Adam Graves
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Adam Scott Graves (born April 12, 1968) is a Canadian former professional hockey player. He played 10 seasons with the
New York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in New York City. The Rangers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team plays ...
of the
National Hockey League The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...
(NHL). He also played for the
Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings (colloquially referred to as the Wings) are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit. The Red Wings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the East ...
,
Edmonton Oilers The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton. The Oilers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...
and
San Jose Sharks The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California. The Sharks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Con ...
in a career that spanned from 1987 to 2003. He finished his career with 329 goals, 287 assists and 1,224 penalty minutes. He is currently a New York Rangers special assistant with Prospect Development and Community Relations. Graves was born in Tecumseh and grew up in Toronto.


Playing career

As a youth, Graves played in the 1981
Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament The Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament () is an annual minor ice hockey event in Quebec City. The tournament was founded in 1960 to coincide with the Quebec Winter Carnival, and give an opportunity for international competition to p ...
with a
minor ice hockey Minor ice hockey or minor hockey is an umbrella term for amateur ice hockey which is played below the junior age level. Players are classified by age, with each age group playing in its own league. The rules, especially as it relates to body c ...
team from
Wexford, Toronto Wexford is a neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located in the eastern part of the city, on the western end of the district of Scarborough, spanning Lawrence Avenue East between Victoria Park Avenue and Birchmount Road. There a ...
. Graves started playing Junior B hockey with
King City, Ontario King City is an Unincorporated area#Canada, unincorporated Canadian community in the township of King, Ontario, King, Ontario, located north of Toronto. It is the largest community in King township, with 2,730 dwellings and a population of 8,396 ...
, north of his birthplace in
Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...
. Graves then joined the
Windsor Spitfires The Windsor Spitfires are a Canadian junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). The team is based in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Founded in 1971, the franchise was promoted to the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League for the 1975†...
of the
Ontario Hockey League The Ontario Hockey League (OHL; ) is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League, alongside the Western Hockey League and the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League. The league is for players ag ...
(OHL) in 1985–86 and averaged over one point per game as a rookie in the OHL. He was drafted 22nd overall by the
Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings (colloquially referred to as the Wings) are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit. The Red Wings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the East ...
in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft. The 1986–87 season was his breakout year, when he scored 45 goals for the Spitfires. He led his team to the OHL championship in the
Memorial Cup The Memorial Cup () is the national championship of the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), a consortium of three Junior ice hockey, major junior ice hockey leagues operating in Canada and parts of the United States. It is a four-team round-robin tou ...
tournament. In the 1987–88 season, Graves played primarily for the Spitfires, but was called up to play nine games with Detroit. The 1988–89 season would be Graves' first season as an NHL regular. He played in 56 games for the Red Wings while splitting time with the Adirondack minor league club, but was only able to score seven goals. During his brief tenure with the Red Wings, with whom he amassed 60 penalty minutes in 1988–89 and 13 in 1989–90, Graves earned the reputation as an agitator who played on the edge and often went over it. According to Hockeyfights.com, he took part in 52 fights in his NHL career. On November 2 of the 1989-90 campaign, Graves was involved in a blockbuster trade with the
Edmonton Oilers The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton. The Oilers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...
. Along with Graves, the Oilers received Petr Klima, Joe Murphy and Jeff Sharples in exchange for Jimmy Carson, Kevin McClelland and Edmonton's fifth-round draft pick in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft. The trade was lamented at the time in Edmonton —- the high-scoring Klima had run-ins with the law and a history of substance abuse, Sharples was coming off a shoulder injury, and Murphy and Graves were considered to be underachievers given their high draft status. Red Wings general manager
Jim Devellano James Devellano (born January 18, 1943) is a Canadian sports executive. He currently serves as the senior vice-president & alternate governor of the Detroit Red Wings National Hockey League (NHL) team and vice-president of the Detroit Tigers Ma ...
was reluctant to part with Graves, but felt that obtaining Detroit-area native Carson was worth it. The trade paid immediate dividends for the Oilers, as Klima finished with 30 goals, while Graves and Murphy provided depth up front. Graves would go on to score 11 points in the playoffs, en route to defeating the
Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston. The Bruins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The t ...
for the Edmonton Oilers' fifth
