Penguins defenseman Matt Grzelcyk remains 'a work in progress, for sure'

It was a pretty sedate offseason for the Pittsburgh Penguins this past summer.

After splurging on the likes of defensemen Ryan Graves and Erik Karlsson the year prior, management mostly operated with a frugal budget and looked for the clearance rack of dented cans or torn boxes in the rear of the NHL’s grocery store that is the free agent signing period.

Arguably, their most notable addition via free agency July 1 was Matt Grzelcyk, a veteran left-handed defenseman who had a significant impact on some strong Boston Bruins teams before largely struggling in 2023-24.

The hopes were Grzelcyk, who agreed to a one-year deal worth $2.75 million, would reclaim the form that made him a sturdy but hardly spectacular top-four defenseman.

Six weeks into the 2024-25 season, those hopes have yet to be realized.

Honest and pensive, Grzelcyk acknowledges as much.

“I think I’m still finding my way a little bit,” Grzelcyk said after practice Thursday in Cranberry. “System-wise, we’re pretty similar to how we played in Boston. … I can do a better job of closing off plays with my feet. Something I’ve been working on, even going into last (season), was my stick details, especially as a smaller guy. I’m not going to outmuscle too many guys down low, but I can be smarter with my stick. Steer them in a certain situation then close things off with my legs.

“It’s something that I’ve been working on. It’s something that I’ve been struggling with for the last couple of years. I can close plays off in the (defensive) zone and allow me to go get going the other way a little bit.”

A lot of things did not go Grzelcyk’s way Tuesday in a 3-2 overtime home loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. He was on the ice for the Lightning’s first and third goals, and they were hardly graceful moments.

With the Penguins leading 2-0 early in the third period, Lightning All-Star forward Brayden Point was undeterred by Grzelcyk in scoring his team’s opening goal.

As the Penguins made a sloppy line change, Point took the puck deep into the left corner of the offensive zone and zipped past Grzelcyk behind the cage before flicking a backhander from below the right circle by goaltender Tristan Jarry on the near side.

Tampa Bay goal!

Scored by Brayden Point with 14:19 remaining in the 3rd period.

Assisted by Ryan McDonagh and Darren Raddysh.

Pittsburgh: 2
Tampa Bay: 1#TBLvsPIT #LetsGoPens #GoBolts pic.twitter.com/uZm0y8PHli

— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) November 20, 2024

“Kind of got screwed up on a change a little bit,” Grzelcyk said. “(Point) made a nice play in the corner. I didn’t do a good enough job of closing him off on his way to the net. He made a great play.”

Point struck again in overtime during three-on-three play. After Jarry vacated his crease in reacting to a fanned shot attempt by Lightning defenseman J.J. Moser from the Penguins’ left circle, the puck slid to the left side of the cage. Point claimed the puck and tucked in an easy forehand shot as Grzelcyk was slow to offer resistance.

Tampa Bay goal!

Scored by Brayden Point with 01:02 remaining in the OT period.

Assisted by J.J. Moser and Conor Geekie.

Pittsburgh: 2
Tampa Bay: 3#TBLvsPIT #LetsGoPens #GoBolts pic.twitter.com/aNaZFJLWAr

— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) November 20, 2024

“The overtime goal, a little bit of a scramble there,” Grzelcyk said. “(Moser) tried to make a play at the net, it went (wide). And (Point) just tucked it into an open net. Just a weird play.”

It wasn’t all bad for Grzelcyk in the contest. He recorded a secondary assist on a power-play goal by Rickard Rakell by initiating a precision passing sequence.

Accepting the puck on the right half wall of the offensive zone, Grzelcyk dished it low to the near side of the cage for Penguins forward Sidney Crosby, who then one-touched a pass to the right hashmark, where Rakell ripped a one-timer.

Power play goal for Pittsburgh!

Scored by Rickard Rakell with 06:55 remaining in the 2nd period.

Assisted by Sidney Crosby and Matt Grzelcyk.

Pittsburgh: 2
Tampa Bay: 0#TBLvsPIT #LetsGoPens #GoBolts pic.twitter.com/VKjHj3NETY

— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) November 20, 2024

Deployment in power-play situations is something of a new convention for Grzelcyk, who did not work on the man advantage much in recent years with the Bruins. So far this season, he has averaged 1 minute, 48 seconds of power-play ice time (he clocked an average of 8 seconds in 2023-24).

“Just getting thrown into a little bit more situations than I have at the past,” Grzelcyk said. “On the second unit on the (power play) and a little bit on the (penalty kill), too. Obviously, as a player, you welcome that.”

Suiting up for all 21 games of the season so far, Grzelcyk has eight points (all assists). In 2023-24, he was limited to 11 points (two goals, nine assists).

His offensive contributions have been welcomed. But work remains in the defensive realm.

“The first dozen or so games he was really making an impact on the group,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “The best thing he brings to our team is the ability to transition the puck. He passes the puck extremely well, he helps us on the breakout. The simplicity of his game when he passes the puck and changes the point of attack, both coming out of the end zone, through the neutral zone and off the offensive blue line, I think is his greatest strength. He distributes extremely well. That’s the strength of this game.

“The last 10 or so games, we feel like he can improve in the area of his play away from the puck in particular, just closing on people in the defensive zone and playing the rushes a little bit more aggressively, and then some detail around that, one hand on your stick versus two hands on your stick, things like that. But I know (assistant coach David Quinn) is working with him but, overall, I think he’s a guy that has helped us in a lot of capacities.”

The Penguins have entrusted Grzelcyk with ample ice time. Primarily utilized on the top pairing with Kris Letang, Grzelcyk has averaged an even 20 minutes in all situations. Last season, as his play lagged with the Bruins, he clocked only 17:36.

Obviously satisfied with an increased workload, Grzelcyk isn’t satisfied with his work as a member of the Penguins thus far.

“You want to be out there as much as possible,” Grzelcyk said. “Still a lot to work on. A work in progress, for sure.”