LA Kings: Three ‘dynamic’ young, left-shot defensemen to target

2. LA Kings Trade Target: Ryan Graves

With Bowen Byram graduating to the NHL, it feels like it’s a matter of time before the Avalanche make a move to clear up a crowded left side. With Ryan Graves, Devon Toews, and Samuel Girardi fighting for two spots, Graves makes a lot of sense to move.

A fourth-round pick of the Rangers in 2013, Graves tallied a league-best +40 rating while accumulating nine goals and 17 assists in 69 games last year. At 25 and with two years left on his contract after this season, the Yarmouth, Nova Scotia native is a terrific defenseman to target.

He’s spent the majority of his time playing on the second and third pairings with limited time on the top pairing as well. Graves is off to a slow start this year, averaging 0.13 points-per-game, but his role is far from defined with a crowded left side.