Penguins Agree to Terms with Ryan Graves on a Six-Year Contract

The Pittsburgh Penguins have agreed to terms with defenseman Ryan Graves on a six-year contract, it was announced today by President of Hockey Operations Kyle Dubas.

The contract runs through the 2028-29 season and carries an average annual value of $4.5 million.

Graves, 28, has played parts of five seasons in the NHL from 2018-23, including the last two seasons with the New Jersey Devils. In 2022-23, the defenseman recorded eight goals, 18 assists, 26 points and a plus-34 in 78 games. His eight goals ranked second among team defensemen behind only Dougie Hamilton, while his plus-34 was the second highest among all Devils. Through his two seasons with New Jersey, Graves led all Devils with 287 hits and 370:30 minutes of shorthanded time on ice, and ranked fourth with 173 hits.

The 6-foot-5, 220-pound blueliner has played in 302 career NHL games split between the Devils and Colorado Avalanche (2019-21), recording 28 goals, 72 assists, 100 points and plus-84. Graves has also skated in 35 career playoff games, registering two goals, eight assists and 10 points.

The 2016 AHL All Star also suited up for 260 games in the American Hockey League with the Hartford Wolf Pack, San Antonio Rampage and Colorado Eagles, tallying 24 goals, 53 assists and 77 points.

Prior to turning professional, Graves played four seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with the Prince Edward Island Rocket (2011-13), Charlottetown Islanders (2013-14), Val-d'Or Foreurs (2014) and Quebec Remparts (2014-15). He tallied 25 goals, 61 assists and 86 points in 245 career junior games, and won the QMJHL Championship in 2014 with Val-d'Or.

Internationally, the Yarmouth, Nova Scotia native represented Team Canada at the 2022 World Championship. He tallied two goals, five assists and seven points through 10 games en route to the silver medal.

Graves was originally drafted in the fourth round (110th overall) of the 2013 NHL Draft by the New York Rangers.