Ryan Graves Bio
Ryan Graves is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on May 21, 1995, in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, the 6 ft 5 in (196 cm) blueliner has built his career on size, mobility, and defensive responsibility. He was selected by the New York Rangers in the fourth round, 110th overall, of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, and has since played for the Colorado Avalanche and the New Jersey Devils. Standing 226 lb (103 kg), Graves shoots left and continues to be recognized for his penalty-killing work and shot-blocking reliability.
Early Life and Background
Ryan Graves was born on May 21, 1995, in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, to Ron Graves and Monica Brennan. He grew up as a childhood friend of fellow Nova Scotian Nathan MacKinnon, and the two often faced each other in local youth hockey games while also playing together on regional teams. Even at a young age, Graves stood out for his tall frame, though coaches noted that his coordination was still catching up to his size.
In his early years, Graves developed a reputation in the Nova Scotia youth hockey circuit for clumsiness, largely due to his comparatively tall frame. Despite this, his strength and shot-blocking ability earned praise from coaches in the Yarmouth County Minor Hockey Association. During the 2010–11 minor ice hockey season, Graves played for the South Shore Canadian Tire Mustangs, where he scored five goals and added seven assists. He was named the team’s top rookie and received the Scott Dee Memorial Award as the best rookie defenceman in the Nova Scotia Major Midget Hockey League. That same year, he also made a single appearance with the Yarmouth Mariners of the Maritime Junior Hockey League.
Path to Professional Hockey
The Prince Edward Island Rocket of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) selected Graves in the first round, ninth overall, of the 2011 QMJHL Entry Draft. As a rookie during the 2011–12 season, he recorded two goals and seven assists for nine points, along with 34 penalty minutes, while the Rocket finished last in the league. Graves later said that he had difficulty adjusting from minor to junior ice hockey as a rookie, but by the 2012–13 season he had grown more confident.
After boosting his offensive production in 2012–13, Graves drew the attention of NHL scouts and was 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, and Graves registered 12 points in 39 games before being traded to the Val-d’Or Foreurs for their playoff push, where he contributed eight points in 24 games to help the Foreurs capture the President’s Cup. On March 17, 2014, his progress was rewarded when he signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Rangers, setting the stage for his professional career.
Ryan Graves Career
Early Career (2015–2018)
In the 2015–16 season, Graves was assigned to the New York Rangers’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, where he made his professional debut on opening night, October 10, 2015, against the St. John’s IceCaps. Thirteen days later, on October 23, he scored his first professional goal and added an assist in a 4–3 win over the Syracuse Crunch. Known as a hulking defenceman with strong mobility, Graves became a fixture on Hartford’s blueline and was selected to represent the club at the 2016 AHL All-Star Game, where he won the hardest shot competition with a 103.4 mph slapshot.
Graves was traded by the New York Rangers to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Chris Bigras at the 2018 trade deadline on February 26, 2018, and was immediately assigned to Colorado’s AHL affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage. He recorded one goal and six points in 21 games to close out the season before the Avalanche re-signed him to a one-year contract on July 17, 2018, launching the next chapter of his career.
Colorado Avalanche Era (2018–2021)
He made his NHL debut with Colorado during the 2018–19 season and scored his first NHL goal on January 4, 2019, against the team that had drafted him, the New York Rangers. During the 2019–20 season, Graves emerged as a regular in Colorado’s lineup, primarily playing alongside eventual Calder Memorial Trophy winner Cale Makar. In a top-pairing role, he set career highs in goals and points and led the NHL with a league-best +40 plus-minus rating. On October 12, 2020, the Avalanche signed him to a three-year, $9.5 million contract extension.
In the pandemic-delayed 2020–21 season, Graves played his 100th NHL game on January 22, 2021, in a 3–2 overtime win against the Anaheim Ducks. Used in a top-four role, he became a key part of Colorado’s penalty kill, finishing third in the league in short-handed time on ice while appearing in 54 of the Avalanche’s 56 regular season games. On July 15, 2021, with the expansion draft approaching, Graves was traded by the Avalanche to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for Mikhail Maltsev and a second-round pick.
