Matt
Grzelcyk
D · BUF · Limited · Very poor
- PAL
- 5
- WAR
- -0.8
- Value
- 17
- PTS
- 12
2025-26№ 311 / 325
Matt Grzelcyk (Buffalo Sabres) stats and profile: offensive production, ice time, advanced stats, WAR and PAL rating.
Matt Grzelcyk
#24D
Buffalo Sabres
HEIGHT : 178 cm · WEIGHT : 82 kg · SHOOTS : L
Born : January 4, 1994 · Charlestown, United States
Drafted : 2012 · BOS · round 3, pick #85
Contract : $850,000 · 2026-27 → 2026-27 · Standard Contract · UFA
NHL record
| Year | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | Buffalo Sabres | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025-26 | Chicago Blackhawks | 69 | 0 | 12 | 12 | 32 |
| 2024-25 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 82 | 1 | 39 | 40 | 16 |
| 2023-24 | Boston Bruins | 63 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 37 |
| 2022-23 | Boston Bruins | 75 | 4 | 22 | 26 | 28 |
| 2021-22 | Boston Bruins | 73 | 4 | 20 | 24 | 24 |
| 2020-21 | Boston Bruins | 37 | 5 | 15 | 20 | 22 |
| 2019-20 | Boston Bruins | 68 | 4 | 17 | 21 | 34 |
| 2018-19 | Boston Bruins | 66 | 3 | 15 | 18 | 68 |
| 2017-18 | Boston Bruins | 61 | 3 | 12 | 15 | 22 |
| 2016-17 | Boston Bruins | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| NHL totals | 597 | 26 | 161 | 187 | 285 | |
Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | Boston Bruins | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2022-23 | Boston Bruins | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021-22 | Boston Bruins | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 2020-21 | Boston Bruins | 11 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| 2019-20 | Boston Bruins | 12 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 2018-19 | Boston Bruins | 20 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 6 |
| 2017-18 | Boston Bruins | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Playoff totals | 66 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 26 | |
Matt Grzelcyk: our analysis
2025-26 season: 69 GP, 0 G, 12 A, 12 PTS, -9 +/-, 16:58 TOI. WAR -0.8 (311th of 325) · PAL 5, very poor.
In 2025-26, Matt Grzelcyk, 32, posts a PAL Rating of 5 out of 100 (very poor), and his WAR of -0.8 ranks 311th among 325 regulars, in the bottom quarter.
His strengths: power play (72, above average). On the other hand, shooting (0, among the weakest in the league) and creation (12, among the weakest in the league) hold him back.
Breaking down his WAR (goals above average), his biggest contribution: penalty kill (+0.2); his biggest cost: finishing (-2.6).
A marked decline: his PAL was 23 in 2024-25, against 5 now; his WAR, though, went from -0.9 to -0.8.
Contract-wise, his Value score of 17 (very poor return) weighs his output against what he costs: 50 is what that salary should buy.
Matt Grzelcyk's story
Growing up a block from the Charlestown rink at Edwards Playground, Matthew Grzelcyk cut his teeth on organized youth hockey, appearing at the 2007 Quebec Pee-Wee Tournament with the Middlesex Islanders. He continued his development at Belmont Hill and with the USNTDP in the USHL, and was part of the US team that won gold at the 2012 U18 World Championships in the Czech Republic before committing to Boston University.
Selected 85th overall by Boston in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, Grzelcyk completed four seasons with the Terriers. He earned Hockey East rookie-team recognition in his first year, served as BU’s captain in his junior and senior seasons, and scored the overtime winner that secured BU’s 63rd Beanpot title, earning tournament MVP. Across 124 collegiate games he compiled 26 goals and 69 assists.
Turning pro in 2016, he signed a two-year entry-level deal with the Bruins on April 1 and first joined Providence on an amateur tryout to finish the 2015–16 season. His NHL debut came on December 14, 2016, in a 4–3 overtime loss to Pittsburgh. He moved between Providence and Boston early on, including a six-week stint in 2017–18, got his first NHL assist on November 22, 2017 versus New Jersey and scored his first NHL goal two nights later against the Penguins.
