The Pittsburgh Penguins have had a busy off-season. After getting back into the playoffs last season, they have added multiple players, like Andrei Kuzmenko, Hendrix Lapierre, Nick Robertson, Kaedan Korczak, Declan Carlile, and Trevor van Riemsdyk, to their roster.
Yet, when noting that the Penguins traded Parker Wotherspoon and lost Ryan Shea in free agency, it would not hurt for them to add another left-shot defenseman to their roster before the start of the 2026-27 season. When looking at the unrestricted free agents (UFAs) still available for the taking, former Penguins blueliner Matt Grzelcyk is an intriguing option for Pittsburgh to consider.
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If the Penguins brought back Grzelcyk, he could compete for a spot on their bottom pairing. However, even if he ended up being an extra defenseman for the Penguins, he could be a good veteran player for them to have when injuries arise.
Grzelcyk also had the best season of his NHL career as a Penguin in 2024-25. In 82 games, he scored one goal and set new career highs with 39 assists and 40 points. With how well he performed during his stint with the Penguins, it would be understandable if Pittsburgh took another chance on him.
On a cheap one-year deal, there could be a good match between the Penguins and Grzelcyk.
