The Pittsburgh Penguins didn’t make the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2025. They put in an honest problem, for positive. Nonetheless, they ended up falling wanting the postseason. One of many vibrant spots, exterior of Sidney Crosby, was veteran defenseman Matt Grzelcyk. Regardless of his strong season, he stays unsigned deep into 2025 NHL Free Company.
Grzelcyk signed a one-year contract with Pittsburgh final summer season. He had spent his whole profession with the Boston Bruins to that time. However he sought a brand new problem and a promise of extra enjoying time. Total, he had a profitable marketing campaign on the Pittsburgh blueline. Particularly when it got here to contributing offensively.
The now-former Penguins defenseman scored only one objective in 2024-25. Nonetheless, he recorded a career-high 39 assists for Pittsburgh. Furthermore, he performed all 82 video games of the common season. This marked the primary time in his profession that he performed a whole season.
Nonetheless, Grzelcyk is unsigned, with coaching camp shortly approaching. Groups begin checking the free agent market round this time to see what unsigned gamers are considering. It is onerous to think about the veteran defenseman remaining with no job getting into 2025-26.
There are a number of groups that might search Grzelcyk’s providers. With this in thoughts, listed here are two potential last-minute locations for the previous Penguins defenseman late in 2025 NHL Free Company.
Blackhawks might use offensive enhance
The Chicago Blackhawks are hoping to rebound in 2025-26. Chicago hoped to take a step ahead on the ice this previous season. Nonetheless, they did something however take a step ahead. In truth, many gamers on the roster took a step again. For a rebuilding crew, this isn’t the type of consequence administration is hoping to see.
Chicago has not made a ton of strikes this summer season, both. The Blackhawks employed Jeff Blashill as their new head coach. Past that, they made trades for Andre Burakovsky and Sam Lafferty. These are tremendous strikes on the floor. Blashill might actually present the wanted voice in Chicago’s locker room. However they actually want extra in the event that they wish to take a step ahead.
Matt Grzelcyk would simply be an improve on the again finish. His puck-moving potential might work effectively with franchise cornerstone Connor Bedard. He might quarterback their energy play, which was a top-10 unit within the NHL in 2024-25. There’s a clear match within the Windy Metropolis for Grzelcyk.
At this level, he can be a slightly cheap signing. And Chicago has greater than sufficient cap area to make it work. Holding spots open for younger gamers is sensible for a crew on this place. Nonetheless, including a veteran presence they’ll lean on can be a sensible transfer.
Matt Grzelcyk might deal with Jets
The Winnipeg Jets practically made the Western Convention Finals in 2025. In truth, they got here inside two video games of going through the Edmonton Oilers in a battle of Canadian rivals. Sadly, the Jets got here up brief in opposition to the Dallas Stars. They usually took a bit hit in NHL Free Company when Nikolaj Ehlers left to hitch the Carolina Hurricanes.
The Jets have a strong protection presently. Nonetheless, they might enhance their depth by signing Grzelcyk. The previous Penguins defenseman might thrive in a third-line function in Winnipeg. This provides Hadyn Fleury an opportunity to be the go-to seventh defenseman, and he can be one of many higher seventh defensemen within the league.
This isn’t a transfer the Jets essentially have to make, to be honest. In saying this, it is not a transfer that may precisely damage them, both. Grzelcyk offers them an influence play enhance and added offensive punch on the blueline. It will be a superb late-summer signing for the defending Central Division champions.