Grzelcyk solidified a role on Boston’s blue line and re-signed for two years before the 2018–19 campaign, a year that culminated in a trip to the Stanley Cup Final; he suffered a head injury there after an elbow that drew supplemental discipline. After eight seasons with the Bruins organization he signed a one-year, $2.75-million deal with Pittsburgh on July 1, 2024. Un-signed the following summer, he took a PTO with Chicago on September 16, 2025 and converted that to a one-year contract on October 5, 2025, recording 12 assists in 69 games for the Blackhawks.
Internationally he has that U18 gold medal and made preliminary rosters for World Juniors—named an assistant captain at the 2014 tournament, which did not produce a medal for the US. On the ice he is a puck-moving defenseman: mobile in his own end, comfortable initiating breakouts and supporting the attack with outlet passing.
Facts drawn from Wikipédia, told in our own words.
Advanced stats
- TOI/GP
- 14:27
- PP TOI/GP
- 0:00
- SH TOI/GP
- 1:06
- Pts/GP
- 0.00
- EV points
- 0
- Hits
- 0
- Blocks
- 1
- Takeaways
- 0
- Corsi % (SAT)
- 46.1 %
- Off. zone starts
- 18.2 %
Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)
2026-27 projection
Projected points
9between 1 and 16 (80% range)
- Goals
- 1
- Assists
- 8
- Games
- 50
So far: 0 pts in 1 games. The team has played 20 of 84 games. Projected pace: 0.18 pts per game (last season: 0.17).
The projection follows last season's pace. Tested on 2,265 player seasons (2022-23 to 2025-26): average miss of 9 points over 82 games; for players at 0.9 points per game and up, it ran 5 points high on average.
Trend
Slight decline
- Points per game: 0.17 in 23-24, 0.17 in 25-26
- PAL Rating: 23 → 5
Outlook, age included
↓ DecliningAge 32: the age when production usually declines
This is only a projection. It knows nothing about injuries, trades or role changes; one player in five finishes outside the range.
Player ratings, 2025-26
All ratings →Fourteen ratings from 0 to 100 drawn from data, never by hand: 75 = established NHL player, 95+ = elite.
Injured reserve· Lower Body· expected back November 22
OV · OverallConfidence 84 %
56
Replacement or prospect
- SK
- Skating
- 68
- Confidence 73 %
- ST
- Strength
- 53
- Confidence 86 %
- EN
- Endurance
- 70
- Confidence 80 %
- DU
- Durability
- 78
- Confidence 77 %
- CK
- Checking
- 67
- Confidence 86 %
- FG
- Fighting
- 61
- Confidence 64 %
- DI
- Discipline
- 74
- Confidence 86 %
- FO
- Faceoffs
- —
- PA
- Passing
- 80
- Confidence 84 %
- SC
- Scoring
- 42
- Confidence 84 %
- DF
- Defense
- 64
- Confidence 81 %
- PS
- Penalty shot
- 76
- Confidence 0 %
- EX
- Experience
- 87
- Confidence 100 %
Why these ratings?Hide details
SK — Skating68
- Top speed (35 %)34.8 · 67
- Bursts > 20 mph /60 (30 %)1.601 · 71
- Distance /60 (20 %)14.1 · 72
- Speed consistency (15 %)34.3 · 70
ST — Strength53
- Contact absorbed /60 (50 %)4.249 · 67
- Body mass (50 %)-1.395 · 51
EN — Endurance70
- Ice time per game (45 %)18.1 · 71
- Total ice time (20 %)1,146 · 71
- Shift length (15 %)45.5 · 67
- Lowest recent ice time per game (15 %)16.8 · 71
- Special-teams time per game (5 %)1.753 · 64