Stanley Cup The Stanley Cup () is the championship trophy awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) playoff champion. It is the oldest existing trophy to be awarded to a professional sports franchise in North America, and the International Ic ...
. "It was such an excellent team atmosphere," said Graves of his brief stint with the Oilers. "We were together as any group of guys in the league. Everyone felt that they were a part of the team- no one felt left out. Because of that, even if you had a small role on the team, you were happy. You were glad to be able to give whatever little you could to the team. You did everything you could. I have many wonderful memories in my two years with the Oilers. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the team." But Graves spent only two seasons with the Oilers before they allowed him to leave as a free agent at the conclusion of the 1990–91 campaign. He signed an offer sheet for five years and $2.44 million with the
New York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in New York City. The Rangers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team plays ...
, where he would join former Edmonton Oilers teammates
Mark Messier Mark John Douglas Messier (; born January 18, 1961) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey Forward (ice hockey), forward. His playing career in the National Hockey League (NHL) lasted 25 seasons (1979–80 NHL season, 1979–2003–04 NHL ...
and Jeff Beukeboom. Neil Smith, the general manager of the Rangers, was familiar with Graves, having earlier served as the Red Wings' director of scouting. In 1991–92, Graves' first season with the Rangers, he scored 26 goals, helping the team to a 105-point,
Presidents' Trophy The Presidents' Trophy () is an award presented by the National Hockey League (NHL) to the team that finishes with the most points (i.e., best overall record) during the regular season. If two teams are tied for the most points, then the Trophy ...
-winning regular season that was punctuated by a major disappointment in the playoffs. Graves finished fifth in the voting for the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the best defensive forward in the league. Graves’ performance was marred by an ugly incident in Game 2 of the
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finals against the
Pittsburgh Penguins The Pittsburgh Penguins (colloquially known as the Pens) are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh. The Penguins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), E ...
, when he fractured the left wrist of superstar
Mario Lemieux Mario Lemieux (; ; born October 5, 1965) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played parts of 17 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Pittsburgh Penguins between 1984–85 NHL season, 1984 and 2005–06 NHL se ...
with a vicious two-handed swing of his stick. Lemieux was adamant that Rangers head coach
Roger Neilson Roger Paul Neilson, (June 16, 1934 – June 21, 2003) was a Canadian professional ice hockey coach, most notably in the NHL, where he served with eight teams. Known as Captain Video because of his technological contributions to the game, he is ...
had "engineered a hit" that sidelined him for five games. "It was intentional, no question about it," Lemieux said of the incident during the Stanley Cup finals that season. "I've never been hit that hard in my life. I'm not saying Roger Neilson told Graves to go after me, but he told his players to go after me." Graves was assessed only a minor penalty on the play and allowed to take part in Game 3, in which he scored the first goal of a 6–5 overtime victory. After he was suspended for the remainder of the series, the Penguins rallied to win the next three games and the series on the way to the Stanley Cup championship. Although Graves continued to improve in the 1992–93 season, tallying 36 goals and 65 points, the Rangers failed to make the playoffs. During the 1993–94 season, Graves scored 52 goals, setting a New York Rangers' franchise record for most goals in a season. (
Jaromír Jágr Jaromír Jágr (; born 15 February 1972) is a Czech professional ice hockey Winger (ice hockey), right winger and owner of Rytíři Kladno of the Czech Extraliga (ELH). He previously played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Pittsburgh ...
would later score 54 in 2005–06). In the spring of 1994, Graves helped the Rangers win their first Stanley Cup since the 1939–40 season. Graves was awarded a roster spot on the NHL's second All-Star team at the position of left wing, and was the recipient of the King Clancy Memorial Trophy in recognition of his continuing work with charitable causes. Graves is one of the seven alumni of the Oilers dynasty to win the Stanley Cup with the 1993–94 New York Rangers, along with Jeff Beukeboom, Glenn Anderson,
Kevin Lowe Kevin Hugh Lowe (born April 15, 1959) is a Canadian professional ice hockey executive, former coach and former player. Lowe was the vice-chairman of Oilers Entertainment Group until his retirement on August 2, 2022, having formerly served as he ...
,
Craig MacTavish Craig MacTavish (born August 15, 1958) is a Canadian professional ice hockey executive and former player, formerly an assistant coach with the St. Louis Blues. He played center for 17 seasons in the National Hockey League with the Boston Bruins, ...
, Mark Messier and Esa Tikkanen. Graves remained productive during his tenure with the Rangers, being a consistent 20 to 30 goal scorer until the 1999–2000 campaign. Although the Rangers would not return to the hey-day of their 1993–94 campaign, Graves remained one of the team's most popular players. After winning the Bill Masterton Trophy in 2001, he was traded to the
San Jose Sharks The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California. The Sharks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Con ...
in exchange for Mikael Samuelsson and Christian Gosselin. Graves played with the Sharks organization for two years, totalling 49 total points, before announcing his retirement in April 2004. Currently, Graves is an instructor at the New York Rangers' youth hockey camp.


