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Rumors: Multiple NHL teams interested in Matt Grzelcyk

By Zander Manning

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 21: Charlie McAvoy #73 and Matt Grzelcyk #48 of the Boston Bruins talk during a game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins at PPG PAINTS Arena on April 21, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 21: Charlie McAvoy #73 and Matt Grzelcyk #48 of the Boston Bruins talk during a game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins at PPG PAINTS Arena on April 21, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) /
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Over the past few seasons, the Boston Bruins have had a problem with their defensemen, and it’s not a bad one. The problem they have faced is that they have had too many qualified people for the job.

This year, however, that could be changing as, according to Boston Hockey Now, there are multiple teams who are interested in defenseman Matt Grzelcyk.

In the 2022-23 season, Grzelyck put up career-highs in all categories, but goals. He played in a career-high 75 games, and set a new career-high with 22 assists. While those may not be high numbers, he has kept it consistent scoring 13 goals, and racking up 57 assists in the past three seasons.

With these kind of numbers, the Boston-native has become a hot commodity on the trade market, but for some reason, Bruins general manager Don Sweeney still has not found a good match for the 29-year-old defenseman.

What has he been waiting on? Has it been a prospect? Perhaps, Mason Lohrei?

How does the play of Mason Lohrei play into this?

Back in 2020, Mason Lohrei was drafted 58th overall by Boston after putting up 19 goals and 40 assists (59 points) in 48 games with the Green Bay Gamblers (USHL), and instead of going pro right away, Lohrei committed to Ohio State University.

He was there for two years before signing an amateur tryout contract with the Providence Bruins, and would later sign a two-year entry level contract with the Bruins after Providence was eliminated from the Calder Cup Playoffs.

Lohrei has only played in one preseason game thus far, but he has impressed both head coach Jim Montgomery and the media. In his one game against the Buffalo Sabres, he was on the ice for a total of 30 shifts, with the final minutes tally reaching 29:01. He even tallied an assist on the one goal scored last night for Boston.

Grzelcyk is entering the final year of his deal with the Bruins and carries a $3.6 million cap hit, whereas Lohrei is only holds a cap hit of $925,000.

It’s clear that Lohrei is challenging Grzelcyk for his spot on the roster, whether he wins is another story.

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