DU — Durability78
- Share of games played (100 %)0.838 · 78
CK — Checking67
- Hits /60 (70 %)2.09 · 67
- Lowest seasonal rate (20 %)1.785 · 67
- Season volume (10 %)3.367 · 66
FG — Fighting61
- Fights per 82 games (100 %)0.677 · 61
DI — Discipline74
- Net penalty value /60 (50 %)-0.043 · 74
- Penalties taken /60 (30 %)0.5 · 81
- Penalties drawn /60 (20 %)0.246 · 56
PA — Passing80
- Primary assists /60 (40 %)0.53 · 85
- Secondary assists /60 (20 %)0.362 · 69
- Offensive creation (RAPM) (20 %)-0.064 · 67
- Power-play points /60 (10 %)4.084 · 73
- Assist consistency (10 %)0.363 · 84
SC — Scoring42
- Goals /60 (25 %)0.085 · 45
- Individual xG /60 (20 %)0.167 · 66
- Finishing (goals − xG per shot) (20 %)-0.352 · 45
- High-danger chances /60 (15 %)0.051 · 61
- xG per shot (10 %)0.032 · 56
- Shot attempts /60 (10 %)9.052 · 70
DF — Defense64
- RAPM defense /60 (35 %)-0.064 · 63
- Relative xG against (20 %)0.161 · 63
- On-ice xG against /60 (15 %)2.813 · 60
- Penalty kill /60 (10 %)0.111 · 84
- Takeaways − giveaways /60 (10 %)-1.517 · 86
- Shot attempts against /60 (5 %)59.4 · 68
- Blocked shots /60 (5 %)3.585 · 61
PS — Penalty shot76
- Shootouts (60 %)32.7 · 76
- Penalty shots (40 %)26.7 · 76
EX — Experience87
- Career regular-season games (65 %)90
- Career playoff games (25 %)79
- NHL seasons (10 %)81
OV — Overall56
- DF · Defense (30 %)64
- PA · Passing (22 %)80
- SK · Skating (12 %)68
- SC · Scoring (12 %)42
- EN · Endurance (9 %)70
- ST · Strength (6 %)53
- DI · Discipline (5 %)74
- CK · Checking (4 %)67
| Season | OV | SK | SC | DF |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 56 | 68 | 42 | 64 |
| 2024-25 | 60 | 69 | 48 | 61 |
| 2023-24 | 59 | 69 | 66 | 65 |
| 2022-23 | 73 | 72 | 73 | 77 |
The bars show confidence (sample size), not player quality. — : not enough data, not a zero. Engine version 1.0.
WAR and PAL ratings, 2025-26
How we rate →PAL Rating scores performance from 0 to 100 against players at the same position (50 = average player), starting from the player's strength, offensive or defensive. Value Rating compares that performance with what the player costs: 50 means paid what the play is worth.
WAR
-0.8
wins above replacement
311 of 325
PAL Rating
5/ 100
Performance · Very poor
235 of 250 at the position
Value Rating
17/ 100
Very poor return
1.00 M$ · expected PAL 40
ProfileLimitedBelow average at both ends
- Offense
- 12
- Defense
- 18
See full detailsHide details
- Offense
- 34
- Creation
- 12
- Shooting
- 0
- Possession
- 20
- Defense
- 22
- Discipline
- 35
- Power play
- 72
- Penalty kill
- 35
From 0 to 100; 50 is the average player at the same position, adjusted for ice time.
| Season | Team | WAR | PAL | Value | Cap hit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | CHI | -0.8 | 5 | 17 | 1.00 M$ |
| 2024-25 | PIT | -0.9 | 23 | 16 | 2.75 M$ |
| 2023-24 | BOS | -0.6 | 4 | 2 | 3.69 M$ |
| 2022-23 | BOS | 0.2 | 40 | 23 | 3.69 M$ |
Hockey IQ, 2025-26
Rankings and method →The quality of the player's decisions with and against the puck at 5-on-5, against regulars at the same position (50 = average). PAL measures output; IQ measures how the player plays.
