Ryan Graves charged right into unfamiliar territory, a theme in recent months.
The Penguins were executing set faceoff plays late in Monday’s practice at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex when Sidney Crosby cleanly pulled the puck back to the point. Normally, if one of the two defensemen were to dart deep inside the zone, it would be Kris Letang. But this time, Graves got the green light.
The opposing line didn’t see it coming, but Graves seemed as surprised as anyone that he was allowed to walk right in and beat Magnus Hellberg for a goal.
Letang and the three forwards roared in applause after he finished off that sneaky passing play. Meanwhile, the improbable goal-scorer smiled sheepishly.
Graves later acknowledged Letang and Erik Karlsson probably don’t need to worry about him overtaking them to be the team’s top offensive defenseman.
“I’m not going to put up 30 points every year,” he said. “I could have 10 points and still have a good year. It’s the way you defend. It’s being hard to play against and shutting down plays and being good on breakouts, things like that.”
The Penguins prioritized Graves in free agency this July because he is the type of player who theoretically pairs well with an aggressive point producer like Letang. He eyed Pittsburgh because it offered stability and a chance to win.
The $27 million he will earn over the next six seasons surely had appeal, too.
Both parties expected it to take a little time for Graves to get acclimated, something that indeed turned out to be the case in the first month of the season. But in recent games, the 6-5, 220-pound defender has started to find his footing.
In their last six games, the Penguins have an expected goals percentage of 61.7% with Graves on the ice at 5-on-5, per Natural Stat Trick. That is a tremendous mark, as is his plus-4 rating over that span. He had his first multi-point game Saturday at PPG Paints Arena as the Penguins beat the Buffalo Sabres.
“I mean,” he shrugged, “one was a second assist, and one was a missed shot.”
The way Graves sees it, if he is doing his job well, it might not be that obvious to everyone watching. But it will be reflected in how the rest of the Penguins perform, particularly whichever perennial All-Star he is paired with that night.
So if you are wondering how the transition to his new team is going, look up the numbers for Letang and Pittsburgh’s productive top-six forwards instead.
“[My game] flies under the radar a lot of times,” he said. “I’m definitely not always the prettiest player. But I think the way that I play the game helps the team win.”
Graves thrived with Colorado and then New Jersey, posting a plus-80 rating over the last four seasons that ranked among the top 15 players in the NHL. But he said Pittsburgh plays a more structured system than his previous teams.
He was quick to say that one way of playing wasn’t better than the other. He noted that teams have different strengths, and smart coaches will play to them.
“Jersey plays a really different style of hockey,” Graves said. “The [defensive zone coverage] is completely different, just your overall themes and where you’re trying to force guys. Just your general system is like a polar opposite.”
With the puck, the Devils prefer to play more of a puck-possession game, whereas the Penguins shoot for stretch passes to get up the ice fast in transition.
In his first few games, Graves looked tentative when he was tasked with starting a breakout. Should he skate it? Pass to Letang? Where’s that Crosby guy? That led to a few bad giveaways, something we haven’t seen from him lately.
“It definitely takes a couple weeks or a couple games before you have your second nature with the system,” Graves, 28, said. “There’s definitely more improvement to make. But it’s coming for me, and it feels more natural each game.”
He added that with his particular skill set and the way he sees the game, he thinks he will “actually fit into this system better than I would that other style.”
Graves isn’t completely comfortable, but his coach thinks he is getting closer.
“He’s getting better and better. I think he’s getting more familiar with how we’re trying to play,” Mike Sullivan said. “He has great size. He’s got a long reach. He’s hard to play against. He just takes up an awful lot of space out there.”
That has made him a key cog on Pittsburgh’s penalty kill, which ranked 11th in the NHL entering Monday. And it has helped him cover for Letang at times.
Graves understands and embraces his role. He knows Letang, closing in on career point No. 700, is a special talent. He said their partnership is “more about trying to learn what he needs from me” so he can let Letang go do his thing.
That sounds a lot like Brian Dumoulin, Letang’s longtime partner who signed with Seattle in July, doesn’t it? Letang referenced him while discussing Graves.
“It’s a work in progress,” Letang said. “Obviously, [13] games doesn’t equal [several] years with the same guy, you know? So we’re learning every day on the ice. We talk a lot on the bench. Video, we sit down and watch clips [to know] what to expect from each other. … But it’s been pretty good. He’s a warrior.”
Early hiccups aside, Graves is happy with his decision to sign with the Penguins, who are winners of four straight. He likes the energy inside the dressing room. And Graves, who was born and raised in a tiny fishing town in Nova Scotia, prefers the smaller-city vibes of Pittsburgh over a place like New York.
“The fact that I committed to six years in Pittsburgh, that’s exciting for me,” Graves said. “I wanted that. It’s been good. We’ll look to put down roots here, and we’ll look to settle into the house. … I think Pittsburgh’s a good city. It’s good people. Good neighborhoods. Good restaurants. It’s been a good fit for me.”
Around the boards
Jeff Carter sat out Monday’s practice with an upper-body injury. Sullivan suggested his absence was mostly precautionary. … John Ludvig returned to practice, albeit in a non-contact fashion. … Reilly Smith was excused from practice to visit the White House with the Vegas Golden Knights, the reigning Stanley Cup champs.
