Ryan Graves

Ryan Graves

30-Year-Old DefensemanD
Pittsburgh Penguins
IR
Injury Lower Body
Est. Return 1/29/2026
2025 Fantasy Outlook
Graves had only four points in 61 games last season for the Penguins, but he played just 14:59 per night, which is his fewest minutes since his rookie season. The 30-year-old is scheduled to make $4.5 million for each of the next four seasons, so his spot in the lineup is likely safe, but to have a season like the one he had last year is a big concern. It’s certainly not unreasonable to expect a better campaign from Graves based on his prior track record -- he finished with 26-28 points in three of four regular seasons from 2019-20 through 2022-23 -- but he’s likely not going to provide much of a fantasy impact regardless. Read Past Outlooks
$Signed a six-year, $27 million contract with the Penguins in July of 2023.
Placed on injured reserve
DPittsburgh Penguins
Lower Body
January 22, 2026
Graves (lower body) was put on injured reserve Thursday.
ANALYSIS
The Penguins' announcement didn't specify the nature of Graves' injury, but he's dealing with a lower-body issue, according to Michelle Crechiolo of the Penguins' official site. Graves has a goal, eight PIM, 15 hits and 35 blocks in 19 outings in 2025-26. Erik Karlsson (lower body) was activated off injured reserve in a corresponding move. Graves played in Wednesday's 4-1 win over Calgary, so putting him on IR means that he isn't eligible to play Thursday in Edmonton or Sunday in Vancouver.
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NHL Stats
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2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
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2024 NHL Game Log
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2024–25 Time On Ice Stats
  • Average Time On Ice:
    14:59
  • Average Power Play TOI:
    0:01
  • Average Short-Handed TOI:
    1:36
 
Ice Time
Power Play
Short-Handed
2022–23
19:57
0:03
2:24
2023–24
18:23
0:01
1:59
2024–25
14:59
0:01
1:36
2025–26
15:29
0:00
0:33
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Penguins Power Play Depth Chart
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2014
While plenty of blame has gone around for the Penguins' failed 2023-24 campaign, Graves has faced plenty of vitriol after failing to reach the 20-point threshold for the first time in three years. The blueliner's $4.5 million cap hit certainly played a factor into the situation, as fans and fantasy managers alike were expecting more. All of this led to Graves' name being circulated in trade talks, but general manager Kyle Dubas has been unable to find a dance partner to take on that contract. Instead, Pittsburgh will have to hope the Nova Scotia native can get back to being at least a 25-point producer during the upcoming campaign.
After two years with the Devils, Graves joined the Penguins on a six-year deal this offseason. He notched eight goals and 26 points last season, his third NHL campaign with at least 25 points. He registered an impressive plus-34 rating while blocking 152 shots and laying out 83 hits. The 28-year-old will jump into a top-four role in Pittsburgh alongside either Erik Karlsson or Kris Letang. While Graves still probably won't see much, if any, power-play time, his offensive ceiling will get an immediate boost with his new defensive partner. He should be considered a lock for another 25-point campaign with the potential to breeze past his career high of 28 points.
Graves arrived in New Jersey a season ago following three years with the Avalanche. He posted career-best marks in both points (28) and average time on ice (20:43), although the eye test revealed he was noticeably less effective, which isn't a shock considering he left the best team in the league to join one which made the second-overall pick in the draft. Graves has a massive shot and moves the puck well enough to pick up some assists here and there, but he doesn't have a single power-play point in his first four NHL seasons, which torpedoes his chances of becoming a steady fantasy option.
The Avalanche assumed they were going to lose Graves to Seattle for nothing in the expansion draft, so they instead shipped him to the Devils in exchange for forward Mikhail Maltsev and a draft pick. Graves has been overhyped since leading the NHL in plus-minus rating (plus-40) two seasons ago, but he's still just 26 years old, skates like the wind, and has a cannon of a shot. In short, he might not be a top-pair guy, but he's a clear NHL regular and that makes him a solid pickup for New Jersey. Graves should flirt with 25 points in 2021-22 in addition to 100-plus shots, hits and blocks, making him a well-rounded fantasy option in the latter rounds of your draft.
Graves took a major step forward in his first full NHL season in 2019-20, tallying nine goals, 17 helpers, and 134 shots while leading the league with a highly impressive plus-40 rating. The 25-year-old blueliner also added significant totals in the hits (112) and blocked shots (150) categories. Graves will continue to skate with Cale Makar on Colorado's top pairing in 2020-21, and although he isn't expected to have a spot on either of the Avs' power-play units, he could still threaten the double-digit goal and 30-point marks while adding rock-solid figures in shots, plus-minus rating, hits and blocks over the course of a full season, making him a solid depth pickup in the late rounds of this year's fantasy drafts.
While his style of play may relate to a fan favorite Adam Graves, this 19-year-old blue liner is not of his bloodline. Although this 6-foot-4, 220-pound bruiser is far from a 50-goal scorer and further from making his NHL debut, that's not to say he hasn't held his own, recently posting 3 goals with 13 assists and a plus-7 rating with 90 penalty minutes in his third campaign with P.E.I. of the QMJHL. Yet another testament of Glen Sather's desire to keep the Rangers' defensemen pipeline stocked is their fourth-round pick from 2013 should make the jump to Greenville of the ECHL at some point.
More Fantasy News
Called up from minors
DPittsburgh Penguins
January 13, 2026
Graves was promoted from AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Tuesday.
ANALYSIS
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Will be waived
DPittsburgh Penguins
December 29, 2025
Graves will be waived Tuesday for the purposes of sending him to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, per Seth Rorabaugh of Tribune-Review Sports.
ANALYSIS
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Slips out of lineup
DPittsburgh Penguins
December 24, 2025
Graves has been scratched for five straight games, including Tuesday's 6-3 loss to the Maple Leafs.
ANALYSIS
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Pots goal Saturday
DPittsburgh Penguins
November 8, 2025
Graves scored a goal on three shots and blocked two shots in Saturday's 2-1 shootout loss to the Devils.
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Called up Tuesday
DPittsburgh Penguins
November 4, 2025
Graves was called up from AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Tuesday.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Expected back in lineup Friday
DPittsburgh Penguins
January 17, 2025
Graves is set to play in Friday's matchup with the Sabres following a six-game stint as a healthy scratch, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
ANALYSIS
Graves will likely replace youngster Owen Pickering on the blue line, logging his first action since Jan. 3 versus the Panthers. Considering the 29-year-old Graves remains pointless through 31 games this year, his reintroduction into the lineup is unlikely to impact the majority of fantasy managers.
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