"We felt it was time for a change to our core this offseason, and we are really excited to add an influx of youth, size and skill into the lineup with these additions," Poile said Saturday via release. "Cody Glass is a former sixth overall pick that we think has a high ceiling as a center prospect, and Philippe Myers is a 6-foot-5 defenseman that adds an element that we do not currently have on our back end.
"At the same time, we will miss Ryan Ellis' leadership, dedication and work ethic in our locker room. We drafted Ryan in 2009, and over the last decade-plus he helped lead our franchise through its most competitive era, spending the last four seasons as Associate Captain. We wish Ryan and his family all the best in Philadelphia and thank him for all he did during his time with the Predators."
Glass - a centerman - was selected sixth overall in the 2017 NHL Draft by Vegas and is coming off his second season with the Golden Knights that saw him tally four goals and 10 points in 27 games. Glass has size - 6-foot-2, 185 pounds - and also added 10 points in 14 games with Henderson of the AHL in 2020-21. At just 22 years of age, Glass still has loads of potential as a two-way playmaker and will give the Preds another option down the middle of the ice. Glass is entering the final year of his entry-level contract and would be a restricted free agent following the 2021-22 season.
Myers, a 6-foot-5, 209-pound defender, spent his third season with the Flyers in 2020-21, totaling 11 points (1g-10a) in 44 games. The 24-year-old instantly becomes one of Nashville's tallest players and gives the Preds size on the backend where he will likely serve in a shutdown role against the opposition. Myers has two more years left on his current contract at $2.55 million per season and would then become a restricted free agent following the 2022-23 campaign.
As Poile stated, the acquisition of Myers and Glass gives Nashville two young players with plenty of upside as the organization looks to reshape its core during the summertime. The moves came ahead of the Expansion Draft, which will take place on Wednesday night as the Seattle Kraken select one player from each NHL team, except Vegas who is exempt.
After serving as an associate captain for the past four seasons behind Captain Roman Josi, Ellis departs Nashville after 10 seasons sitting 10th in the franchise's all-time games-played list with 562 and ninth in points with 270. However, as was the case with the Arvidsson trade, the Predators do not view this as the start of a rebuild. Rather, the organization remains confident in their ability to stay competitive and continue to make the playoffs year over year, while positioning to win the Stanley Cup without entering into a rebuilding mode.
Poile and the Preds will continue their offseason work from here, and what should be the two busiest weeks of the summer have arrived. Nashville has submitted its protection list to the League ahead of Wednesday's Expansion Draft, but the Kraken will still be selecting a player from the Nashville roster in the coming days.
Following that event, the Preds will then turn their attention to the 2021 NHL Draft, which will take place virtually over a two-day span, July 23-24. Nashville currently owns eight selections - including No. 19 over all and three of the Top 50 - in the Draft.
Then, the NHL's free-agency signing period opens at 11 a.m. CT on Wednesday, July 28, and the Preds could add more pieces via that route as well.
All in all, the next two weeks or so should give us a much clearer picture of what Nashville's roster may look like come Opening Night in October, and more changes could be on the way.
