As the Pittsburgh Penguins brace themselves for a new NHL season, a stunning development has sent shockwaves through the fanbase and beyond. Just days before the puck drops on the 2025/26 campaign, a high-profile move has emerged from the front office—one that few saw coming, yet many suspected might be inevitable.

The team, fresh off a disappointing year and facing mounting pressure to turn things around, has made a bold decision regarding a player once considered a cornerstone of their defensive core.

With rumors swirling and speculation at an all-time high, the Penguins appear to be shifting gears in a way that could reshape the entire roster. The fate of a veteran defenseman, who arrived with great expectations and a hefty price tag, now hangs in the balance. Is this the first domino to fall in a long-anticipated rebuild? Or merely a strategic adjustment as younger talent waits in the wings?

Fans and analysts alike are left questioning what this means for the future of the franchise and the legacy of a player whose tenure in Pittsburgh has been anything but ordinary. What led to this dramatic turn of events—and what happens next? The answers may surprise you.

Ryan Graves of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Photo credit: The Hockey News

Ryan Graves was a disaster in Pittsburgh this past season, and now. he’s been placed on waivers just days before the 2025/26 regular season begins.

The 2024/25 campaign wasn’t a good one for the Pittsburgh Penguins, and with very little hope for the upcoming season, this is a team that’s clearly begun their descent towards a rebuild.

This off-season, they were expected to move many veterans to open up spots for their prospects, but to this point in time, they haven’t done that, with the new campaign expected to be a year for the youth.

Penguins Trying to Move On From Expensive Mistake in Ryan Graves

However, they began the process of moving some veterans on Saturday, with the social media team officially announcing that veteran blue liner Ryan Graves will be placed on waivers later today for the purpose of re-assignment to the AHL.

This comes two years after he signed a six-year, $27 million deal with the Penguins in free agency, with the 30-year old posting just one goal and four points a season ago in 61 games as the team struggled mightily.

At this point in time, it appears to have been a major mistake for the Penguins to pick up the former Avalanche blue liner, and given the fact that he’s owed $4.5 million a season between now and the end of the 2028/29 season, it’s highly unlikely that he’ll be claimed.

Ultimately though, this was the right move for Pittsburgh, as Graves has struggled mightily since arriving, and with young names on the blue line like Owen Pickering and Harrison Brunicke fighting for spots, this gives them another opportunity to make a push for the opening night roster.