Devils Acquire Defenseman Ryan Graves In Trade With Avalanche

NEWARK, NJ —The New Jersey Devils on Thursday acquired defenseman Ryan Graves from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for forward Mikhail Maltsev and the second-round pick (No. 61 overall) in next week's NHL Draft, the Devils announced.

Graves, 26, had two goals and 13 assists in 54 games for the Avalanche last season, and he added one goal and five assists in 10 games during the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The 6-foot-5, 220-pound blueliner led Colorado in short-handed time on ice per game (3:18), penalty minutes (55) and blocked shots (91). He was second on the team in hits (77).

In fact, Graves' short-handed time on ice per game ranked third in the NHL and he ranks 11th in that category over the past two seasons.

During the 2019-20 season, Graves led the NHL in plus/minus at +40, and he ranks No. 1 in the league in that category over the past two seasons (+55) and No. 6 in the NHL over the past three years (+59).

The Nova Scotia-native also ranked 14th in the league in penalty minutes in 2020-21.

"Ryan brings physicality, size, an ability to defend in tough situations and a fearless compete level that makes him tough to play against," said Tom Fitzgerald, New Jersey's executive vice president/general manager. "His assertive style of play and ability to play with young defensemen are characteristics that fit into what we are building with our group."

In an interview broadcast on the Devils' social media, Graves said he excited about joining the team, which went 19-30-7 (45 points) and finished seventh in the eight-team East Division this past season, missing the playoffs for a third straight season. Graves said his game complements the defensemen already on the Devils roster, a group that currently includes: Ty Smith, Damon Severson, P.K. Subban and Will Butcher.

"I think that I fit the age -group, and fit with what they're trying to build," Graves said. "They have a couple of D men who are offensive and can really move the puck, and I can be an asset for a couple of those guys, to help them kill penalties and kind of be a shutdown guy against top lines."

Graves added: "I'm excited to join and fill in where I can, fill a role they feel they need. It's something new in my life, it's always exciting. You take it with an open mind and open arms and you go in full steam ahead."

Writing on PucksandPitchforks.com, Devils reporter Charlie Borges Jr. said he believed the Devils got the type of player they desperately needed.

"The Devils needed to add toughness to their lineup, but the right kind of toughness," Borges wrote. "Graves is not the type of player that will throw a cheap shot. However he is the type of player that will jump into a scrum and back up his teammates."

Borges called Graves a "smart, gritty player," who will give the Devils much needed help on the penalty kill.

According to the Devils, Graves has two years left on his contract, which has an average-annual value of $3,166,667.