While the Bruins had a record number of attendees for this year’s Bruins' Development Camp with 37 prospects, draft picks and free agents hoping to hook on with the NHL organization, there was at least one prominent name missing. Charlestown, Mass. native and Boston University defenseman Matt Grzelcyk will miss the entire week of on-ice sessions for the development camp while rehabbing from a torn ACL.
Grzelcyk originally injured the knee during a BU practice when his leg was rolled over from behind, and the 21-year-old defenseman played the final eight games of the Terriers season with a sore knee. It didn’t stop him from having his best season with the Terriers while posting a career-best 10 goals and 38 points in 41 games for Boston University as one of their top defensemen on a team that came within one game of an NCAA national championship.
When Grzelcyk finally got the knee checked after the season had concluded for BU in the Frozen Four, he got the bad news that it would require ACL surgery that has kept him from skating all summer.
“It’s too bad because this development camp is something he always looks forward to, so he can hang out with the guys he gets to play with and against during the college hockey season,” said Grzelcyk’s dad, John. “He was disappointed for sure, but he didn’t have much choice with the surgery.”
The 5-foot-10, 176-pounder was still present with the prospect group on Tuesday while working out with the Bruins training staff at Ristuccia Arena, but he won’t be back on the ice until August at the earliest.
It also means that Grzelcyk won’t be ready to go for the beginning of his senior season at Boston University, and will probably finally be ready to play a month or two into the season for the Scarlet and White. Taking the place of the B’s third round pick from the 2012 draft was fellow BU D-man and Burlington, Mass. native Brien Diffley, who came to the development camp as an undrafted camp invite.