Ryan Graves
Ryan Graves playing with the Avalanche in 2020 (Quintin Soloviev).jpg
Graves with the Colorado Avalanche in 2020
Born (1995-05-21) May 21, 1995
Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
Height 6 ft 5 in (196 cm)
Weight 226 lb (103 kg; 16 st 2 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams		 Pittsburgh Penguins
Colorado Avalanche
New Jersey Devils
National team  Canada
NHL Draft 110th overall, 2013
New York Rangers
Playing career 2015–present

Ryan Graves (born May 21, 1995) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL). Graves was selected by the New York Rangers, 110th overall, in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. He has previously played for the Colorado Avalanche and New Jersey Devils.

Early life

Graves was born on May 21, 1995, in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia,[1] to Ron Graves and Monica Brennan.[2] He was childhood friends with Nathan MacKinnon, another Nova Scotia native, and the two would play youth ice hockey against each other on local teams and together on regional teams.[3] Graves had a reputation in the Nova Scotia youth hockey circuit for clumsiness, caused primarily by his comparatively tall physique.[4] His strength and shot-blocking abilities, however, drew praise from coaches in the Yarmouth County Minor Hockey Association.[5] During the 2010-11 minor ice hockey season, Graves played for the South Shore Canadian Tire Mustangs, for whom he scored five goals and recorded seven assists. In addition to being named the team's top rookie, he was given the Scott Dee Memorial Award for the best rookie defenceman in the Nova Scotia Major Midget Hockey League.[6] That same year, he made one appearance with the Yarmouth Mariners of the Maritime Junior Hockey League.[5]

Playing career

Junior

The Prince Edward Island Rocket of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) selected Graves in the first round, ninth overall, of the 2011 QMJHL Entry Draft.[7] As a rookie during the 2011–12 season, Graves had two goals and seven assists for a total of nine points, as well as 34 penalty minutes.[8] The Rocket, meanwhile, finished in last place in the league with a 19–43–2–4 record and missed the postseason for the first time in seven years.[9] Graves said after his rookie season that he had difficulty adjusting from minor to junior ice hockey, and his improved confidence in the 2012–13 season was due to his greater familiarity with the league, increased playing time as a second-year skater, and his ability to learn from older teammates.[10] He also practiced three times a week with a Newfoundland skating coach that helped to improve the coordination issues that had followed him from adolescence.[4]

After improving his offensive output in the following 2012–13 season, Graves gained the eye of NHL scouts, and was later selected in the fourth round, 110th overall, by the New York Rangers in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.

The Rocket were rebranded as the Charlottetown Islanders for the 2013–14 season. In collecting 12 points in 39 games, Graves was dealt by the Islanders to the Val-d'Or Foreurs for their post-season push. He helped the Foreurs in the playoffs with 8 points in 24 games to help the club claim the President's Cup. On March 17, 2014, Graves' progression was rewarded as he was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract with the Rangers.[11]

Prior to the 2014–15 season, Graves was again on the move in the QMJHL, traded by the Foreurs to the Quebec Remparts in exchange for Vincent Lanoue and draft picks on August 18, 2014.[12] An assistant captain, Graves broke out offensively in his final junior season, contributing with a career-high 15 goals and 24 assists for 39 points in just 50 games. He was selected to the Canadian Hockey League's Memorial Cup All-Star Team after collecting 5 points in 5 games for host club Quebec.[13]

Professional

New York Rangers organization (2015–18)

Graves at the 2016 AHL All-Star Game

In the 2015–16 season, Graves was assigned to the Rangers AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack. He made his professional debut on opening night against the St. John's IceCaps on October 10, 2015. He collected his first goal and assist in a 4–3 victory over the Syracuse Crunch on October 23, 2015. As a hulking defenceman with good mobility, Graves was a staple on the blueline for the Wolf Pack and represented the club at the 2016 AHL All-Star Game, winning the hardest shot contest with a 103.4 m/ph slapshot.[14] With the Wolf Pack finishing out of playoff contention, Graves finished the season, leading the blueline with 9 goals in his 21 points in 74 games.

In the following 2016–17 season, Graves continued his upward development in leading the blueline in all scoring categories with 8 goals, 22 assists and 30 points. Assigned to the Wolf Pack for the final year of his rookie contract, Graves regressed with just 4 goals and 11 points in 57 games in the 2017–18 season.

Colorado Avalanche (2018–21)

Graves was dealt by the New York Rangers at the trade deadline to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Chris Bigras on February 26, 2018.[15] He was immediately assigned to the Avalanche's AHL affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage.

On July 17, he was re-signed to a one-year contract by the Avalanche.[16] In the 2018–19 season, Graves scored his first NHL goal on January 4, 2019, against the team that drafted him, the New York Rangers.[17] On July 8, Graves was re-signed to a one-year contract.[18] During the 2019–20 season, primarily playing alongside eventual Calder Memorial Trophy winner Cale Makar, Graves in a top-pairing role scored career highs in both goals and points, and lead the NHL in the plus–minus statistic at +40. On October 12, 2020, Graves signed a three-year, $9.5 million contract with the Avalanche.[19]

In the pandemic delayed 2020–21 season, Graves made his 100th NHL appearance in a 3–2 overtime victory over the Anaheim Ducks on January 22, 2021.[20] Used in a top-four role, Graves was relied upon as the mainstay of the Avalanche penalty kill, finishing third in the league in short-handed time on ice. He registered 2 goals and 15 points in appearing in 54 of 56 regular season games.

