Detroit — The Red Wings are bringing back Sam Gagner.
But, they’re losing another veteran forward, Luke Glendening.
The team announced Wednesday morning, some 90 minutes before the start of unrestricted free agency, they have agreed to terms with the veteran forward on a one-year contract. Terms were not immediately available.
Gagner, who will be 32 on Aug. 10, played in 42 games with the Wings last season with seven goals and eight assists, with a minus-4 rating. He’s entering his 15th NHL season.
Gagner is a respected veteran presence in the locker room, and his influence among the many young Wings’ forwards was something the organization didn’t want lose.
General manager Steve Yzerman talked last weekend about wanting to retain some of the right-shot forwards — Gagner, Bobby Ryan — the Wings had from last season, all of whom are potential unrestricted free agents.
But Glendening will not be part of that group returning.
Glendening, 32, an East Grand Rapids native and former Michigan star, has signed with the Dallas Stars on a two-year contract worth $3 million ($1.5 million per season).
Glendening spent eight years with the Wings after signing as an undrafted free agent, and grew into one of the leaders of the team, becoming an alternate captain and one of the best face-off players in the NHL.
But Glendening went to Dallas and Stars general manager Jim Nill, who originally signed Glendening when he was an assistant GM with the Wings.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported Glendening’s contract in Dallas as two-years for $3 million total ($1.5 million cap hit). Glendening was coming off a four-year, $7.2 million ($1.8 million cap hit) deal with the Red Wings.
The Wings also have signed goaltender Calvin Pickard to a one-year contract to remain, in essence, as the organization’s third goaltender, and provide veteran goaltending in Grand Rapids.
ted.kulfan@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @tkulfan
Stay with The Detroit News the remainder of the day, as the first day of NHL unrestricted free agency continues.