Ryan Graves will return to the Colorado Avalanche for 2020-21 and beyond. He signs a new deal on the heels of a breakout season. The new contract has a $3.16 million cap hit.
Ryan Graves' AAV is $3.16 million, a source has told The Athletic. #Avs
— Ryan S. Clark (@ryan_s_clark) October 12, 2020
Avalanche Re-Sign Ryan Graves
Graves was a revelation in 2019-20. He began the year projected as a bottom-pairing or seventh defender. However, he crushed that original projection and finished tied for third among the team’s defenders in scoring with nine goals and 26 points. The 6’5″, 220-pound defender not only outperformed his offensive outlook but contributed 112 hits and 150 blocks. He led the team in blocked shots and finished second to only Nikita Zadorov in hits. Graves excelled so much that he played much of the year as the defensive partner for star Cale Makar at even-strength.
The New York Rangers originally took Graves in the fourth round of the 2013 Draft but traded him in 2018. That was the trade that sent Chris Bigras back to New York after he failed to make an impact in Denver. Graves is poised to be a huge part of Colorado’s success moving forward after 2019-20. He has only 95 games under his belt but has 12 goals and 31 points. One thing that stood out in the last season was his willingness to just throw the puck at the net and see what happens. Luck may have played a big role last year but he looks very comfortable in the Avalanche system.
What This Means for the Future
Colorado looks set on its blueline for next year unless they want to make a big signing in free agency. The team still has a large amount of cap space left if that is the direction they want to take. They will likely use Graves as Makar’s shield with heavy deployment on the penalty kill considering his solid play when at a disadvantage.
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