Per Bob McKenzie of TSN, the New York Rangers have waived flagging veteran forward Tanner Glass, effective noon today. Glass was a healthy scratch for last evening’s 4-0 home win vs the San Jose Sharks.
Tanner Glass (NYR) on waivers.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) October 20, 2015
He has until 12PM Oct 21st (tomorrow) to clear waivers. If left unclaimed, he will be sent to the Rangers’ AHL affiliate Hartford Wolfpack (HWP) (3-1-0 // 3rd in AHL Atlantic Division), which will have salary cap implications for a heavily cap-strapped rangers team. As of today, the Rangers have roughly $150-160K (source-dependent) of cap space available. Should Glass clear waivers and report to HWP, they will recover $950K in cap space, giving them $1-1.1MM. Glass has almost two full years remaining on his 3-year deal. If he is claimed, the Rangers will shed his entire $1.45MM cap hit for this season and the 2016-17 cap year as well.
NY Rangers cap space yesterday: $166,250 NY Rangers bury Tanner Glass NY Rangers actual cap space today: $1,117,222 #NYR #Rangers #Glass — HockeyStatMiner (@HockeyStatMiner) October 20, 2015
The oft-maligned #15 Glass has underwhelmed since joining the Rangers prior to the 2014-15 campaign. At 6’1″ 210lbs, His playing style was supposed to add and element of toughness to the team and bolster a fourth line that was then-decimated by the departures of former fourth liners Derek Dorsett, Brian Boyle and the now-retired Dan Carcillo. He isn’t a scoring offensive player and wasn’t intended to be, but he couldn’t eve match his normally lackluster output last season. He scored one regular season goal in 2014-15.
This season, he has played in two games, totaling 23 minutes of ice time, is a +1 (somehow) and has registered 2SOG. He was unimpressive during training camp.
With Glass’ departure, it is likely that in games against “heavier” opponents that like to check, harass and chip, Ranger fans can expect to see more of 6’5″ 225lb. Dylan McIlrath on defense. With time-ticking on the team’s self-imposed “we’ll get back to you at the end of the month” decree to Rafi Diaz and an obviously ailing power play, it’s also possible we may see defensive shuffling.
Could Glass get claimed by the Penguins? They might need him to keep Evgeni “Geno” Malkin and Phil Kessel from scrapping in the locker room…
