12th year defenseman Luke Glendening(41) signs a new 2-year NHL deal with Tampa Bay Lightning on the opening day of unrestricted free agency, so they had their eye on him to add to their organization.
The undrafted 5’11” 190 lbs. blue liner spent his 1st season under a minor league contract with his home town team Grand Rapids Griffins, where he would go on to win the 2013 Calder Cup trophy and ring up an impressive 16 points (6 goals, 10 assists) in 24 playoff games to gain notice of the parent club Detroit Red Wings, who would give him a simple 1-year entry level deal.
He even skated 27 ECHL for Toledo Walleye in his rookie season.
By his 2nd session though, the twice captain as junior and senior at University Of Michigan Wolverines was appearing in 56 games and even 5 through the playoffs, scoring a goal to earn his next 3-year 1-way deal.
The 34-year old has done well and is still having a blast doing it.
He scores a 4th season of 10+ goals in his 1st frame with the new team and twice plays almost an entire schedule of games.
For 2025/2026, he looks to activate with a new team and signs a pto during training camp that turns into a 1-year deal with New Jersey Devils.
In 38 games, he has 3 assists as a 36-year old out there.
After 52 games, he is maybe not gelling with his new team as was thought, so gets waived and picked up immediately at least for the short term by Philadelphia Flyers.
For 2026/2027, he signs a pto with Tampa Bay to potentially return and we think the 37-year old still has plenty in the tank to agree to terms.
He gets released and New York Rangers offer him a similar look.
Didn’t take long, he gets a 1-year deal $850K AAV to be a Rangers for 2026/2027.
