The Buffalo Sabres added a veteran piece to their blue line on Friday, agreeing to a one-year contract with defenseman Matt Grzelcyk.
The deal comes with a league-minimum cap hit of $850,000 for the 2026-27 season. Grzelcyk had not taken part in any training camp work over the past week, but Buffalo moved to bring him in late in the preseason as it deals with a few issues on the back end.
The Sabres’ defense has already been tested by injuries. Olen Zellweger is in concussion protocol, Mattias Samuelsson is dealing with a lower-body injury, and Louis Crevier - acquired from the Blackhawks in the Bowen Byram trade - is still getting back up to speed after offseason surgery. With Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power, and Conor Timmins set to begin the 2026-27 campaign, Grzelcyk gives Buffalo another experienced option while the group sorts itself out.
He could fit on the third pair, but his value goes beyond that. Grzelcyk can be moved around in different roles until the Sabres are healthier, and he brings a track record that suggests he can help.
Two seasons ago, he put up 40 points with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Last year with the Blackhawks, he had 12 assists in 69 games, finished at minus-9, and averaged just under 17 minutes of ice time.
Across 596 regular-season NHL games, Grzelcyk has collected 26 goals and 161 assists for 187 points. He also has 14 points in 66 Stanley Cup Playoff games with the Boston Bruins.
Buffalo has one preseason game left, against the Penguins on Saturday, before opening the regular season on Oct. 1 against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
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