Sabres Sign Grzelcyk As Veteran Insurance After Injuries To Blueline

The Buffalo Sabres encountering early-season injuries to projected top-four blueliners Olen Zellweger and Mattias Samuelsson has made GM Jarmo Kekalainen hit the open market for some veteran insurance, as the club signed defenseman Matt Grzelcyk to a one-year, $850,000 deal. 

The 32-year-old spent last season as a teammate of new Sabres blueliner Louis Crevier with the Chicago Blackhawks, where he posted 12 points (0 goals, 12 assists) in 69 games. Grzelcyk was a 2012 draft pick of the Boston Bruins, and the Charlestown, MA native spent his first eight seasons with his hometown club. He has become a journeyman the last two seasons, signing a one-year deal with Pittsburgh in 2024 and posting a career-high 40 points (1 goal, 39 assists) in 82 games, before signing with the Hawks last season. 

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 " I'm  super  excited  to  have (Matt)   on  the  team.  I've   played  against  him  many  times,  and  I  think  he's  an  exceptional  player.  He's  very  smart.  He  can  play in  all  situations.  It's   going  to  be  fun  to  get  to  know  him  too.  I  heard  a  lot  of  great  things  about  him." Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin said after practice on Friday. "(The signing)  just  shows  that  we're  here   to  win.  We're  not  satisfied,  so (management will)  do  everything  they  can,  and  we  do  everything  we  can,  so  I'm  happy  with  the  situation."  

The signing could have a two-fold meaning. Without adding Grzelcyk, the Sabres would likely have to open the season using two of  Dennis Gilbert, Ryan Johnson, and Radim Mrtka for the start of the season, but Gilbert played sparingly for the Sabres two years ago and for Ottawa last season, while Mrtka, 19, may not be ready to play in the NHL. 

 “I  think   where  we're  at,  we  still  like  our  defense,  it's  still  next  man  up,  but  I'd  rather  have  a  young  player  step  in  and  play  big  minutes  in  the  Rochester  role.  Just  better  for hi m,  than  coming  out  and  playing   8-10,  minutes,  or  10-12  minutes.  So  in  the  role  we  need  them,  Grzelcyk  would  be  a  good  fit." 

The other possible meaning is that the injuries to Zellweger and Samuelsson are more serious, something that Ruff indicated the opposite of on Friday. Zellweger is in the league’s concussion protocol, but the Sabres head coach believes that he could be ready by the start of the season next week. He also believes that Samuelsson could be back earlier than the week-to-week timeline would reflect.

Grzelcyk was not present at practice on Friday, but it is not impossible that the veteran will be in town by Saturday to participate in the club's morning skate before their preseason finale against Pittsburgh.  

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