping that he has a really long [AHL playoff] run, because there’s nothing better for development than going deep in any league.”
The growth process of prospects, Trotz noted in reference to Tomasino, isn’t just about skill development.
“Players, be it on and off the ice, mature at different rates,” Trotz said. “Sometimes the on ice matures faster than the off ice and vice versa. I am hoping all that comes together and then he’s a really good player for us.”