3 free agents the Blackhawks can sign from the Bruins

Matt Grzelcyk, D

With Nikita Zaitsev currently without a deal for 2024-25, Matt Grzelcyk is someone worth the Blackhawks time to take a hard look at. Grzelcyk is a smaller player, and he’s not the most physical, landing just 53 body checks in 63 regular season contests. But he snagged 76 blocks (1.2 per game), indicating he’s got enough hockey sense to know when an opponent is looking toward the net to try and score. 

If the Blackhawks need anything in the defensive zone, it’s a heads-up player like Grzelcyk, even if he, like everyone else on this list, wouldn’t figure to be in town long. Still, he’s someone who, for at least 2024-25, wouldn’t make things so tough on the goaltenders, meaning closer and more entertaining games for everyone who plays for and follows the Blackhawks. 

The only downside with Grzelcyk would be the transition from a team that is always good and always in playoff contention to one trying to regain relevance. Grzelcyk is a lifelong Bruin, and he’s only known how to win in this league, so he would be in for a culture shock. 

The upside, however, is that he knows more about winning than most currently on the Blackhawks roster, so the team will learn a few things from someone who will be completing their age-30 season. 

(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)