Graves signed a six-year, $27 million contract with Pittsburgh on July 1.
By the end of the 2022-23 season, New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald knew his team was on the fast track to becoming a Stanley Cup contender. His young core got a taste of postseason hockey and now understands how difficult it is to win a round in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
In this summer series, I will chronologically break down every move the organization made this offseason and discuss how it positively or negatively impacts the team for the 2023-24 season.
One of the biggest questions surrounding the Devils was if Fitzgerald would keep defensemen Damon Severson and Ryan Graves. When the former was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets, some expected the latter to remain in New Jersey. It made sense, considering the 6-foot-5 blueliner was on Fitzgerald's radar well before they acquired him.
"Ryan Graves has been a player we've been discussing internally for quite some time, probably close to two years, a year and a half," said Fitzgerald in July 2021.
Of course, things change, and on June 28, New Jersey's general manager announced that his remaining unrestricted free agents, including Graves, would test free agency.
The Yarmouth native appeared in 153 games for New Jersey. His achievements during that time include reaching a new career-high 28 points in a single season and the 100 career NHL points milestone.
On July 1, as a free agent, the defenseman signed a six-year, $27 million deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins. The contract carries an average annual value of $4.5 million.
During his introductory media availability, Graves was asked by a Pittsburgh reporter if he spoke to New Jersey about possibly returning and what the free agent process was like. In his response, he talked about his day leading up to signing but did not say if there were any conversations with NJ or when he knew he would hit free agency.
So why does it make sense that New Jersey let Graves hit the free-agent market? It all comes down to dollars and cents.
The Devils have an impressive defensive prospect pool, including Luke Hughes, Simon Nemec, and Seamus Casey. Over the next several seasons, they will continue to develop and transition their games to the NHL. Knowing the pipeline's talent, it would not financially make sense for Fitzgerald to commit multiple seasons to Graves, who turned 28 in May.
Every offseason, general managers will discuss looking at more cost-friendly internal organizational options before committing to a free agent.
The Devils have the defensive depth and, this summer, shifted their attention to locking up their core players, and Graves was never part of that equation.
Financially, it was a necessary move. New Jersey's defense might take a small step back to start the season while the remaining players adjust to their new partners. However, overall, they are projected to be one of the better defensive units in the league, led by Dougie Hamilton and Jonas Siegenthaler.
Graves will face his former team for the first time on Nov. 16, 2023, when the Devils travel to Pittsburgh. He returns to Prudential Center on March 19, 2024.
