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Sabres Sign Grzelcyk As Veteran Insurance After Injuries To Blueline
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- 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."
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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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