Overall IQ
49/ 100
Average
better than 49% of defensemen, offense and defense combined
Offensive IQ
9/ 100
Low
passing, shots, puck
Defensive IQ
86/ 100
Very good
takeaways, discipline, own zone
Overall IQ isn't an average of the two scores: it's the player's rank with offense and defense combined, 114 of 225 defensemen.
See full detailsHide details
Offense
- Playmaking passes
- 59
- Shot selection
- 6
- Penalties drawn
- 18
- Puck management
- 45
Defense
- Takeaways
- 80
- Discipline
- 69
- Safe zone exits
- 70
Percentiles: 80 means better than 80% of regulars at the same position. Play without the puck (positioning, coverage) isn't measured: the NHL doesn't publish that data.
| Season | Team | IQ | Off. | Def. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | CHI | 49 | 9 | 86 |
| 2024-25 | PIT | 75 | 26 | 95 |
| 2023-24 | BOS | 27 | 18 | 43 |
| 2022-23 | BOS | 40 | 17 | 70 |
WAR, 2025-26
How it's calculated →Wins added to the team, compared with a replacement-level player called up from the AHL.
-0.8
wins above replacement
-1.3 to -0.4 — 90% interval
311 of 325 defensemen
-4.1 goals above replacement
Full leaderboard →See full detailsHide details
- EV offense
- -1.1
- EV defense
- -1.8
- Power play
- -0.0
- Penalty kill
- +0.2
- Shooting
- -2.6
- Penalties
- -1.2
- Average → replacement
- +2.4
In goals.
| Season | Team | GP | WAR | 90% interval | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | CHI | 69 | -0.8 | -1.3 to -0.4 | 311/325 |
| 2024-25 | PIT | 79 | -0.9 | -1.5 to -0.3 | 303/314 |
| 2023-24 | BOS | 63 | -0.6 | -1.2 to 0.3 | 288/316 |
| 2022-23 | BOS | 75 | 0.2 | -0.6 to 1.4 | 124/334 |
Player tracking (NHL EDGE)
League EDGE leaderboards →Speed, shot power, distance covered, time by zone: measured by chips in the puck and shoulder pads. 90th percentile = better than 90% of players.
- Hardest shot
- 127.0 km/h11th percentileleague avg. 140.2 km/h
- Top skating speed
- 29.8 km/h1st percentileleague avg. 34.1 km/h
- Bursts over 20 mph, season
- 00th percentileleague avg. 9
- Offensive zone time
- 40.8 %46th percentileleague avg. 41.2 %
See full detailsHide details
- Total distance, season
- 3.4 km2nd percentileleague avg. 61.8 km
- Distance, single-game high
- 3.40 km7th percentileleague avg. 5.00 km
- Offensive zone at 5v5
- 41.1 %34th percentileleague avg. 41.3 %
- Neutral zone time
- 18.4 %67th percentileleague avg. 19.0 %
- Defensive zone time
- 40.8 %47th percentileleague avg. 39.8 %
Shooting
| Shots on goal | Goals | Shooting % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All | 03rd percentile | 046th percentile | 0.0 %0th percentile |
| High danger | 049th percentile | 083rd percentile | 0.0 %0th percentile |
| Mid range | 019th percentile | 072nd percentile | 0.0 %0th percentile |
| Long range | 06th percentile | 074th percentile | 0.0 %0th percentile |
Shots on goal by zone
2026-2027 regular season. Measured by puck and player tracking chips; the percentile ranks the player within the league.
Game log, 2026-27
CBJMatt Grzelcyk: frequently asked questions
How many goals does Matt Grzelcyk have in 2026-27?
Matt Grzelcyk has 0 goals and 0 points (0 assists) in 1 game in 2026-27.
How old is Matt Grzelcyk?
Matt Grzelcyk is 32 years old: he was born on January 5, 1994.
How tall is Matt Grzelcyk, and how much does he weigh?
