A former Bruins defenseman spent the summer on the free agent market. But he’ll get a chance to crack an NHL roster out of training camp.
Matt Grzelcyk signed a professional tryout agreement with the Chicago Blackhawks, SportsNet’s Elliotte Friedman reported. The Charlestown native spent the 2024-25 season with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
A PTO doesn’t guarantee Grzelcyk will make Chicago’s roster, but he’ll be invited to training camp to try to earn a spot.
Grzelcyk had a career-high 39 assists last season after he spent most games paired with Erik Karlsson. Despite his numbers, Pittsburgh wasn’t in a rush to sign him and he didn’t have other offers.
The Bruins drafted Grzelcyk in the third round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft and spent his first eight NHL seasons in Boston. In 445 games for the Bruins, Grzelcyk tallied 25 goals and 110 assists.
After a career-worst 2023-24 season in which Grzelcyk scored just two goals and nine assists in 63 games, the Bruins elected to not bring back that summer. Grzelcyk then signed a one-year deal with the Penguins.