Edmonton Oilers
Are the Oilers About to Repeat an Old Mistake With Luke Glendening?
The Oilers are weighing a PTO for Luke Glendenning — but could chasing short‑term stability end up blocking Josh Samanski’s breakout?
Every summer around this time, the PTO chatter starts to heat up. Fans and media begin circling the remaining free agents, wondering who might get a camp invite and push for a roster spot. Some PTOs turn into great finds, others fade out quickly. This year’s biggest names still on the market include Michael Bunting, Connor Ingram, Patrik Laine, and Vladimir Tarasenko — the latter being a genuine surprise given he scored 23 goals and 47 points last season and remains a very capable veteran.
One name that’s been floating around Oil Country lately: Luke Glendening.
Glendening is a 37‑year‑old right‑shot center with 14 NHL seasons under his belt. He’s been elite on draws his entire career, sitting at a 55.6% average and posting seasons at 59% and even 60.9%. The only time he dipped below 50% was his rookie year. Faceoffs matter — especially in the playoffs — and Glendening has long been one of the league’s best in that department.
Are the Oilers Considering Glendening?
Rumours suggest the Edmonton Oilers might look at Glendening on a PTO. Right now, the fourth‑line center job belongs to Josh Samanski, a 24‑year‑old who was a terrific find by Stan Bowman last season. Samanski played 24 NHL games, chipped in four points, and went 48.2% on draws. The one drawback: he’s a left shot.
In the playoffs, Samanski showed even more promise in a small sample — two points in five games — though his faceoff numbers dipped to 46.2%. That’s an area he’ll need to improve. He also competed for Germany at the Olympics and World Championships this past season, showing very well in both tournaments.
Samanski wasn’t leaned on much for penalty killing yet, but you can bet Mike Babcock will test him there. His youth, speed, and skill brought real energy to the fourth line, especially alongside Trent Frederic and Colton Dach down the stretch.
Glendening, meanwhile, brings leadership, experience, and elite faceoff ability. He’s smaller at 5’11”, 190 lbs compared to Samanski’s 6’2″, 195‑lb frame, but Glendening’s speed remains impressive even at 37 — his max skating speed last season was 23.28 MPH (92nd percentile). Samanski topped out at 21.75 MPH, though in a smaller sample.
Youth Vs Experience
Would Glendening help in the short term? Probably. He wins draws, he kills penalties, he’s a right‑shot, and he’s been through every type of NHL situation imaginable. If the Oilers wanted a safer, more predictable option on Day 1 of the season, Glendening likely gives them that. Mike Babcock also coached him his first two seasons in the NHL.
But over a full 82‑game stretch, Samanski’s youth, growth curve, and upside could outweigh any immediate bump Glendening provides. Samanski is still developing — his skating, his strength, his reads, his confidence with the puck. Those things tend to jump quickly for players in his age range, especially when they’re given responsibility and trust. Edmonton has seen this before: young players who plateau because they were boxed out by veterans who offered marginal short‑term gains.
This is where the Oilers need to be careful. That fourth‑line center spot matters more than people think. It’s not just about five minutes a night and a few defensive zone draws. It’s about building internal depth, developing cost‑controlled contributors, and ensuring the organization doesn’t repeat old habits. Edmonton has spent years patching holes with older stopgaps, only to watch younger players leave and flourish elsewhere.
If Glendening comes in on a PTO and simply competes for a job, that’s fine — no harm, no commitment, no downside. Maybe he even beats out another veteran for a job such as Mattias Janmark. But if the plan becomes replacing Samanski outright, that’s where the risk creeps in. You might gain a slight edge in October, but you could lose a meaningful piece by March.
The Oilers are walking a tightrope between maximizing the present and protecting the future. How they handle this fourth‑line center battle will say a lot about whether they’ve truly learned from past mistakes — or whether they’re about to repeat one.
Next: Podkolzin Is Outworking Everyone — And a Career Year Might Be Coming
Discover more from NHL Trade Talk
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
More News