Matt Grzelcyk is 5'10" (178 cm) and weighs 181 lb (82 kg).
Where is Matt Grzelcyk from?
United States: Matt Grzelcyk was born in Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States.
What team does Matt Grzelcyk play for?
Matt Grzelcyk plays for the Buffalo Sabres in the NHL, at D, wearing number 24.
Is Matt Grzelcyk injured?
Yes: Matt Grzelcyk is on injured reserve (lower body). He is expected back around November 22.
How good is Matt Grzelcyk?
Matt Grzelcyk produced -0.8 wins above replacement (WAR) in 2025-26, 311th of 325 players at his position in the NHL. His PAL rating is 5 out of 100: very poor for his position.
How much does Matt Grzelcyk make?
Matt Grzelcyk earns $1.0M for the 2025-26 season. His Value Rating is 17 out of 100 (very poor return): it measures the on-field return for that salary, compared with players at his position.
When does Matt Grzelcyk's contract end?
Matt Grzelcyk's contract runs through the 2026-27 season; he will then be an unrestricted free agent.
Is Matt Grzelcyk overpaid?
Yes, his output falls short of what his salary should buy. His Value rating is 17 out of 100 (very poor return), where 50 is the output expected for his salary, compared with players at his position.
Is Matt Grzelcyk a top-10 player at his position?
No: by WAR, he ranks 311th of 325 players at his position in the NHL in 2025-26. Our comparison tool puts him side by side with any other player.
Is Matt Grzelcyk getting better?
No, he is slipping: his PAL rating went from 23 in 2024-25 to 5 in 2025-26 (out of 100, 50 = average player at his position).
What are Matt Grzelcyk's career stats?
Over his NHL career, Matt Grzelcyk has 597 games, 26 goals, 161 assists and 187 points. His best season: 2024-25, with 40 points in 82 games.
Where was Matt Grzelcyk drafted?
Matt Grzelcyk was drafted 85th overall (round 3) by Boston Bruins in 2012.
How does Matt Grzelcyk perform in the playoffs?
In the playoffs, Matt Grzelcyk has 66 games and 14 points in his career. His pace (0.21 points per game) is lower than his regular-season pace (0.31).
Is Matt Grzelcyk a good fantasy pick?
Probably not, except in deep leagues: our projection has him at 9 points in 2026-27, or 0.18 points per game.
Does Matt Grzelcyk have siblings?
Yes: his brother John Grzelcyk Jr. (works at TD Garden; member of the arena's "bull gang"; is a Zamboni driver for certain Bruins games).
Is Matt Grzelcyk related to anyone famous?
Yes: John Grzelcyk Sr. (father, has worked at Boston Garden/TD Garden since 1967; member of the arena's "bull gang"; diagnosed with prostate cancer on October 25, 2021 (continued working during treatments)).
What is Matt Grzelcyk's nationality?
Matt Grzelcyk is American. Internationally: United States: gold medal at the 2012 U18 World Juniors; named to the preliminary roster for the 2013 World Juniors; assistant captain at the 2014 World Juniors (the U.S. did not medal).
What awards has Matt Grzelcyk won?
Named to the Hockey East All‑Freshman team (2012) ; Beanpot tournament MVP (63rd edition) after scoring the overtime winner that gave BU its 30th title.
How many championships has Matt Grzelcyk won?
2: Gold medal at the 2012 U18 World Juniors with the United States; Beanpot title with Boston University (63rd edition — BU's 30th title).
Where did Matt Grzelcyk play before turning pro?
Belmont Hill School; USNTDP of the USHL; Boston University in Hockey East — four‑year career at BU (124 games, 26 goals, 69 assists).
How many points is Matt Grzelcyk projected to score in 2026-27?
Our projection has him at 9 points in 50 games in 2026-27 (1 to 16 points, 80% interval), based on his recent seasons, age and role.
See also: his Buffalo Sabres teammates
Full roster →
NHL.com ↗ · Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)