Kalman: Matt Grzelcyk Has Already Shown Loyalty, Brought Leadership To Bruins Organization
By Matt Kalman
WILMINGTON – Matt Grzelcyk knows loyalty.
The Bruins defenseman and high-end prospect could've waited out a few months this summer after he completed his senior season at Boston University in the spring and hit the open market as a free agent Aug. 15. Instead he opted to sign with Boston in April.
"I think going into the draft I wasn't even really expecting to be drafted in the first place," Grzelcyk said after the third day of Bruins development camp at Ristuccia Arena on Thursday. "I just felt that the Bruins had taken quite a leap to get me in the third round [85th overall in 2012] and I kind of wanted to honor that commitment to me. So I'm really happy to be a part of the organization."
Had the 22-year-old Grzelcyk hit the open market this summer, he would've been greatly overshadowed by his close buddy Jimmy Vesey, who has seemingly the entire NHL enthralled by his potential choice of team. The Harvard product and Mass. native was drafted by the Nashville Predators 66th in 2012 but spurned their advances in the spring. His rights were traded to Buffalo for a third-round pick, but so far the Sabres haven't had much more luck getting Vesey signed before he'll have his choice of all 30 teams.
If he had any idea where Vesey is going to land, Grzelcyk wasn't tipping his hand Thursday.
"Obviously he's one of my good friends," Grzelcyk said. "I'm just going to be happy for him wherever he picks. I know he's probably had a pretty hectic summer so far. I'm just going to let it play out for him and see what happens."
The Bruins will reportedly be among the many suitors for Vesey's services, along with Toronto, Buffalo, Chicago and others, when he becomes free. Can't Grzelcyk help the Bruins get a leg up in their attempt to keep the Bay State boy home?
"I haven't really talked about it to anyone in the organization. I'd be really glad to help them recruit here," Grzelcyk said.
If Grzelcyk is able to play a hand in the Bruins winning the Vesey sweepstakes, it'll add to the list of contributions the Charlestown native has already made to the Bruins without suiting up for them. First, Grzelcyk made the aforementioned decision to sign with the Bruins rather than start a bidding war for his services. Then he took 2016 first-round pick Charlie McAvoy, his college defense partner, under his wing both before he knew the two would be part of the same NHL organization and during the development camp this week.
"I tried to make him feel as comfortable as possible and allow him to use his skills to his advantage," Grzelcyk said. "He was pretty heralded coming into BU. So when I got the heads up from coach [David] Quinn I would be playing with him early on in the summer, I think we fed off each other well."
Grzelcyk-McAvoy could be a Bruins pair in the top four in the not-too-distant future. It worked for the Terriers last season, as Grzelcyk capped his collegiate career with 23 points (10 goals) in 27 games. Some look at the 5-foot-10, 175-pound Grzelcyk and look at the four-year, $5.25 million contract extension Torey Krug just signed and think there's a logjam in the diminutive offensive defenseman department. But Grzelcyk is going to need a little AHL seasoning and once he's ready there's no telling what the job situation with Boston will be.
All we know is that Grzelcyk has already proven valuable to the Bruins and could boost his stock by baiting and trapping his buddy Vesey.
Matt Kalman covers the Bruins for CBSBoston.com and also contributes to NHL.com and several other media outlets. Follow him on Twitter @TheBruinsBlog.
