Rangers Sign Veteran Glendening Following Injury
The New York Rangers add center Luke Glendening to the roster after forward Joe Veleno sustains a lower-body injury.
Updated on Oct. 24, 2026 in Hockey
Live Poll
Should your local sports team prioritize veteran players to maintain team depth?
The New York Rangers signed 37-year-old forward Luke Glendening to a one-year, $850,000 contract following a successful professional tryout. The move serves to bolster the team's depth while forward Joe Veleno remains sidelined with a lower-body injury.
Why it matters
The signing provides the Rangers with additional center depth as they navigate a challenging schedule without Joe Veleno, who is expected to miss time until at least January. Meanwhile, the coaching staff is balancing this roster adjustment with efforts to maximize the production of forward Oliver Bjorkstrand.
Luke Glendening brings a 55.6% career faceoff percentage to the Rangers roster. The team currently holds a perfect 6-0 record on home ice this season.
The players
Luke Glendening
He is a 37-year-old veteran center who joined the Rangers on a one-year contract.
Oliver Bjorkstrand
He is a 31-year-old forward who is currently averaging 10 minutes and 38 seconds of ice time per game.
Joe Veleno
He is a Rangers forward currently recovering from a lower-body injury that will keep him out until January.
Mike Sullivan
He serves as the head coach of the New York Rangers and is responsible for line combinations and ice time distribution.
The details
Coach Mike Sullivan is currently rotating Oliver Bjorkstrand across different forward lines to spark scoring, as the veteran currently averages 10 minutes and 38 seconds of ice time. Bjorkstrand, who signed a one-year, $4.5 million deal this summer, has recorded five goals so far this season.
Timeline
October 14, 2026: Coach Mike Sullivan discussed strategies to increase Oliver Bjorkstrand's ice time.
October 2026: The New York Rangers signed Luke Glendening to his current contract.
January 2027: The earliest potential date for Joe Veleno to return from his lower-body injury.
Season Trajectory
The acquisition of Luke Glendening provides the Rangers with the veteran stability needed to maintain their momentum through the first half of the season. By rotating Oliver Bjorkstrand into different line configurations, the team is positioning itself to deepen its scoring threat before the playoffs.
Oliver Bjorkstrand is currently playing significantly less than his 15:21 career average ice time, making his usage a critical trend for fantasy owners to track. The injury to Joe Veleno forces a shuffle in the team's bottom-six rotation that will likely impact faceoff success rates in upcoming games.
The takeaway
Roster flexibility remains a key component for NHL teams aiming to sustain success despite mid-season injury challenges. Fans should monitor forward line production closely as coaches balance veteran depth with the integration of newer offensive players.
What happens next
Joe Veleno's injury recovery status will be re-evaluated leading into January 2027 to determine his earliest possible return to the active lineup.
Further reading
For more information on current team performance, see Hockey.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Newsday.
Live Poll
Should your local sports team prioritize veteran players to maintain team depth?
