Penguins defenseman Ryan Graves diagnosed with concussion
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Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Ryan Graves will be sidelined indefinitely after being diagnosed with a concussion.
His status was revealed by coach Mike Sullivan following a practice session Friday in Cranberry.
The left-handed Graves was injured during a 3-2 home win against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday. He did not record a shift beyond the 18:56 mark of the first period.
The remaining five defensemen in the Penguins lineup — left-handers Marcus Pettersson and P.O Joseph as well as right-handers Erik Karlsson, Kris Letang and rookie Jack St. Ivany — were forced into a rotation of sorts for the bulk of the contest.
In 70 games this season, Graves has scored 14 points (three goals, 11 assists) while averaging 18:23 of ice time per contest, including 1:59 on the penalty kill.
While Graves has largely struggled to meet the immense expectations that come with the six-year, $27 million contract he signed in July, his absence certainly doesn’t help a squad that is clinging to faint hopes of qualifying for the playoffs in the final weeks of the regular season.
“He’s a huge part of our team,” Pettersson said. “You see, last night, we had to rotate five (defensemen) for a long period of time. We’ve been doing that all year when guys get injured and stuff like that. I don’t think it’s anything new. Big roles for some guys. Good opportunities.”
Presumably, left-handed rookie defenseman John Ludvig is the leading candidate for the opportunity to replace Graves in the lineup. A healthy scratch for the past two games, Ludvig has appeared in 32 games this season and has scored five points (three goals, two assists) while clocking an average of 11:46 of ice time per contest.
“You never want to see another teammate get injured. That (stinks),” Ludvig said. “But yeah, if the opportunity is there, then I’m just going to help the team win if I get in there.”
Claimed off waivers from the Florida Panthers on Oct. 9, Ludvig made his NHL debut with the Penguins a few weeks later on Oct. 24 and has developed at a mostly satisfactory rate in the view of management.
“He’s really improved,” Sullivan said. “He’s processing the game quicker with every game that he gets under his belt. I think that’s an important hurdle for young players to have to overcome. For me, that’s one of the biggest challenges, especially as a defenseman, because of the amount of reads that you have to make just in how quickly the game is played at the NHL level. Windows of opportunity open and close quickly, and your ability to process the rink and process the game in a timely fashion is important to a young player’s success.
“(Ludvig) has taken big strides there. He brings a physical dimension to our group. He’s hard in the battle areas. He’s hard in the net front. He’s helped us on the penalty kill. I think he’s made a lot of progress in a lot of those different areas.”
After spending the previous three seasons at the American Hockey League level, Ludvig is grateful to be in the NHL.
“It’s been a learning experience for sure,” Ludvig said. “There’s been ups and downs, a couple of unfortunate injuries. But I’ve been having the time of my life. It’s a dream of mine to play in the NHL. I’m just trying to stick around here and do my part on the team to help the team win. It’s been a learning experience, and that’s usually how the first year is. But I’m happy with it.”
Presumably, Ludvig would be teamed with St. Ivany on the third pairing in Graves’ absence. Ludvig would be the senior member of that potential tandem considering St. Ivany is all of four games into his NHL career after making his debut on March 22.
St. Ivany has yet to record a point while averaging 13:36 of ice time per game.
“I’m just kind of taking it day by day,” St. Ivany said. “It’s kind of surreal to be in a locker room with all these players. Just to share the ice with them is a privilege. I just feel like, every day, I’m just kind of taking it as I’ve got to earn my spot here. Definitely not taking anything for granted.”
The prospect of putting two rookies together on a defensive pairing comes with some risk based on their lack of experience. But it’s hardly an insurmountable obstacle.
“(Ludvig and St. Ivany), I think they’ve played pretty well for us,” Sullivan said. “Jack has played real well in the time that he’s been here. His mobility is one of his strengths. He defends really well. He has a good stick. And (Ludvig) has made big strides. Just his ability to process the game in a more timely fashion I think is an important aspect of his overall growth and development.
“There, without a doubt, will be a feeling-out process. But I think (associate coach Todd Reirden, who oversees the defensemen), he has good insight, into how guys are playing and how we can deploy these guys in a way we can set them up for success.”
Notes: The Penguins recalled defenseman Ryan Shea from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League and assigned rookie forward Jonathan Gruden to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.