D Graves signs one-year deal with Avalanche

Defenseman Ryan Graves signed a one-year contract with the Colorado Avalanche on Monday, avoiding arbitration. The Denver Post reported the deal is worth $735,000.

Graves, 24, played his first NHL game on Dec. 27 at the Vegas Golden Knights. In 26 games with the Avalanche, he had five points (three goals, two assists). The Avalanche acquired Graves, a fourth-round pick of the New York Rangers in the 2013 NHL Draft, on Feb. 26, 2018, in exchange for defenseman Chris Bigras.