After an offseason of uncertainty, a former Pittsburgh Penguins [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins]' defenseman finally has a home for the 2025-26 season. On Sunday, 30-year-old blueliner Matt Grzelcyk signed a one-year, $1 million contract [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/latest-news/blackhawks-officially-sign-40-point-defenseman] with the Chicago Blackhawks [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks], which came after a paid tryout (PTO) in the pre-season. He did not register any points in three pre-season games for Chicago, but he did end the slate of games with an even plus-minus. Originally drafted by the Boston Bruins [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/boston-bruins] in the third round (85th overall) of the 2012 NHL Draft, Grzelcyk spent the first eight seasons of his career with the Bruins before coming to Pittsburgh on a one-year deal prior to the 2024-25 season. He thrived in a power play role with the Penguins, which lent to him setting career-highs in points with 40 (1G-39A) and power play points with 15 (15A). As a result, there was a reasonable expectation that - after a career year offensively - the 5-foot-10, 180-pound defenseman would find a home relatively quickly in free agency. However, that did not come to pass, as Grzelcyk ultimately ended up signing a PTO with Chicago on Sept. 16. In 527 career NHL games, Grzelcyk has amassed 26 goals and 175 points to go along a plus-131 rating. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw/sections/CAQqEAgAKgcICjCvqtILMO7F6QMwquDfCA?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA%3Aen] to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!
