Pittsburgh Penguins Waive Ryan Graves in NHL Roster Move

Bassyonni

ago 2 hours

The Pittsburgh Penguins have officially waived defenseman Ryan Graves as part of their recent roster adjustments. This move came on Tuesday after the team made a trade for right winger Yegor Chinakhov from the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Pittsburgh Penguins Waive Ryan Graves

Ryan Graves, who is 30 years old, was initially placed on the non-roster list on Monday. The Penguins’ acquisition of Chinakhov prompted this waiver placement. Other NHL teams now have a 24-hour window to claim Graves. If he goes unclaimed, the Penguins have the option to assign him to their AHL affiliate.

Ryan Graves’ Performance and Career Stats

This season, Graves has participated in 17 NHL games, scoring one goal and contributing no assists. His defensive skills are notable, including 31 blocked shots and 13 hits. He has previously cleared waivers this season after being sent down to the AHL, where he played ten games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. During his time in the AHL, he recorded one goal and six assists, totaling seven points.

NHL Games Played: 17
Goals: 1
Assists: 0
Blocked Shots: 31
Hits: 13

Graves was drafted 110th overall in 2013 by the New York Rangers. Over his career, he has played 450 NHL games across multiple teams, including the Colorado Avalanche and New Jersey Devils. He has accumulated 119 points from 33 goals and 86 assists. His best season came during 2021-22 with the Devils, where he set career highs with 22 assists and 28 points.

Contract Situation

Graves’s potential claim could be complicated by his contract. He is in the middle of a six-year contract with a $4.5 million cap hit, which extends for three more seasons after the current one. This financial consideration may deter some teams from pursuing him.

Impact of Yegor Chinakhov’s Arrival

The waiver of Ryan Graves opens up a roster position for Yegor Chinakhov, a 24-year-old forward who is looking to make a mark after being acquired in a trade. Pittsburgh traded a second-round pick in 2026, a third-round pick in 2027, and veteran forward Danton Heinen to secure Chinakhov, who has three goals and six total points in 29 games this season.

General Manager Kyle Dubas aims to leverage low-cost acquisitions like Chinakhov to enhance the Penguins’ performance this season. The Penguins look to continue their strategy of transforming such players into impactful contributors on the ice.