News - The Penguins waive Ryan Graves to make room for Chinakhov.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have initiated a roster shift by placing defenseman Ryan Graves on waivers, paving the path for newly acquired forward Yegor Chinakhov. This strategic move is crucial as the team adjusts to incorporate Chinakhov into their active lineup. Graves, 30, finds himself on waivers for the second time this season after initially going unclaimed during the final roster cuts in training camp. He returned to start the season with the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, where he was productive with a goal and six assists in 10 games. In his subsequent recall to Pittsburgh, Graves played 17 NHL games, often in a reduced ice-time capacity. Despite his efforts, registering just a single goal and accumulating 31 blocked shots, his performance fell short of expectations set by his $4.5 million annual contract running through the 2028-29 season. The financial commitment attached to Graves makes it unlikely he will be claimed by another team at this juncture. For Graves, the anticipated return to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton alongside other high-margin players like Mathew Dumba might just be a temporary exile. The Penguins could reconsider his position contingent upon possible trades involving their pending unrestricted free-agent defensemen, such as Connor Clifton, Brett Kulak, and Ryan Shea. Such roster changes could potentially clear a pathway for Graves’ return to the NHL squad.