# Why Luke Glendening Fits NY Rangers

> Rangers sign Luke Glendening to fill center depth gap after Veleno injury.
- Title: Why Luke Glendening Fits NY Rangers · New York Rangers On SI
- Summary: Rangers sign Luke Glendening to fill center depth gap after Veleno injury. New York Rangers signed Luke Glendening to a professional tryout contract to…
- Keywords: new york rangers, luke glendening, joe veleno, mike sullivan, professional tryout contract, goalie depth, center position, lower-body injury, sports, Luke, Glendening, Fits
- Source: New York Rangers On SI — https://si.com/nhl/rangers/onsi/news/why-luke-glendening-is-the-perfect-fit-for-ny-rangers
- Published: 2026-10-22T00:00:02+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: new york rangers, luke glendening, joe veleno, mike sullivan, professional tryout contract, goalie depth, center position, lower-body injury, sports
## Rangers facing injury challenges
The New York Rangers have been dealing with a lot of injuries this season, with their depth being challenged in several areas.
## Goaltending depth issues
Igor Shesterkin and Joonas Korpisalo, their No.1 and No.2 goalies coming into the season, are both on the IR.Korpisalo is expected back in a few weeks, but Shesterkin will miss the remainder of the season.
## Joe Veleno's injury
The Rangers lost their No. 4 center Joe Veleno to a lower-body injury on Oct. 4, expected to sideline him for about three months.
## Coaching response to injury
Head coach Mike Sullivan has been cycling through three lines since Veleno went down, using Cole Beaudoin and Justin Dowling as the No. 4 center.
## Luke Glendening signed
The team brought in Luke Glendening, who agreed to a professional tryout contract, to fill the center depth gap.
## Glendening's skill set
Glendening has a perfect skill set for the Rangers lineup, including reliable penalty killing, faceoff wins, and skating speed.
## Glendening's faceoff success
In his career, Glendening has won 55.6% of faceoffs, making him a strong option for the Rangers' penalty killing.
## Glendening's speed
Glendening ranks in the 92nd percentile for max skating speed, helping replicate the speed element Veleno provided.
## Glendening's scoring
Glendening has a career-high of only 23 points from the 2018-19 campaign, with single-digit scoring seasons in three out of the last four seasons.
## Coach Sullivan's view
Sullivan said Glendening is a reliable, conscientious player with a significant body of work in the league.
## Glendening's role
Glendening fills the role of a No. 4 center, providing the team with the speed and reliability needed for the bottom-six lineup.
## Key takeaway

New York Rangers signed Luke Glendening to a professional tryout contract to replace injured Joe Veleno, who missed three months with a lower-body injury.