Glenn Gawdin Returns to NHL in Rangers Debut

Glenn Gawdin made his Rangers debut in Calgary on November 11, facing the Flames, the team that signed him in 2017. The 29-year-old center had not appeared in an NHL game since March 6, 2024, and the matchup marked his 14th league game across five seasons.

Gawdin centered New York’s lowest line, with Eeli Tolvanen and Jaroslav Chmelar on his wings. He played 6:27, the lowest total among players in the game, and won two of six faceoffs. Before the contest, he said he aimed to keep his game straightforward and dependable while playing with speed.

The call-up followed a strong stretch with the Rangers’ AHL affiliate in Hartford: Gawdin had five goals and nine assists in 16 games, tying Liam Greentree for the team’s scoring lead. He said he had improved after a slow start and credited Hartford’s coaching staff and teammates with helping him regain his form.

Gawdin’s earlier NHL appearances came with Calgary, where he recorded one assist in 13 games during the 2020-21 season. New York coach Mike Sullivan had recently moved away from using Will Cuylle at center, saying that experiment was over “for now.”