Bruins sign defenseman Matt Grzelcyk to four-year deal
By Ty Anderson, 985TheSportsHub.com
An arbitration hearing will not be necessary for restricted free agent Matt Grzelcyk and the Boston Bruins, as the sides hammered out a new four-year deal worth $14.75 million Saturday afternoon.
The 26-year-old Grzelcyk’s new deals comes after a 2019-20 campaign that included career-best marks in goals (four), assists (17), points (21), power-play points (seven), plus-minus (plus-15), shots on goal (112), and games played (68) for the Bruins.
The 5-foot-9 defender, who has been a third-pairing dynamo (and with a revolving door of defensive partners on his right side), also added one assist in 12 games inside the Toronto bubble this past postseason.
This deal, which comes with a $3.687 million cap hit, makes Grzelcyk the second-highest paid Boston defenseman behind Charlie McAvoy and his $4.9 million salary.
Grzelcyk seems in line for an elevated role with the Bruins in 2020-21, too, with Torey Krug off to the Blues on a seven-year deal, with the Bruins’ pursuit of Oliver Ekman-Larsson proving unsuccessful, and with Zdeno Chara’s future uncertain.
The Charlestown, Mass. native has appeared in 197 career NHL games with the Bruins over his three full professional seasons with the club, totaling 10 goals and 44 assists for 54 points with a plus-45 rating.
