Glendening, 27, could have become an unrestricted free agent July 1, 2017. The contract runs through the 2020-21 season. He had eight goals and 21 points in 81 games with the Red Wings last season, helping them reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the 25th consecutive season. He had one point in Detroit's five-game series loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Eastern Conference First Round.
"If you'd have told me two or three years ago that I'd be sitting here talking abut a four-year extension, I probably would have laughed," Glendening told the Detroit Free Press. "I'm excited to have security of my future for a little bit, but that doesn't mean you can sit back. You have to keep getting better."
Glendening averaged more than three minutes per game of shorthanded ice time (3:08) and led the Red Wings in total shorthanded ice time (254:25), which was almost 45 minutes more than the next highest total (209:30 by defenseman Danny DeKeyser).
Glendening took more faceoffs (1,125) and won more (614) than anyone on the Red Wings. He led the team in faceoff winning percentage (54.6) last season.
"There are things a player brings to a team that maybe aren't just in goals and assists, and that's what Luke is," general manager Ken Holland said. "He's a really good defensive player, has the ability to play 16-18 minutes against other team's best players. He's fearless. He's a tremendous penalty killer. He brings intangibles."
Glendening has 21 goals and 46 points in 219 regular-season games with the Red Wings and three goals in 17 career playoff games.
Glendening was undrafted and signed with Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League in 2012. He had 26 points in 51 regular-season games and 16 points in 24 playoff games helping Grand Rapids win the Calder Cup in 2012-13.
