Career
Grimaldi was drafted by the Panthers in the second round (33rd overall) of the 2011 National Hockey League Entry Draft. At the age of five, Grimaldi started to play roller hockey in California. In 2005, Grimaldi and some of his family relocated to Michigan so that he could play against a better level of competition.
Grimaldi played American Automobile Association Hockey for Detroit Little Caesars during the 2008–2009 season, collecting 43 points with 17 goals and 26 assists in 31 games.
He then played two seasons with the United States of America Hockey National Team Development Program against junior teams in the United States Hockey League. During the 2009-2010 season, Grimaldi led the United States Under 17 national team in scoring with 40 points in 36 games.
In the gold medal game versus Sweden, Grimaldi had one goal and one assist as the United States triumphed by a 3–1 mark. Rocco Grimaldi scored twice versus
Finland on Friday, November 12 at the 2010 Men"s Under-18 Four Nations Cup.
During the 2010-2011 season, he led Team United States of America in scoring with 34 goals and 28 assists in 50 games. Grimaldi was eligible to be drafted into the National Hockey League (National Hockey League) in 2011. Prior to the draft, there were concerns about his size.
At 5"6", he is smaller than most National Hockey League players.
Grimaldi is not concerned about his size, and takes the questions about it in stride, "I think it’s fun." The 2011-2012 Hockey Prospectus ranked Grimaldi as its #36 best hockey prospect noting that he "overcomes his diminutive size with off the chart intangibles and physical ability."
Grimaldi committed to the University of North Dakota and entered his freshman season for UND in the 2011-2012 season. On May 7, 2014, Grimaldi signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Florida Panthers.
Grimaldi was born in Rossmoor, California. He started playing organized hockey when he was five.
When he was first exposed to the game, he thought it looked more exciting than baseball.
Grimaldi is a devout born again Christian. His father was a police officer in California. His mother was the Little Caesars American Automobile Association Hockey club team manager.