New Jersey Devils (2021–2023)

On July 15, 2021, due to impending expansion draft considerations, Graves was traded by Avalanche to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for Mikhail Maltsev and a second-round pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.[21]

Pittsburgh Penguins (2023–present)

On completion of his contract with the Devils, Graves left the organization as a free agent and opted to remain in the Metropolitan Division by signing a six-year, $27 million contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins on July 1, 2023.[22]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2010–11 South Shore Mustangs NSMMHL 32571258 50668
2010–11 Yarmouth Mariners MJAHL 10002 30002
2011–12 P.E.I. Rocket QMJHL 6227934 —————
2012–13 P.E.I. Rocket QMJHL 683131690 60006
2013–14 Charlottetown Islanders QMJHL 39391252 —————
2013–14 Val-d'Or Foreurs QMJHL 26281016 2417824
2014–15 Quebec Remparts QMJHL 5015243949 21561125
2015–16 Hartford Wolf Pack AHL 749122153 —————
2016–17 Hartford Wolf Pack AHL 768223069 —————
2017–18 Hartford Wolf Pack AHL 57471166 —————
2017–18 San Antonio Rampage AHL 211567 —————
2018–19 Colorado Eagles AHL 3227926 —————
2018–19 Colorado Avalanche NHL 263252 —————
2019–20 Colorado Avalanche NHL 699172645 151236
2020–21 Colorado Avalanche NHL 542131555 1015610
2021–22 New Jersey Devils NHL 756222824 —————
2022–23 New Jersey Devils NHL 788182628 100114
NHL totals 3022872100154 35281020
Medal record
Representing  Canada
Ice hockey
World Championships
Silver medal – second place2022 Finland

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2012 Canada Atlantic U17 7th 5 0 0 0 2
2022 Canada WC 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 10 2 5 7 0
Junior totals 5 0 0 0 2
Senior totals 10 2 5 7 0

Awards and honours

Award Year
NSMMHL
Rookie Defenseman Award 2011
CHL
Memorial Cup All-Star Team 2015 [13]
AHL
All-Star Game 2016

References

  1. ↑ "Ryan Graves Stats and News". National Hockey League. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  2. ↑ Comeau, Tina (December 28, 2018). "Graves, family savour NHL debut". The Chronicle Herald. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  3. ↑ Chambers, Mike (September 26, 2018). "Analysis: Ryan Graves has deepened the Avalanche's already-stout defensive corps". The Denver Post. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  4. 1 2 Chambers, Mike (March 2, 2019). "The Avalanche's Ryan Graves was a clumsy kid. Now he's playing in the NHL with boyhood buddy Nathan MacKinnon". The Denver Post. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  5. 1 2 Comeau, Tina (June 30, 2013). "Ryan Graves drafted by New York Rangers". Yarmouth Vanguard. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  6. ↑ Comeau, Tina (April 19, 2011). "Ryan Graves named league's top rookie defenceman". Yarmouth Vanguard. Retrieved January 23, 2022 – via PressReader.
  7. ↑ Reid, Charles (June 6, 2011). "Rocket selects Yarmouth defenceman ninth overall". Journal Pioneer. Retrieved January 23, 2022 – via PressReader.
  8. ↑ "Rangers Agree to Terms With Defenseman Ryan Graves". National Hockey League. New York Rangers. March 17, 2014. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  9. ↑ Reid, Charles (March 19, 2012). "'Guys are pretty heartbroken'". The Guardian. Charlottetown, PEI. Retrieved January 23, 2022 – via PressReader.
  10. ↑ "Ryan Graves having comfortable sophomore season". Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. February 21, 2013. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Rangers agree to terms with defenseman Ryan Graves". New York Rangers. March 17, 2014. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Ryan Graves goes to Quebec". Quebec Remparts. August 18, 2014. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
  13. 1 2 "Avalanche acquire Ryan Graves from Rangers". Colorado Avalanche. February 26, 2018. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  14. ↑ "Pack's Graves wins AHL Skill Competitions hardest shot event". Hartford Wolf Pack. February 1, 2016. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
  15. ↑ "Colorado Avalanche trade for Ryan Graves from New York Rangers for Chris Bigras". Denver Post. February 26, 2018. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  16. ↑ "Avalanche Signs Geertsen, Graves, Martin". NHL.com. July 17, 2018. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  17. ↑ Sadowski, Rick (January 5, 2019). "Avalanche score six in win against Rangers". NHL.com. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
  18. ↑ "Avalanche Re-Signs Ryan Graves". NHL.com. July 8, 2019. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  19. ↑ "Avalanche Re-Signs Ryan Graves". NHL.com. October 12, 2020. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  20. ↑ "Avalanche, Ducks game summary". ESPN. January 22, 2021. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  21. ↑ "Devils Acquire Defenseman Ryan Graves from Colorado". National Hockey League. July 15, 2021. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  22. ↑ "Penguins agree to terms with Ryan Graves on a six-year contract". Pittsburgh Penguins. July 1, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
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