Penguins Insider Rips Into Ryan Graves After String of Dismal Performances
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The Pittsburgh Penguins lost 6-1 to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday night, and one team beat writer is calling out the subpar performance of Ryan Graves.
The Penguins suffered a damaging 6-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday night at Amalie Arena, causing major damage to their postseason hopes - which are hanging by a thread.
The dismal performance of defenseman Ryan Graves was the target of some particularly scathing scrutiny from beat writer Josh Yohe of The Athletic, who essentially labeled him as being completely "unplayable".
I've been complimentary of Ryan Graves at times this season because while he's hardly been good, I have observed signs of improvement in his game. Relatively speaking.
I'm on the verge of taking it all back because the hockey he's played during this road trip has been excruciatingly bad. He was routinely burned in one-on-one situations. Last game, it was Sam Reinhart. On Tuesday, Brayden Point danced around Graves on one rush so easily that it forced onlookers to give a double look.
The Penguins don't really have any bodies to replace Graves, but I'm sorry, he's pretty much becoming unplayable again. Ryan Shea skated before the game but still hasn't been cleared to return to the lineup. When he is, I have to assume he will take Graves' place.
I'm on the verge of taking it all back because the hockey he's played during this road trip has been excruciatingly bad. He was routinely burned in one-on-one situations. Last game, it was Sam Reinhart. On Tuesday, Brayden Point danced around Graves on one rush so easily that it forced onlookers to give a double look.
The Penguins don't really have any bodies to replace Graves, but I'm sorry, he's pretty much becoming unplayable again. Ryan Shea skated before the game but still hasn't been cleared to return to the lineup. When he is, I have to assume he will take Graves' place.
Graves has played in 52 games with the Penguins this year, scoring a single goal with a pair of assists; he's also -14.
The Penguins are slated to miss the Stanley Cup Playoffs once again, which will mark the longest drought of captain Sidney Crosby's career. And the subpar performances of Graves don't appear to be helping things.
It's also not the first time that Graves has been called out publicly; GM Kyle Dubas wasn't exactly flattering in his description of how Graves performed right at this point last year.
| POLL | ||
MARS 26 | 180 ANSWERS Penguins Insider Rips Into Ryan Graves After String of Dismal Performances Will the Penguins make the playoffs this year? | ||
| Yes | 26 | 14.4 % |
| No | 154 | 85.6 % |
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