Matt Grzelcyk is currently on a professional tryout (PTO) with the Chicago Blackhawks. With this, the 31-year-old defenseman is certainly aiming to impress in hopes of landing a contract from the Central Division club for the 2025-26 season.
While speaking to reporters, including the Chicago Sun-Times’ Ben Pope, Blackhawks head coach Jeff Blashill shared that the team will sign Grzelcyk if their young defensemen do not appear to be ready for the NHL. However, Blashill also added that the team will likely not sign Grzelcyk if their youngsters earn NHL spots.
It is understandable that the Blackhawks are waiting to see if some of their young blueliners are ready for the NHL before potentially signing Grzelcyk. The Blackhawks are in a rebuild, after all, so it makes sense that they want to see if some of their prospect defensemen can make the team.
However, if the Blackhawks decide to start some of their young defensemen at the AHL level, bringing in Grzelcyk could benefit them. He would give them another veteran blueliner to work with to help mentor their young players.
Nevetheless, we will now need to wait and see what the Blackhawks decide to do with Grzelcyk from here.
Blackhawks Rumors: 4 Other Teams Still in Running for Matt Grzelcyk
It is shocking that Matt Grzelcyk went so long without actually being signed after the 31-year-old put up 40 points on the Pittsburgh Penguins. But recently, the Chicago Blackhawks signed him to a PTO. I will continue to argue that it was the decision to do so even though there is one veteran on the back-end.
