The Chicago Blackhawks have decided that they need another veteran presence on the blue line to begin the 2025-26 regular season. According to a report from Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, 31-year-old defenseman Matt Grzelcyk will sign with the Blackhawks after being on a professional tryout contract (PTO) during training camp.
Chicago will be signing D Matt Grzelcyk, who was in camp on a PTO
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) October 5, 2025
Scott Powers of The Athletic was the first to report that Grzelcyk is inking a one-year contract with Chicago.
The Blackhawks have signed Matt Grzelcyk to a one-year, according to a source.
— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) October 5, 2025
Grzelyck, a former third-round pick by Boston in the 2012 NHL Draft, spent the first eight years of his professional career in the Bruins organization, playing in 445 NHL games with the team.
After recording only 11 points in 63 games during the 2023-24 campaign, Grzelcyk hit the free-agent market for the first time and signed a one-year contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins. That turned out to be a wise decision, as Grzelyck put up a career-high 40 points (1G, 39A) last season with the Pens.
But despite reaching the 40-point plateau for the first time in his career, Grzelyck didn’t receive any contract offers this summer. He ultimately chose to sign a PTO with the Blackhawks, even though the team had several left-handed defensemen pushing for NHL roster spots.
Grzelyck didn’t have any standout performances of his own during the preseason, but he apparently fared well enough to convince Chicago to keep him around.
The decision to sign Grzelyck is likely more a result of the young defensemen in the Blackhawks’ organization failing to secure a full-time NHL gig. Both Kevin Korchinski and Ethan Del Mastro struggled throughout the preseason and will once again open the year in the AHL with the Rockford IceHogs.
Nolan Allan, who performed the best of the young left-handers trying to crack the NHL roster, is still only 22 years old and could benefit from consistently playing a top-pairing role in Rockford. Louis Crevier, who isn’t exempt from waivers, is the likely candidate to serve as the Blackhawk’s seventh defenseman. There’s also a slight chance that the team will carry eight defensemen for the early portion of the year.
Whether Grzelyck will be in the Blackhawks’ lineup for the season opener on Tuesday against the Florida Panthers is still unknown. Alex Vlasic, who missed the final three preseason games while healing up from a cut by a skate blade, will travel with the team to Florida on Sunday. Head coach Jeff Blashill is hopeful that Vlasic will be able to play, but it’s not a sure thing.
With Vlasic out, Grzelcyk stepped into his spot on the top pairing alongside Sam Rinzel for his final two preseason contests. If Vlasic isn’t able to return on Tuesday, that’s probably where Grzelcyk will be slotted in his official Blackhawks debut.
TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reported that Grzelcyk’s one-year deal carries a $1 million cap hit.
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