Graves excited to team up with Karlsson, Crosby on Penguins

Ryan Graves doesn't mind that he turned out to be the second-biggest addition the Pittsburgh Penguins made to their defense this offseason.

Graves, who signed a six-year, $27 million contract with the Penguins on July 1, was thrilled when they acquired Erik Karlsson, a three-time winner of the Norris Trophy as the NHL's top defenseman, in a trade with the San Jose Sharks on Aug. 6.

"It's exciting," Graves said from the 2023 BioSteel NHL Camp in Halifax, Nova Scotia on Wednesday. "You're adding the reigning Norris Trophy champion. He had an historic season last year and he was unbelievable on a San Jose team that struggled. He was virtually like all of their offense. So, adding a piece like that is super exciting."

When Graves signed with Pittsburgh, he was intrigued by joining a team motivated to rebound after failing to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season for the first time since 2005-06. Now, the prospect of potentially playing alongside Karlsson has added to his enthusiasm.

Karlsson won the Norris Trophy last season after leading the League's defensemen in goals (25), assists (76) and points (101). The 33-year-old was the sixth different defenseman in NHL history, and first since Brian Leetch in 1991-92, to reach 100 points in a season.

"Especially for a guy like me that's a left-handed shot and a defense-first kind of D-man, you never know who you're going to play with, but even if it's not your partner, things get shuffled, and you get shifts with guys," Graves said. "I think it's cool to have a guy like that around and he's going to make our team much better."

Graves will likely be paired with Karlsson or Kris Letang, the Penguins' all-time leader among defensemen in goals (156), assists (535) and points (691). The 28-year-old figures he'll be playing with a highly skilled offensive defenseman either way.

"Our left side of our back end is very lucky," Graves said. "Whoever you end up with is an elite player, so I personally am indifferent, and why wouldn't I be? It's two elite defensemen and the righties are very strong on that team, so it's a good problem to have."

Graves had 26 points (eight goals, 18 assists) in 78 regular-season games for the New Jersey Devils last season and has 100 points (28 goals, 72 assists) in 302 regular-season games during five NHL seasons with the Colorado Avalanche (2018-2021) and New Jersey (2021-2023). He believes he'll fit well in Pittsburgh's revamped defense.

"I think it's a good mix," Graves said. "You've got two righties who are elite puck movers that can really run a power play and put up numbers and drive offense Then, you've got two guys in me and (Marcus) Pettersson that are defense-first.

"We're trying to facilitate breakouts, have tight gaps, just try to kill the rush, play a simpler game, but something you need on your team to have success. So, I think it's a good balance."

Graves is also excited about teaming with the rest of the Penguins' star-packed lineup, which includes forwards Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Jake Guentzel. Graves already knows Crosby, a fellow Nova Scotia native, through former Avalanche teammate Nathan MacKinnon and from training with him occasionally in the offseason. He's also spending time with the Penguins captain this week at the BioSteel camp.

Crosby, who is 15th in NHL history with 1,502 points (550 goals, 952 assists) during his 18 seasons in the League, is among the host of big-name players at the camp, including MacKinnon, Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar, Edmonton Oilers forwards Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, Toronto Maple Leafs forward John Tavares and Chicago Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard, the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.

But Graves is looking forward to having the chance to watch Crosby, a three-time Stanley Cup winner and two-time winner of the Hart Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player, up close daily in Pittsburgh.

"I'm only imagining just the way he runs a team just from seeing how dialed in he is off the ice and how he takes care of his body, and how seriously he takes his craft," Graves said of Crosby. "What is he, 36, now? And he looks like he's 30 years old. He still moves well. He's still putting up crazy numbers and he's still an elite forward in the League, so just learning from the way he takes care of his body, he's so serious about it, and the way he leads by example."

Graves expects Crosby to lead the charge to get the Penguins back in the playoffs to compete for the Stanley Cup again.

"I don't know the other guys yet, but I know what Sid is like and he's one of the most competitive people I've ever met," Graves said. "So, I know that he wants to win again … and he's still playing at an elite level. We've put together a roster that I believe can win, so I'm looking forward to getting started and seeing what we can do."