The Bruins opened the season with three starters set to miss significant time due to offseason surgery. Brad Marchand, Charlie McAvoy, and Matt Grzelcyk all went under the knife to repair nagging injuries that kept them from competing at 100 percent during parts of last season.
Grzelcyk addressed a right shoulder injury that required an open stabilization procedure which occurred on June 3rd. His initial recovery time was expected to be five months, which would have put him out until at least early November.
However, earlier this week, the defenseman was wearing a full-contact sweater at practice for the first time, signaling he’s ahead of schedule and very close to returning. Fluto Shinzawa of The Athletic recently shared when Grizz is expected back:
‘Matt Grzelcyk is day to day. Should make his debut before the end of next week.”
This would be a huge positive for the Bruins, who looked a little shaky on defense during their season opener. If Grzelcyk is able to return by the end of the week, that be close to a month sooner than expected. Fellow defenseman Charlie McAvoy is also ahead of schedule with his rehab, as he seems to have shaved off a month on his return as well.
With Anton Stralman dealing with visa issues that have kept him out of the Bruins’ first two games after signing a one-year contract, Grzelcyk will be an added addition as Mike Reilly, and Connor Clifton are not the answer on the blue line.
In his career with the Boston Bruins, the former third-round pick in 2012 has tallied 19 goals and 79 assists for 98 points across 307 games. Grzelcyk also boasts a plus-78 rating during the regular season. While the Charlestown, MA native is undersized at 5’10” and 176 pounds, the new emphasis on defensemen being involved heavily in the offense could lead to a new look for Grzelcyk, as his skating and passing will be on full display.
