Penguins’ Tanner Glass Stuck waiting to make debut
By Matt Shetler
It’s often not easy for a free agent to quickly get acclimated with his new teammates, but that’s especially true this season. Because of the NHL Lockout, new members of teams are stuck playing the waiting game in terms of when they get the opportunity to make their debuts with their new franchises.
Mar 08, 2012; Vancouver, British Columbia, CANADA; Winnipeg Jets forward Tanner Glass (15) during the warmup against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-US PRESSWIRE
The Pittsburgh Penguins weren’t too busy this offseason in terms of signing free agents, but one guy that’s extremely anxious to get going in newcomer Tanner Glass, a 6’1″ physical winger from Dartmouth University.
Glass has spent time in the past with the Winnipeg Jets, Vancouver Canucks and Florida Panthers, but is anxious to get going with the Penguins as soon as possible.
With the preseason already bagged, Glass is taking advantage of working out with some of his new teammates at Southpointe. If anything just to introduce himself.
“I thought it would be good to come in early and meet the guys and get accustomed to the city,” said Glass. “Unfortunately I can’t meet the coaching staff and management, but I thought given the circumstances it would be good to get here and meet everyone and get some work in.”
Glass is one player that’s very encouraged that the two sides have agreed to meet for the first time since the lockout started, but hasn’t gone as far to predict that there would be a quick resolution.
“I’ll be paying extremely close attention,” Glass said. “Anytime there are meetings scheduled is great news and something worth paying attention to. I don’t have any predictions or high hopes right now, but I will be paying attention for sure.”
In the meantime that leaves a new guy like Glass, who doesn’t live in Pittsburgh, pretty much stuck.
“I’m going back to Vancouver this weekend,” added Glass. “With things being so slow right now, I figured I would just head home. There’s only so much you can stay in a hotel so I’m going to head home and depending how long this drags out, maybe make a trip or two back.”
However if the players don’t get some good news soon, Glass could be making a debut for a new team before he ever gets to make his Penguins debut.”
“I don’t have an exact timetable, but if this drags on I will look for a place to play probably around November,” said Glass. “I don’t know if I will be heading to Europe or if another opportunity will come along. I’m just like everyone else. I want to play. Hopefully this can get settled and I can get started as a Penguin.”
Hockey fans everywhere couldn’t agree more.