Luke Glendening

Lore & Background

Glendening played four seasons of NCAA college hockey with the Michigan Wolverines from 2008 to 2012. He served as an alternate captain in his sophomore season and was a captain in his junior and senior seasons. In his junior year, Michigan reached the Frozen Four championship game, falling 3–2 in overtime to Minnesota-Duluth. He scored a career-high 10 goals and 11 assists in his senior season.

After college, Glendening signed a one-year contract with the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL on June 19, 2012. During the 2012–13 season, he played 51 AHL games and 27 ECHL games with the Toledo Walleye, where he was selected to the ECHL All-Star Game but could not attend due to an AHL recall. He helped the Griffins win the Calder Cup, scoring 16 points in 24 postseason games.

Glendening signed with the Detroit Red Wings on July 5, 2013. He set a franchise record among rookie forwards for the most games played without a goal (52 games), surpassing Cummy Burton. He later signed contract extensions with Detroit in 2014 and 2016. After eight seasons with the Red Wings, he signed with the Dallas Stars on July 28, 2021, then with the Tampa Bay Lightning on July 1, 2023. He later signed a professional tryout with the New Jersey Devils on September 5, 2025, and a one-year contract on October 7, 2025. On March 5, 2026, the Devils waived him, and he was claimed by the Philadelphia Flyers the next day.

Reader's Guide

Luke Glendening's career is defined by his path as an undrafted player who established himself as a reliable NHL forward over more than a decade. His 500th NHL game with the Detroit Red Wings marked a milestone: he became the first undrafted player to reach that mark for Detroit since the NHL adopted a seven-round draft in 2005. This achievement underscores his longevity and the value he provided as a depth forward.

Glendening's collegiate career at the University of Michigan included leadership roles as captain and alternate captain, and he played in the Frozen Four championship game in his junior season. His professional career began in the AHL and ECHL, where he won a Calder Cup with the Grand Rapids Griffins in 2013. His NHL debut came in 2013 with the Red Wings, and he scored his first NHL goal against Carey Price of the Montreal Canadiens.

Over his career, Glendening played for five NHL teams: the Red Wings, Stars, Lightning, Devils, and Flyers. His signing with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2023 was part of a two-year contract. His later moves to the Devils and Flyers in the 2025–26 season reflect his continued presence in the league as a veteran forward. Glendening also represented Team USA at the 2019 IIHF World Championship.

Did You Know?

• He was selected to the 2013 ECHL All-Star Game but could not attend because he was recalled to the AHL.
• Glendening was a captain for the University of Michigan in both his junior and senior seasons.
• He made his international debut for Team USA at the 2019 IIHF World Championship.