The Penguins are getting a much-needed boost on the blue line, as defenseman Ryan Graves has been activated off injured reserve. Graves had been sidelined since January 22 with an upper-body injury, missing four games in the process. His return couldn’t come at a more crucial time for Pittsburgh’s defensive corps, which is suddenly dealing with a major absence.
With Kris Letang now out week-to-week due to injury, the Penguins are down their most experienced and dependable blueliner. That opens the door for Graves to step in and reassert himself in a lineup that’s been searching for consistency on the back end. For head coach Dan Muse, Graves’ return gives him another option as he tries to stabilize a defense that’s been hit with some adversity.
Now, let’s be honest - the 2025-26 season hasn’t exactly gone according to plan for Graves. Despite being a veteran with nearly 500 NHL games under his belt and carrying a $4.5 million cap hit, his spot on the NHL roster has been anything but secure.
He’s bounced between Pittsburgh and the AHL, logging 13 games in the minors compared to just 19 in the big league. That’s not what the Penguins envisioned when they brought him in.
But here’s the thing: Graves still has the tools. At 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds, he brings size and physicality that you just can’t teach.
And when he’s on his game, he can be a reliable presence in his own zone - something the Penguins could really use right now. We’ve seen other defensemen on this roster, like Connor Clifton, go through rough patches only to bounce back strong.
Graves has the opportunity to do the same, especially with Letang out of the picture for the time being.
The immediate competition for Graves? That would be Ilya Solovyov, the 25-year-old Belarusian blueliner the Penguins picked up off waivers in late January.
Solovyov has suited up for two games in Pittsburgh so far, averaging just over 15 minutes of ice time per night. That’s right in the same ballpark as Graves, who has averaged 15:28 per game this season.
In other words, this is a direct battle for ice time - and likely a roster spot.
The opportunity is there. If Graves can string together a few solid, dependable performances, he could solidify his place in the lineup and start to justify that hefty cap number.
The Penguins don’t need him to be a game-changer - they just need him to be steady, physical, and dependable. With Letang out and the defense in flux, the timing couldn’t be better for Graves to remind everyone what he’s capable of.