The Vancouver Canucks are hoping to turn things back around this season. They made some notable moves this summer, like re-signing Brock Boeser and signing Thatcher Demko and Conor Garland to contract extensions. They also brought in veteran forward Evander Kane in a trade with the Edmonton Oilers.
However, when looking at the Canucks’ roster, they should not be done yet. One area they should be looking to improve is their defensive depth, and the free-agent market has a fascinating blueliner left in Matt Grzelcyk.
Grzelcyk just had the best season of his career in 2024-25 with the Pittsburgh Penguins. In 82 games, he scored one goal and set new career highs with 39 assists and 40 points. With offensive totals like this, he would undoubtedly give the Canucks’ blueline a nice boost if signed.
Matt Grzelcyk Is Easily the Top UFA Defender Left
Most of this year’s top unrestricted free agent (UFA) defensemen have been signed, now that it is September. However, even after an impressive 40-point season, Grzelcyk remains unsigned and is easily the best defenseman available. Thus, if the Canucks want to improve their defensive depth, he is the blueliner that they should be targeting.
Sports Illustrated’s Karl Rasmussen recently ranked the NHL’s top remaining free agents, and Grzelcyk was the top blueliner on the list. The only players that ranked ahead of him were forwards Jack Roslovic and Victor Olofsson. Olofsson has since signed with the Colorado Avalanche.
“Grzelcyk set career highs offensively in his first year with the Penguins, recording 40 points on the season,” Rasmussen wrote. “Prior to 2024-25, he’d never eclipsed even 30 points in a single season. Grzelcyk was a valuable asset on the power play for Pittsburgh, where he recorded 15 assists. At 31, Grzelcyk would be a great pickup for a team looking for some two-way depth on defense.”
The Canucks certainly could use more defensive depth, and there is no better option than Grzelcyk. Thus, if he can be had at a reasonable price, the Canucks should sign him. According to PuckPedia, the Canucks have $3.27 million of cap space, so they are in a position to do some spending.
Grzelcyk Would Give Canucks Another Solid Defenseman
If the Canucks signed Grzelcyk, he would undoubtedly give them another solid defenseman to work with. This would certainly be beneficial, as NHL clubs can never have enough depth on the blueline.
When looking at the Canucks’ projected lineup, Grzelcyk would offer them a nice upgrade for their bottom pairing. This is especially so when noting that he is capable of playing both sides. Furthermore, as he demonstrated with the Penguins last season, he is impactful on the power play. Thus, he would give them another option to work with on the man advantage if ever needed. He also has experience killing penalties, so he would work there as well for the Canucks.
Grzelcyk’s postseason experience could also grab the Canucks’ attention, especially when noting that Vancouver is looking to get back into the playoffs. During his eight-year stint with the Boston Bruins, the Charlestown, Massachusetts native played in 66 playoff games. Thus, he has a good amount of playoff experience, which is certainly a nice bonus.
