Matthew Grzelcyk Bio
Matthew Grzelcyk is an American professional ice hockey defenseman who currently plays for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL). Selected by the Boston Bruins with the 85th overall pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, Grzelcyk spent eight seasons with the Bruins organization before joining the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2024. Known for his smooth skating and defensive reliability, he has established himself as a dependable two-way defenseman at the NHL level. Grzelcyk made his NHL debut in December 2016 and has contributed to his teams both offensively and defensively throughout his professional career.
Early Life and Background
Matthew Grzelcyk was born on January 5, 1994, in Boston, Massachusetts. He grew up just a block from the Charlestown rink at Edwards Playground, where he developed his passion for hockey at a young age. During his youth career, Grzelcyk played for the Middlesex Islanders minor ice hockey team alongside future NHL players Jon Gillies and Miles Wood. In 2007, he represented the Middlesex Islanders at the prestigious Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament, gaining valuable experience against international competition.
For his secondary education, Grzelcyk attended Belmont Hill School, a private preparatory school known for its strong hockey program. His academic and athletic development at Belmont Hill helped prepare him for the next level of his hockey career.
Path to Professional Hockey
After his time at Belmont Hill School, Grzelcyk joined the United States National Team Development Program (USNTDP) competing in the United States Hockey League (USHL). During his tenure with the USNTDP, he earned a gold medal at the 2012 U18 World Junior Championship held in the Czech Republic. This international success helped raise his profile among NHL scouts and collegiate programs.
Following his development with the USNTDP, Grzelcyk committed to play collegiate hockey for Boston University in the Hockey East Conference. He made an immediate impact as a freshman, earning a spot on the Hockey East All-Freshman team in 2012. Although he was selected for the preliminary roster of the 2013 World Juniors team, he did not make the final cut for the tournament roster. Grzelcyk served as team captain during his junior and senior seasons, demonstrating leadership qualities that would serve him well in his professional career. He was named the tournament MVP after scoring the overtime winning goal in the 63rd Beanpot, which gave Boston University its 30th championship title. Over his four-year collegiate career, Grzelcyk appeared in 124 games, scoring 26 goals and recording 69 assists.
Matthew Grzelcyk Career
Boston Bruins (2016–2024)
Grzelcyk signed his first professional contract on April 1, 2016, agreeing to a two-year entry-level deal with the Boston Bruins beginning with the 2016–17 season. To conclude the 2015–16 campaign, he joined the Providence Bruins, Boston’s American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, on an Amateur Tryout Agreement. His NHL debut came on December 14, 2016, in a 4–3 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
During the 2017–18 season, Grzelcyk spent six weeks with the Providence Bruins before returning to the NHL roster on November 22, 2017. That same day, in a game against the New Jersey Devils, he recorded his first NHL assist on a goal by teammate Jake DeBrusk. Just two days later, on November 24, 2017, Grzelcyk scored his first NHL goal in a 4–3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Prior to the 2018–19 season, he signed a two-year contract extension to remain with the Bruins organization.
Grzelcyk and the Boston Bruins qualified for the 2019 Stanley Cup Finals, where they faced the St. Louis Blues. During the series, he suffered a head injury after receiving an elbow to the head from Blues center Oskar Sundqvist. Sundqvist received a suspension for the hit, but the Blues ultimately won the Stanley Cup in seven games. After eight seasons with the Bruins, Grzelcyk departed the organization as a free agent in 2024.
Pittsburgh Penguins (2024–2025)
On July 1, 2024, Grzelcyk signed a one-year, $2.75 million contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins for the 2024–25 season. This move marked a new chapter in his career as he joined a Penguins team looking to remain competitive in the Eastern Conference. The signing reunited him briefly with the Penguins organization, as they had been his first NHL opponents during his debut with the Bruins in 2016.
Chicago Blackhawks (2025–Present)
After going unsigned during the 2025 offseason, Grzelcyk joined the Chicago Blackhawks on a professional tryout agreement for the 2025–26 preseason on September 16, 2025. Several weeks later, on October 5, 2025, he signed a one-year contract with the Blackhawks for the 2025–26 season. This signing brought him to a rebuilding franchise with a mix of veteran leadership and young talent.
Playing Style and Strengths
Grzelcyk is known as a smooth-skating, two-way defenseman who contributes both offensively and defensively. Standing at 5 feet 10 inches and weighing 180 pounds, he may not be the largest defenseman in the league, but his mobility and hockey sense allow him to effectively defend against opponents and transition the puck. He shoots left-handed, which complements his ability to move the puck up the ice and contribute to his team’s offensive attacks.
Notable Events and Milestones
The defining moment of Grzelcyk’s career came during the 2019 Stanley Cup Finals with the Boston Bruins. While attempting to make a play, he sustained a head injury from an elbow delivered by Oskar Sundqvist of the St. Louis Blues. The incident generated significant attention, and Sundqvist’s subsequent suspension added intensity to the series. Another career highlight was his overtime game-winning goal in the 63rd Beanpot championship, which cemented his legacy at Boston University and earned him tournament MVP honors.
Matthew Grzelcyk Career Statistics
Grzelcyk has accumulated regular season games played across his nine-plus seasons with the Boston Bruins, Pittsburgh Penguins, and now the Chicago Blackhawks. He reached the Stanley Cup Finals once, in 2019 with Boston, and has been a consistent contributor on defense throughout his professional career. His collegiate statistics include 124 games played with 26 goals and 69 assists at Boston University.
Matthew Grzelcyk Family
Family Background
Grzelcyk’s family has deep roots with the Boston Bruins organization. His father, John Grzelcyk Sr., began working at Boston Garden in 1967 and has remained with the franchise through its transition to TD Garden. His older brother, John Grzelcyk Jr., also works at TD Garden. Both men are members of the arena’s “bull gang,” the crew responsible for converting the building between hockey and basketball configurations. John Jr. also serves as a Zamboni driver for certain Bruins home games. On October 25, 2021, Grzelcyk’s father was diagnosed with prostate cancer, but he continued working at TD Garden during his radiation treatments.
Personal Life
Growing up, Grzelcyk lived near the Charlestown rink and developed his game on local ice. He maintained a lifelong friendship with fellow 2012 NHL Entry Draft pick Jimmy Vesey. The two first met around age six while playing together for the Middlesex Islanders, a youth hockey team that produced multiple NHL players. Grzelcyk’s connection to the Boston area and the Bruins organization runs deep through his family’s employment and his formative years in Charlestown.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 offseason presented uncertainty for Grzelcyk as he went unsigned by NHL teams following his one season with the Pittsburgh Penguins. This led him to pursue a professional tryout opportunity with the Chicago Blackhawks in September 2025. After impressing during the preseason, he earned a one-year contract for the 2025–26 campaign. The Blackhawks are in a rebuilding phase with young talent developing around established veterans, creating an opportunity for Grzelcyk to provide stability and experience on the blue line. His transition to Chicago marks a new chapter as he adapts to a different conference and a franchise with different competitive timeline than his previous teams.