One of the more expensive players on the Pittsburgh Penguins roster could be on his way to the AHL.
Defenceman Ryan Graves is set to be placed on waivers and will be assigned to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins should he clear, the team announced Saturday.
Graves is entering Year 3 of a six-year, $27 million contract signed ahead of the 2023-24 season.
He carries a $4.5 million cap hit for this season and is slated to hit unrestricted free agency after the 2028-29 season unless he’s bought out before then.
The 30-year-old struggled last season, finishing with only one goal and four points — both career lows — in 61 games. He carried a minus-15 and averaged only 14:59 of ice time per game, his lowest mark since his rookie season.
Graves, a native of Yarmouth, N.S., joined the Penguins in free agency ahead of the 2023-24 season. Over his seven-year career, split between the Colorado Avalanche, New Jersey Devils and the Penguins, he has 32 goals and 86 assists in 433 games.
He was originally selected by the New York Rangers with the 110th pick of the 2013 NHL Draft.
Joining Graves on waivers from the Pegnuins are forwards Rafael Harvey-Pinard, Boko Imama and Sam Poulin, as well as defenceman Alexander Alexeyev.
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