The Edmonton Oilers have a history of giving short-term opportunities to productive free agents in a "show-me" role. There could be another candidate this summer that is looking for a chance to shine -- defenseman Matt Grzelcyk.
Grzelcyk is still unsigned mere weeks before NHL training camps after he had a career-high offensive season for the Pittsburgh Penguins. In 82 games last season, the 31-year-old had one goal and 39 assists, averaging a career-high 20:37 per night, mostly on the left side of Erik Karlsson. Edmonton has a fairly stacked blue line, and it's ranked highly by analysts and insiders, but there is an argument that the group can never be too deep.
Renowned for his puck-carrying, transition play, and second power play unit impact, Grzelcyk offers blue-line offense. The reason he likely hasn't found a home yet is due to his age, size, and minimal playoff impact last season.
Could the perceived minimal interest in his services be an opportunity for Edmonton?
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Grzelcyk Is The Type Of Blueliner That Could Work In The Oilers System
With the Edmonton Oilers specifically, Grzelcyk is the type of depth signing that has been highly successful in the past. Interestingly, he also plays the type of game the Oilers want to play -- up-tempo, transition hockey.
The team has a history of bringing in veteran players under short-term "prove-it" deals, mainly because the Oilers are a prime landing spot for players who want to up their numbers alongside elite talent.
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Others are Evander Kane, who energized Edmonton's top six after coming in under a short-term contract; John Klingberg, who provided scoring assistance from the back end; and Corey Perry, who offered veteran grit and scoring presence without long-term commitment. All but Klingberg earned extensions with Edmonton. Grzelcyk would be an excellent fit for this model, offering secondary scoring from the back half of the roster without requiring top-pairing ice time or large cap allocations.
The Oilers are in an unusual position this season. Having a Cup window available for the taking and a high line with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, the team needs depth players to augment their stars rather than having to shoulder a top-six burden themselves. Grzelcyk's game — taking the puck up ice, playing transition, and generating chances from the second unit power play — is very much in line with Edmonton's requirement of low-risk, multi-tool players.
Historically, Edmonton has shown a willingness to take calculated gambles on players that have something to prove, especially on one-year deals. Kane's temporary arrival provided the Oilers with a powerful scoring injection, and Perry's contract provided much-needed experience in playoff pushes.
The Downside Of Adding Someone Like Grzelcyk
Grzelcyk is a left-side defenseman, a position in which the Oilers are deep. Winning a spot over Mattias Ekholm, Darnell Nurse, or Jake Walman seems unlikely. He's be more insurance for injuries than anything.
Frankly, is not a top-pairing blueliner, so the Oilers would need to be cautious about how much they'd be willing to offer. Their cap situation is already tight, and while he might be a solid second or third-pairing option, paying him any more than something that represents a last-resort discount would be out of the realm of what Edmonton can afford.
He offers some offensive instincts, but his signing would come with an element of risk. Both sides would have to know what this is, and Grzelcyk would have to be OK with signing a contract that includes having to prove himself and win a spot in the lineup where he'd be waiting for a chance or winning a depth spot over guys like Ty Emberson, Troy Stecher, or Cam Dineen.
Even still, if he becomes a liability on the defensive side, the Oilers have to be comfortable sitting him.
Oilers Offer An Option If Grzelcyk's Focus Changes
For a Stanley Cup-contender, adding the right mix of depth players is most important. Matt Grzelcyk is not a headliner on the roster, but he's the type of steady, value-play signing that has helped the Oilers pad their star talent the last couple of years. If Edmonton is looking for a low-risk, utility presence in its blue line, Grzelcyk is a strong candidate — and a one-year contract could be the ideal compromise for both sides.
All that said, if the reason he's not signed is because he's holding out for a contract that is higher than the $2.75 million he made last season, he's not a fit in Edmonton. Only if he's not getting the offers he wants this season and his focus shifts to the summer of 2026 do the Oilers really make sense.
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