It's been a tough thus far season for Bruin's top four defenseman Matt Grzelcyk. After missing ten games in a row last month due to an upper-body injury, the 29-year-old Massachusetts native is going to miss multiple games due to another upper-body injury. Grzelcyk did not travel with the team on the current road trip and is expected to miss at least the next three games. Grzelcyk left Tuesday night's game against the Minnesota Wild early with the injury and did not return. It has not been reported if the injury is an aggravation of the one that kept him sidelined in November, or a new Injury.
Grzelcyk is having one of the worst starts to a season since his rookie year. One may question if this lingering injury has something to do with that. In 20 games, the top four defenseman has only one goal and -3 rating. This being the final year of his four-year contract, one would think he was hoping to turn his season around in order to be attractive in free agency or sign an extension with the Bruins. Being that Grzelcyk has spent his entire career, both college and pro in the Boston area, one would think he's hoping for an extension.
In his absence, rookie Mason Lohrei will be paired with Charlie McAvoy in this upcoming game against the Winnipeg Jets. Lohrei has posted two goals, three assists and a -4 rating in his first 15 NHL games.
