The Penguins find themselves in a challenging situation with Ryan Graves, as his first year with the team has been largely forgettable, reaching a breaking point in a recent loss to the Washington Capitals. Despite being one of the team’s pricier offseason acquisitions expected to play a significant defensive role, Graves has struggled to live up to those expectations.
The team faces limited options concerning Graves. Due to his substantial contract, outright benching him is not a viable solution, considering the financial implications of having a high salary cap player consistently on the sidelines. While reducing his role or benching him for a game or two might be considered, the lack of better internal options for logging minutes complicates the decision.
Despite the return of Pierre-Olivier Joseph and Chad Ruhwedel, the Penguins lack significant NHL-caliber depth on defense, both in the NHL and AHL. The proposed defensive pairings indicate a potential shift for Joseph, but even if Graves were benched, alternatives like Ryan Shea or John Ludvig are not ideal for a team with playoff aspirations.
The Graves signing, orchestrated by new general manager Kyle Dubas, has faced criticism due to the contract and term. The hope was that Graves, having previously played alongside top-tier players, could bring a positive impact similar to a player like Brian Dumoulin. However, Graves has not lived up to this expectation and has, in fact, been a common factor in decreasing the production of key players like Kris Letang and Erik Karlsson.
While some argue that defenders may need an adjustment period on a new team, the optimism for a rebound similar to past players like Sergei Gonchar or Paul Martin may be unrealistic in Graves’ case. Unlike those examples, Graves has not displayed underlying performance or optimism for improvement, as his play has been subpar according to both the eye test and statistical analysis.
The Penguins are urged to find a way to make the situation work, hoping Graves can return to his form in Colorado and New Jersey. If not addressed, this issue could pose a significant problem for the team, with no easy solution. While no contract is entirely untradeable, moving Graves would be challenging, and there are no preferable alternatives to keeping him out of the lineup.
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