The Penguins will be without Graves on Friday as he is attending to the birth of his child. Graves has 14 points (3G / 11A) and 139 blocks in 68 games this season. Jack St. Ivany is expected to make his NHL debut in Graves' absence.
Graves had eight goals, 18 assists, 141 SOG, 28 PIMs and a +34 plus/minus through 78 games played with New Jersey in 2022-23 and has signed a six-year, $27 million contract ($4,500,000 AAV) with Pittsburgh. The 28-year-old led the NHL in plus/minus in 2019-20 with Colorado (+40) and has racked up 28 goals and 100 points across 302 NHL games in his career thus far.
Graves missed the Devils' previous game due to an upper-body injury but was on the ice for morning skate Tuesday and will not play after being a game-time decision ahead of their Game 4 matchup vs. Carolina. The 27-year-old has an assist, seven SOG, four PIMs and a -1 plus/minus through nine games with New Jersey in the playoffs prior to his injury.
Graves missed the Devils' previous game due to an upper-body injury but was on the ice for morning skate Tuesday and is a game-time decision ahead of their Game 4 matchup vs. Carolina. The 27-year-old has an assist, seven SOG, four PIMs and a -1 plus/minus through nine games with New Jersey in the playoffs prior to his injury.
Graves left the Devils' previous game after only 1:03 TOI due to an undisclosed injury and is now considered week-to-week. The 27-year-old had three goals, six assists, 49 SOG and a +18 plus/minus through 33 games prior to the injury.
Graves took a skate to the face against the Avalanche on Thursday and will not be available for Saturday's game in Seattle. Look for Colton White to draw into the lineup to replace Graves.
Graves being dealt is a product of the Seattle Expansion Draft and New Jersey lands a solid top-4 defenseman that should fit in well with their emerging young blueline. Graves, who has two years left at $3.17M AAV, had two goals and 13 assists (15 points) in 54 games with the Avalanche in 2021.
Graves missed Saturday's game vs. the Sharks but will return tonight in San Jose. Graves will most likely replace Kyle Burroughs in the lineup.
The Avalanche did not provide an update on Graves' condition postgame, so it's unclear whether or not he will be available for Saturday's rematch. If not, look for Jacob MacDonald to draw back into the lineup and for Patrik Nemeth to move up and skate with Cale Makar.
Graves was a surprising scratch in Anaheim on Sunday but will replace Greg Pateryn in the lineup on Tuesday. Graves enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2020 but hasn't been the same player without playing next to Cale Makar to start 2021.
