The Chicago Blackhawks have signed defenseman Matt Grzelcyk to a one-year contract through the 2025-26 NHL season, with a salary cap hit of $1 million.
Grzelcyk, who is 31 years old, played all 82 games for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2024-25 season. During that campaign, he achieved career highs in assists (39), points (40), power play points (15), and blocked shots (101). Among Penguins defensemen, he ranked second in both points and assists, and his 39 assists placed him third among all team skaters. He also led the team with 101 blocked shots. On February 4, he reached a milestone by playing his 500th NHL game against New Jersey.
Originally from Charlestown, Massachusetts, Grzelcyk has accumulated 175 points (26 goals and 149 assists) over 527 regular-season NHL games with the Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins. He has participated in seven Stanley Cup Playoffs runs, recording 14 points (5 goals and 9 assists) in 66 postseason appearances. In 2019, he contributed eight points (4 goals and 4 assists) during the Bruins’ run to the Stanley Cup Final.
Standing at five feet ten inches and weighing 180 pounds, Grzelcyk was selected by the Boston Bruins as the 85th overall pick in the third round of the 2012 NHL Draft.