New Jersey Devils acquire defenceman Ryan Graves from Colorado Avalanche

The New Jersey Devils have acquired defenceman Ryan Graves from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for forward Mikhail Matlsev and 2021 second-round pick.

Graves, 26, has appeared in 149 games with the Avalanche over the last three seasons scoring 14 goals and 46 points growing into a second pairing role. This past season at 5×5, the Avalanche controlled 57.31 percent of the shot attempts, 57.58 percent of the goals and 56.37 percent of the expected goals.

He was drafted in the fourth round of the 2013 draft by the New York Rangers, but was traded to the Avalanche in 2018 in exchange for Chris Bigras.

At even-strength this year, Graves contributed offence at an 11 percent rate below league average and defence at a two percent rate above league average, according to hockeyviz.com.

Maltsev, meanwhile, was selected in the fourth round of the 2016 draft and came to North America to play in the 2019-20 season. This past year, he played his first season in the NHL scoring six goals and nine points in 33 games. He contributed offence at a league-average rate and contributed defence at a one percent rate below league average.

Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@oilersnation.com.