Chicago Blackhawks Sign Experienced Defenseman With Hours to Go Before the Regular Season
Matt Grzelcyk was a solid addition to the Blackhawks this summer on a PTO, and now, it's being reported that the team are signing him to an official NHL deal.
Last season, Matt Grzelcyk was a surprising shining light with the Pittsburgh Penguins, as the 31-year old veteran tallied a very solid 1 goal and 40 points in 81 games played.
Despite that production, he struggled to find a new contract in free agency, that is until the Chicago Blackhawks gave him an opportunity by signing him to a professional tryout as training camp began.
Blackhawks Give Grzelcyk a Full Contract After His PTO
Now, after playing a solid role for Chicago in the pre-season, the team have made it official, with Elliotte Friedman first to report that he has now been signed to an official NHL deal with the regular season just days away.
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It's unclear how long the deal will be for, but it's likely to be one-year given his experience at the NHL level, with the team clearly believing he provides them with valuable depth and leadership on a very young blue line that consists of Artyom Levshunov, Sam Rinzel and others.
Last season saw Grzelcyk tally a career high in assists and points, and while it's unclear if he can repeat that production, if he's happy to play his role, this is a great pickup for Chicago.
Sure, he's likely not going to crack their top-six, but as a seventh defenseman, there's little more you could ask for than what Grzelcyk provides, with the 31-year old happy to play his role and wait for opportunities to step up as both a player and a leader for this team in 2025/26.
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