Avalanche trade Graves to Devils for Maltsev, 2nd-round pick

The Colorado Avalanche have dealt defenseman Ryan Graves to the New Jersey Devils for forward Mikhail Maltsev and the 61st overall pick in the upcoming NHL Draft.

Graves was a top-four blue-liner for the Avalanche, and while he didn't boast gaudy offensive numbers, his underlying figures proved he was a steady presence on the back end.

The 26-year-old produced a 56.37 expected goals percentage and a 57.57 scoring chances for percentage at five-on-five this campaign, according to Natural Stat Trick.

Graves collected two goals and 13 assists over 54 regular-season games before adding one marker and five helpers in 10 playoff contests in 2021. He played three seasons for the Avalanche, who acquired him via trade with the New York Rangers in February 2018.

The 6-foot-5, 220-pound rearguard is under contract through 2022-23 at a cap hit of about $3.17 million, according to CapFriendly.

Colorado was in danger of losing Graves to the Seattle Kraken in the upcoming expansion draft.

Maltsev notched six goals and three assists across 33 games for the Devils in 2021. It was the 23-year-old's rookie season in the NHL after he suited up for parts of three KHL campaigns with SKA Saint Petersburg. New Jersey selected him 102nd overall in 2016.

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