Former Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Matt Grzelcyk has signed a professional tryout (PTO) with the Chicago Blackhawks.
That team announced its training camp roster on Tuesday with Grzelcyk’s name included. Canadian broadcaster Sportsnet reported Grzelcyk agreed to a PTO.
Players on PTOs can sign a regular contract provided they convince team management to extend such a deal with a strong enough performance in training camp and the preseason.
Grzelcyk, 31, lingered on the free agent market for nearly the entire offseason following a productive 2024-25 campaign with the Penguins.
Signed to a one-year contract worth $2.75 million in July of 2024, the left-handed Grzelcyk (5-foot-10, 180 pounds) appeared in all 82 of the team’s games last season and scored 40 points (one goal, 39 assists) while averaging 20:37 of ice time per contest.
Much of Grzelcyk’s offensive output came as a member of the team’s top power-play unit. During man-advantage situations, Grzelcyk generated a team-leading 15 assists.
Following this transaction, forward Matt Nieto is the only player who finished last season under an NHL contract with the Penguins who remains unsigned, either with an NHL or AHL club or a squad in Europe.
