2. C – Luke Glendening
Luke Glendening is arguably the Dallas Stars most underrated transaction from this offseason. Glendening is a fourth line line grinder that, to this point, has played his entire career with the Detroit Red Wings. The Michigan native is now in Dallas on a 2-year deal worth $1.5 million. He is expected to fill the void left by Andrew Cogliano who recently signed with San Jose Sharks.
Only Patrice Bergeron was better in the face-off circle last season.
Stars fans might not realize just how much of a face-off specialist Luke Glendening is. The 31-year old owns a 54.8% career face-off percentage to include 60.9% in 2020-21. Only Patrice Bergeron was better in the face-off circle last season.
We expect Glendening to solidify the Stars fourth line that lacked consistency due to injuries that jumbled the lineup last season. Glendening and his above-average shot-blocking will also factor into Dallas’s special team units.
Stars general manager, Jim Nill, is very familiar with Glendening from his tenure in the Red Wings front office. Come playoff time, physical presences like the one Glendening commands gives teams an edge. In their newest depth centerman, the Dallas Stars now have that edge.