Matt Grzelcyk is arguably the NHL’s best UFA defenseman still available for the taking.
It would be shocking if the Charlestown, Mass., native remained unsigned when the 2025-26 NHL season begins.
Grzelcyk quietly put together the best offensive season of his career in 2024-25. Although he scored just one goal, he set new career highs with 39 assists and 40 points in 82 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins. With numbers like these, he could be a solid addition for a team that is looking for more offense from the point.
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Grzelcyk could generate interest because he is also a proven NHL defenseman with plenty of experience. This includes the playoffs, as he played in 66 post-season games during his eight-year stint with the Boston Bruins.
Let’s go over three NHL teams that could make sense as landing spots for Grzelcyk.
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche have already added to their defense this off-season after losing Ryan Lindgren in free agency. They signed Brent Burns to a one-year contract back in July to play a depth role on the right side. His projected defense partner, Sam Malinkski, also shoots right, so Colorado could use another left-shot option for the third pair.
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If the Avalanche signed Grzelcyk to a short-term deal, he could fit very nicely on their bottom pairing with either Burns, Malinski or Josh Manson. If the Avalanche use him as a seventh defenseman, he could come into the lineup over shutdown D-man Keaton Middleton when they need an extra bit of offensive punch. He also has experience playing in a more significant role, averaging 20:37 in ice time last season, so he would give the Avalanche another player who could move up the lineup when injuries arise.
The Avalanche currently have a bit over $2 million of cap space to work with, so they could afford to bring in Grzelcyk if he is open to taking a bit of a pay cut from the $2.75 million he earned previously. With it being this late into the summer, it is certainly fair to wonder if he would be willing to do that to play for a contender like the Avalanche.
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks have plenty of promising young defensemen on their roster, such as Sam Rinzel, Artyom Levshunov and Kevin Korchinski. That said, they could benefit by adding another veteran blueliner to help mentor their youngsters while moving the needle on the ice. Signing Grzelcyk would provide them with just that, the way 35-year-old TJ Brodie couldn’t quite accomplish as one of Chicago’s veteran blueliners last season.
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Grzelcyk could fit on the second pairing and power play if signed. However, even if Grzelcyk served as a mentor in a bottom-pairing role, he still would give Chicago’s blueline a needed boost. If the Blackhawks trade 32-year-old pending UFA Connor Murphy during the season, their next-oldest D-man would be Alex Vlasic, who’s 24.
The Blackhawks could easily afford to sign Grzelcyk, too, as they have over $18 million of cap space to work with. They could be an intriguing team to watch for the veteran defenseman.
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Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames could also make sense as a suitor for Grzelcyk, especially if they trade Rasmus Andersson and move the right-handed MacKenzie Weegar to the right side full-time.
Calgary scored the fourth-fewest goals in the NHL last season, and they ranked 20th in the percentage of points coming from defensemen, at 24.3 percent. The Flames’ blueliners also combined for only 107 assists, which ranked 26th in the NHL. Grzelcyk seems like an easy choice to improve those numbers.
If the Flames signed Grzelcyk, he could at least be a nice upgrade over Jake Bean on their third pairing. However, depending on who ends up making the Flames’ opening night roster, Grzelcyk could also be a potential fit on their second pairing and power play if signed.
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While the Flames still have to re-sign restricted free agent (RFA) Connor Zary, they have over $15 million in cap space. They could easily afford to bring in Grzelcyk if they wish.
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