With NHL training camps underway, a former Philadelphia Flyers winger who finished the 2025-26 season strongly has now signed with a new team.
The Flyers added Noel Acciari this summer and anticipate steady growth from rookies like Porter Martone, Alex Bump, and Denver Barkey, so there wasn’t a pressing need to bring in another experienced forward for depth. As a result, they parted ways with several established players, including Rodrigo Abols, Garnet Hathaway (via trade), and Luke Glendening. Hathaway and Glendening were veteran mainstays on the Flyers’ fourth line late in the season; Hathaway went to Florida, while Glendening remained unsigned during free agency despite his versatility and faceoff skills.
Recently, however, Glendening took a different path, agreeing to a professional tryout with the Stanley Cup-contending Tampa Bay Lightning, reuniting with his former team after a year split between New Jersey and Philadelphia. The 37-year-old played 158 regular-season games for the Lightning between 2023-24 and 2024-25, recording 14 goals, four assists, and 18 points, along with a goal and an assist during 10 playoff contests.
He found renewed form after joining the Flyers late last season via waivers from New Jersey, tallying two goals, three assists, and five points in 18 regular-season games and adding another goal in the playoffs. Although the Flyers and GM Danny Briere had shown interest in bringing Glendening back, in the end, they parted ways, especially given their depth in the forward position during camp.
Fan Take: This news highlights how veteran players often find new opportunities even after free agency, which keeps the league competitive and dynamic. For fans, it’s exciting to see familiar faces potentially rejoin familiar teams and contribute experience, adding depth and leadership to the ever-changing landscape of hockey.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
