30-Year-Old Defenceman to Be Placed on Waivers

The Penguins announced Saturday that they will be placing Graves on waivers. If Graves clears waivers, he will join the Penguins’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

Big Contract/Poor Results

Graves signed a six-year contract with the Penguins prior to the 2023-24 season. Neither of his first seasons in Pittsburgh were good, with last season being his worst of his career. Graves struggled, finishing with only one goal and four points in 61.

An indication of Graves’s poor performance can be found in his ice time. Despite an 82-game average of over 18 minutes per game, Graves averaged less than 15 minutes per game last season. The Pens simply have lost their trust in Graves.

Will Someone Claim Graves?

Graves has been a serviceable defenceman in his career. However, a team that claims Graves will be taking on the remaining four years of his contract, which carries a cap hit of $3.35 million. A team is unlikely to take on that cap hit for four seasons for someone who is struggling as much as Graves had.

As such, to earn his way back into the NHL, Graves is going to have a perform in the AHL. It is not an ideal situation for Graves, but it may be the only option at his disposal. It is possible the Penguins may look to terminate Graves’s contract, but that can only happen if Graves agrees to it. If he did agree, he would forfeit the remainder of his salary and become a free agent.

Penguins Continue Rebuild

The Penguins have been looking for ways to shed cap from the roster and create opportunities for young players. Another veteran defenceman, Erik Karlsson, has been in multiple trade rumours going back to last season’s trade deadline. Furthermore, the team is expected to part with legend Evgeni Malkin after this season.

For the Penguins, putting Graves on waivers is about letting other players get their opportunities to earn a spot. Owen Pickering and Harrison Brunicke are likely to see expanded roles now that Graves is out of the lineup for now.