Пингвины отказались от Райана Грейвса для корректировки состава

In a strategic roster move following the acquisition of Yegor Chinakhov, the Pittsburgh Penguins have opted to waive defenseman Ryan Graves, according to sources from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. This decision comes as the team seeks to free up a spot on their active roster, with Graves being designated as a non-roster player effective Tuesday, aligning with the next waiver period. This isn't uncharted waters for Graves, as the 30-year-old has been here before. During the preseason, he experienced the waiver wire as part of the Penguins' final training camp batch of cuts. Despite initially clearing waivers to kick off the season in the AHL with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Graves soon found himself back in Pittsburgh, demonstrating enough promise in the minors with a tally of one goal and six assists over ten games. Once recalled in early November, Graves has since participated in 17 games for the main squad but primarily in a more restricted capacity, seeing barely 15 minutes on the ice per night. With offensive contributions limited to a single goal and a defensive record featuring 31 blocked shots, Graves' performance has been under scrutiny, especially given his substantial $4.5 million per year agreement, which extends through the 2028-29 season. The financial burden of Graves' contract almost guarantees he will clear waivers once more, suggesting a return to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. He will join a high-priced AHL defensive line that includes Mathew Dumba. His path back to the NHL could be contingent upon potential trades involving the Penguins' pending unrestricted free agent defensemen, which include names like Connor Clifton, Brett Kulak, and Ryan Shea. Such maneuvers could realign the team's defense roster, providing Graves with another opportunity to prove his worth in Pittsburgh.