The Pittsburgh Penguins are entering the off-season with multiple pending free agents, and defenseman Matt Grzelcyk is the most notable. The Massachusetts native will become an unrestricted free agent (UFA) on July 1 if the Penguins do not re-sign him by then.
When noting that Grzelcyk is coming off a 40-point season and has a good amount of playoff experience, he would certainly have suitors if the Penguins do not bring him back. Due to this, let's go over three teams who could sign Grzelcyk this summer.
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings could be pursue Grzelcyk this off-season, as their left side could use a bit of a boost. This would be even more of the case if defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov leaves LA and signs elsewhere this off-season.
If the Kings landed Grzelcyk, he could slot nicely on their third pairing and be another option for their second power-play unit. However, he also could move up their lineup when injuries arise, so he could be a nice depth addition for a playoff club like the Kings.
Boston Bruins
The Bruins will likely aim to improve their defense this summer, so a reunion between them and Grzelcyk could make sense. Grzelcyk had a solid tenure with the Bruins, and that could be enough for them to consider bringing him back.
Grzelcyk notably had great chemistry with Bruins star blueliner Charlie McAvoy. However, at this point of his career, Grzelcyk would likely be a better fit for the Bruins' bottom pairing if brought back.
San Jose Sharks
The Sharks desperately need help on the left side of their defense, so a player like Grzelcyk could grab their attention. When looking at their current defense, Grzelcyk could work well on their second pairing and would be an obvious choice for their power play. Furthermore, he would give them another veteran to help mentor their younger players.
Grzelcyk showed this season that he can be effective on a non-playoff team, so he could be a nice pickup for the Sharks on a short-term contract.
Penguins Rumors: 4 Teams Linked To Rickard Rakell Pittsburgh Penguins forward Rickard Rakell has been creating plenty of chatter in the rumor mill again now that the off-season is here. With the Penguins retooling their group, questions have naturally come up about the 32-year-old winger's future in Pittsburgh.
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