New York Rangers sign Luke Glendening to 1-year, $850,000 contract New York Times (Online) Peter Baugh TORONTO — The New York Rangers signed forward Luke Glendening to a one-year, $850,000 deal, the team announced Thursday. Glendening spent last season with the New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia Flyers, scoring 9 points in 70 games. The 37-year-old signed a professional tryout with the Rangers on Oct. 19 after depth center Joseph Veleno suffered a long-term lower-body injury. Rangers coach Mike Sullivan has been searching for a more effective fourth line, and Glendening will likely slot in as its center whenever he enters the lineup. Rookie Cole Beaudoin and veteran Justin Dowling have handled the 4C job after Veleno's injury. Neither has a point this season. Glendening has 934 games of NHL experience with the Detroit Red Wings, Dallas Stars, Tampa Bay Lightning, Devils and Flyers. The center is good at taking faceoffs (52.9 percent last season, 55.6 percent in his career) and was still in the 92nd percentile in max skating speed last season, per NHL Edge. He's also a capable penalty killer. “I think I can still skate,” he told The Athletic on Thursday afternoon, shortly before signing his deal. “They're a team that's doing really well. So it's not coming to try and shake things up. Just do my job and be solid. Bring some energy when I can. I have a pretty unique perspective. I walked on in college, was undrafted, played in the (East Coast Hockey League), so I've taken a road less traveled. Just want to be who I am.” Glendening spent the preseason on a professional tryout agreement with the Lightning. After failing to make the Lightning, he remained in Tampa, Fla., for training, “doing whatever I could on my own.” “It's not easy,” he said of not having a training group. “I've got two young kids at home. So in one way you want to teach them it's OK to chase a dream, but on the other hand you want to be a good dad and be present for things. Trying to balance both.” Glendening said it grew harder to stay hopeful he'd get an opportunity as the season began. He credited his family and friends for supporting him “on days when it was hard for me to see the light.” “I'm not one of those players who's ever going to get to walk off into the sunset,” he said. “I'm always going to want to play. … Just so thankful for the (Rangers PTO) opportunity and thankful that they believed in me even to take this opportunity.” Glendening started the 2025-26 season with the Devils. He had only 4 points in 52 games with them. New Jersey made him a healthy scratch at points and eventually put him on waivers. The Flyers claimed him, and he had 5 points in 18 games, then played in all of Philadelphia's 10 playoff games. “I think it reinvigorated me a little bit,” he said. “I wasn't very good in Jersey, and then I end up with a slew of healthy scratches toward the end. Philly gave me a chance and I got to play and play in meaningful games. It just reminded me how much I love this game. The journey was kind of windy at times, and last year was certainly that, but this game has given me more than I ever could have ever imagined. So I'm just thankful for every day I get to be around.” Chris Johnston contributed to this report.