The Penguins’ Ryan Graves problem is coming to a head.

The team announced it will place the 30-year-old defenseman on waivers at 2 p.m. Saturday. If none of the NHL’s 31 other clubs snatches up the big blue-liner and his $4.5 million cap hit, he’ll be assigned to the Penguins’ AHL club in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Graves’ tenure has been one of Kyle Dubas’ worst misfires as Penguins general manager. Dubas signed Graves to a six-year contract during the 2023 offseason after longtime defenseman Brian Dumoulin left in free agency. Despite being given ample opportunity in that first year with the club, Graves never seemed to fit in the Penguins’ system.

Dubas challenged Graves last offseason to improve dramatically heading into 2024-25. That never materialized. Graves was largely hidden on the

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