New Jersey Devils Era (2021–2023)
In his first season with New Jersey, Graves set a new career high in points with 28, recording six goals and 22 assists across 75 games. In his second season, he appeared in 78 games, scoring eight goals and 18 assists for 26 points. His final assist of the season marked his 100th career NHL point, a significant milestone in his professional development.
Pittsburgh Penguins Era (2023–Present)
After completing his contract with the Devils, Graves left the organization as an unrestricted free agent and remained in the Metropolitan Division by signing a six-year, $27 million contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins on July 1, 2023. In his first season with Pittsburgh, Graves appeared in 70 games, recording three goals and 11 assists for 14 points. On March 29, 2024, he suffered a concussion in a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, and was subsequently placed on long-term injured reserve on April 11, missing the remainder of the regular season. In October 2025, the Penguins placed Graves on waivers, and after going unclaimed, he was assigned to their AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins before being recalled by Pittsburgh in November 2025.
Driving Style and Strengths
Graves has long been valued as a tall, mobile defenceman whose game is built on shot-blocking, defensive zone coverage, and penalty-killing reliability. He earned recognition during the 2016 AHL All-Star Game by winning the hardest shot competition, and he later developed into a steady top-four presence who could anchor a pairing with elite offensive partners while limiting high-danger chances against.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Graves’s career milestones are his first NHL goal against the Rangers on January 4, 2019, his 100th NHL game on January 22, 2021, and his 100th career NHL point during the 2022–23 season. He also led the entire NHL in plus-minus rating at +40 during the 2019–20 campaign, one of the most distinctive single-season achievements of his career.
Ryan Graves Career Wins
Ryan Graves has built a résumé defined more by defensive reliability and steady two-way play than by offensive totals. His most celebrated results include a President’s Cup championship with the Val-d’Or Foreurs in 2014, a Memorial Cup All-Star Team selection with the Quebec Remparts, an AHL All-Star Game appearance with the Hartford Wolf Pack, and a league-leading plus-minus rating during the 2019–20 NHL season with the Colorado Avalanche.
NHL Highlights
Graves’s NHL career has included time with the Colorado Avalanche, the New Jersey Devils, and the Pittsburgh Penguins. His most productive NHL season came in 2021–22 with New Jersey, when he set a career high with 28 points on six goals and 22 assists in 75 games. He added another 26 points the following season before signing a long-term contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2023.
Junior and Minor League Performances
Graves was a QMJHL first-round pick and won a President’s Cup with the Val-d’Or Foreurs, later serving as an assistant captain for the Quebec Remparts on their run to the Memorial Cup. In the AHL, he led Hartford defencemen in scoring during consecutive seasons and represented the club at the AHL All-Star Game.
Ryan Graves Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Graves was raised in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, by his father, Ron Graves, and his mother, Monica Brennan. He grew up alongside childhood friend and fellow Nova Scotian Nathan MacKinnon, with whom he played both on local teams and against in youth hockey games. That early competition helped shape his path toward organized junior and professional hockey.
Personal Life
Public details about Graves’s personal life remain limited, and he has generally kept his focus on his professional career. He continues to play in the NHL for the Pittsburgh Penguins organization under a contract that runs through 2029.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season brought a significant change for Ryan Graves when the Pittsburgh Penguins placed him on waivers in October 2025. After going unclaimed, he was assigned to the Penguins’ AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, marking his first assignment to the minors since 2018. The move signaled a transitional phase in his tenure with Pittsburgh as the team evaluated its defensive depth.
Graves was recalled by Pittsburgh in November 2025, reflecting the organization’s continued reliance on his size, experience, and penalty-killing track record. With his contract running through 2029, the Penguins appear to view him as a steady veteran option on the blueline who can step in when needed. His 2025 journey between the NHL and AHL underscored both the physical demands of his position and the value teams place on dependable defensive defencemen.
