Tampa Bay Lightning Sign Luke Glendening to Two-Year Deal
The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed free agent center, Luke Glendening to a two year contract worth $800,000 per season, the same deal the Lightning gave to Josh Archibald today. The 34 year old Glendening has played over 700 NHL games, most recently with the Dallas Stars.
We have signed free agent forward Luke Glendening to a two-year contract worth an AAV of $800,000.
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) July 1, 2023
📝: https://t.co/4GtuSdnuJh pic.twitter.com/Fbhk0RhE5i
Glendening will come in and likely take on the Pierre-Edouard Bellemare role of fourth line center and penalty killer. Glendening has been known as a face-off specialist at over 55% in his career. In 17 playoff games this year with Dallas, Glendening won 60% of his draws and frequently was on the ice to close out games.
This past season in Dallas, Glendening scored just three goals, two of which were shorthanded. His $800,000 is not being used to score but rather for his experience, defensive ability and face-off prowess.
#Bolts bring in Luke Glendening on the same deal as Archibald - 2 yrs, $800K AAV. Over the past five years, he's won 57.9% of his faceoffs, the fourth-best among all NHL skaters with 500+ draws. Likely TB’s new fourth line center. Has 706 career games played. Turned 34 in April.
— Chris Krenn (@Chris_Krenn) July 1, 2023
Glendening is probably a familiar face to many in Tampa Bay from his time in Detroit. He was a member of the two Red Wings teams that the Lightning competed against in the first round of the playoffs in 2015 and 2016.
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