Detroit Red Wings: Three players Ken Holland might like in Edmonton
By Bob Heyrman
The Holland driven Detroit Red Wings valued Luke Glendening for much more than his actual worth.
In back to back years the Wings had interest from other clubs looking to add a fourth line center who is above average in the faceoff circle winning 56% of his draws. He’s a right-handed center that has lived North of 50% in the dot his entire career.
Luke Glendening would be best suited as a fourth line center who can slide to the wing after he wins a draw if necessary on a playoff team. Jeff Blashill used Glendening primarily on the third line this season in Detroit, but when injuries started to mount, he slid up to play on the second line. That speaks volumes to how thin the lineup in Detroit got at times. He’s got absolutely no business playing as a top-six forward in the NHL.
Ken Holland mentioned over and over that he wouldn’t move his coveted center for a mid to late round pick. It appeared Kenny placed a second/third round value on his Glendening. Part of the high value in the eyes of Holland is that he’s under contract at a very reasonable 1.8-million cap hit for two more years.
Glendening is a perfect penalty killer, so he does bring value to a team other than just winning defensive zone faceoffs. He enjoyed a career year in Detroit this past season averaging 15:47 TOI a night; the most in his career to date. He registered 23 points another career high, scoring 10 goals adding 13 assists in 78 games.
He’s a player that Ken Holland may look to add to a top-heavy Oilers club. The team has a couple of superstar caliber players in place but require depth reliable forwards. Both Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl recorded over 100 points last season; somehow the franchise still didn’t qualify for the playoffs.