Ryan Graves (ice hockey)

Ryan Graves (born May 21, 1995) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently playing for the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League (NHL). Graves was selected by the New York Rangers, 110th overall, in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.

Ryan Graves
Graves with the Colorado Avalanche in 2020
Born (1995-05-21) May 21, 1995
Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
Height 6 ft 5 in (196 cm)
Weight 226 lb (103 kg; 16 st 2 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Left
NHL team Colorado Avalanche
NHL Draft 110th overall, 2013
New York Rangers
Playing career 2015–present

Playing career

Junior

Graves, a native of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, first played at the major midget level with the South Shore Mustangs of the Nova Scotia Major Midget Hockey League (NSMMHL) as well as his local side, the Yarmouth Mariners in the Maritime Junior A Hockey League (MJAHL) in the 2010–11 season. With his growing frame, Graves was initially selected in the first round, 9th overall, in the 2011 QMJHL Entry Draft by the Prince Edward Island Rocket.

Agreeing to terms with the Rocket, Graves made his debut in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League in the following 2011–12 season, registering 2 goals and 9 points in 62 contests. After improving his offensive output in the following 2012–13 season, Graves gained the eye of NHL scouts, and was later selected in the fourth round, 110th overall, by the New York Rangers in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.

The Rocket were rebranded as the Charlottetown Islanders for the 2013–14 season. In collecting 12 points in 39 games, Graves was dealt by the Islanders to the Val-d'Or Foreurs for their post-season push. He helped the Foreurs in the playoffs with 8 points in 24 games to help the club claim the President's Cup. On March 17, 2014, Graves' progression was rewarded as he was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract with the Rangers.[1]

Prior to the 2014–15 season, Graves was again on the move in the QMJHL, traded by the Foreurs to the Quebec Remparts in exchange for Vincent Lanoue and draft picks on August 18, 2014.[2] An assistant captain, Graves broke out offensively in his final junior season, contributing with a career-high 15 goals and 24 assists for 39 points in just 50 games. He was selected to the Canadian Hockey League's Memorial Cup All-Star Team after collecting 5 points in 5 games for host club Quebec.[3]

Professional
Graves at the 2016 AHL All-Star Game

In the 2015–16 season, Graves was assigned to the Rangers AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack. He made his professional debut on opening night against the St. John's IceCaps on October 10, 2015. He collected his first goal and assist in a 4–3 victory over the Syracuse Crunch on October 23, 2015. As a hulking defenceman with good mobility, Graves was a staple on the blueline for the Wolf Pack and represented the club at the 2016 AHL All-Star Game, winning the hardest shot contest with a 103.4 m/ph slapshot.[4] With the Wolf Pack finishing out of playoff contention, Graves finished the season, leading the blueline with 9 goals in his 21 points in 74 games.

In the following 2016–17 season, Graves continued his upward development in leading the blueline in all scoring categories with 8 goals, 22 assists and 30 points. Assigned to the Wolf Pack for the final year of his rookie contract, Graves regressed with just 4 goals and 11 points in 57 games in the 2017–18 season. Graves was dealt by the New York Rangers at the trade deadline to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Chris Bigras on February 26, 2018.[5] He was immediately assigned to the Avalanche's AHL affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage.

Graves scored his first NHL goal on January 4, 2019 against the team that drafted him, the New York Rangers.[6]

On October 12, 2020, Graves signed a three-year, $9.5 million contract with the Avalanche.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2010–11 South Shore Mustangs NSMMHL 32571258 50668
2010–11 Yarmouth Mariners MJAHL 10002 30002
2011–12 P.E.I. Rocket QMJHL 6227934 —————
2012–13 P.E.I. Rocket QMJHL 683131690 60006
2013–14 Charlottetown Islanders QMJHL 39391252 —————
2013–14 Val-d'Or Foreurs QMJHL 26281016 2417824
2014–15 Quebec Remparts QMJHL 5015243949 21561125
2015–16 Hartford Wolf Pack AHL 749122153 —————
2016–17 Hartford Wolf Pack AHL 768223069 —————
2017–18 Hartford Wolf Pack AHL 57471166 —————
2017–18 San Antonio Rampage AHL 211567 —————
2018–19 Colorado Eagles AHL 3227926 —————
2018–19 Colorado Avalanche NHL 263252 —————
2019–20 Colorado Avalanche NHL 699172645 151236
NHL totals 9512193147 151236

International
Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2012 Canada Atlantic U17 7th 5 0 0 0 2
Junior totals 5 0 0 0 2

Awards and honours
Award Year
NSMMHL
Rookie Defenseman Award 2011
CHL
Memorial Cup All-Star Team 2015 [3]
AHL
All-Star Game 2016

References
  1. "Rangers agree to terms with defenseman Ryan Graves". New York Rangers. March 17, 2014. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
  2. "Ryan Graves goes to Quebec". Quebec Remparts. August 18, 2014. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
  3. "Avalanche acquire Ryan Graves from Rangers". Colorado Avalanche. February 26, 2018. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  4. "Pack's Graves wins AHL Skill Competitions hardest shot event". Hartford Wolf Pack. February 1, 2016. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
  5. "Colorado Avalanche trade for Ryan Graves from New York Rangers for Chris Bigras". Denver Post. February 26, 2018. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  6. Sadowski, Rick (January 5, 2019). "Avalanche score six in win against Rangers". NHL.com. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
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