Personal life

Graves grew up in Toronto (North York) and
Caledon, Ontario Caledon (; 2021 Canadian census, 2021 population 76,581) is a town (Ontario), town in the Regional Municipality of Peel in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario, Canada. The name comes from a shortened form of Caledonia, the Roman name for what is ...
with his parents Robert Henry (a police officer stationed in
Cabbagetown, Toronto Cabbagetown is a neighbourhood in central Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Administratively, it is defined as part of the Cabbagetown-South St. Jamestown neighbourhood. It largely features semi-detached Victorian houses and is recognized as "the largest ...
, died 2000) and Lynda Sophia (Surgeoner) Graves (died 2013). Graves has two older sisters, Richenda and Lynette, as well as a younger adopted brother, Mark. The Graves family also took in as many as 40 foster children. He and his wife, Violet, are the parents of four children. They reside in
Oakville, Ontario Oakville is a town and List of municipalities in Ontario#Lower-tier municipalities, lower-tier municipality in Regional Municipality of Halton, Halton Region, Ontario, Canada. Generally seen as a commuter suburb of Toronto, it is located on Lake ...
.


Awards

During the 1993–94 season, Graves was awarded with the King Clancy Memorial Trophy which is given annually to the NHL player who best exemplifies leadership qualities or has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution to his community. Graves also won the NHL foundation award during the 1999–2000 season. This award is given annually to the player who applies core values of hockey, commitment and teamwork to enrich the lives of people in the community. During the 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1998–99 and 1999–2000 seasons, Graves received the Steven McDonald Award, given annually to the Rangers player who goes "above and beyond the call of duty", named after a paralyzed
New York Police Department The City of New York Police Department, also referred to as New York City Police Department (NYPD), is the primary law enforcement agency within New York City. Established on May 23, 1845, the NYPD is the largest, and one of the oldest, munic ...
officer Steven McDonald. The Players' Player Award which is given to the best "team player" as voted on by the players was also won by Graves in 1991–92, 1992–93, 1994–95 and 1998–99. In the 1992–93 and 1993–94 seasons, Graves won the Rangers Most Valuable Player Award given to the Rangers most valuable player as voted on by the media. Also during the 1992–93 season, Graves was given the "Rangers Good Guy" award. During the Rangers' Stanley Cup-winning season, Graves was awarded the Frank Boucher Trophy, given by the Rangers Fan Club given to the most popular player on and off the ice. Yet another fan club award Graves was awarded the "Rangers Fan Club Ceil Saidel Memorial Award" during the 1995–96, 1996–97 and 1999–2000 seasons. This award is for dedication on and off the ice. In 1993, Graves also awarded the "Crumb Bum Award" given annually for services to New York youngsters as voted on by the media. Another "Good Guy" award Graves won was The Sporting News "Good guy" award in 2000. Along with other professional athletes such as Al Leiter,
Troy Aikman Troy Kenneth Aikman (born November 21, 1966) is an American former professional football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 12 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. After transferring from the Oklahoma Sooners, he play ...
and
Terry Cummings Robert Terrell “Terry” Cummings (born March 15, 1961) is an American former professional basketball player who played 18 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Cummings was voted Rookie of the Year and was a two-time All-Star ...
this award was given to charitable and community service efforts. Graves is now an instructor at the
New York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in New York City. The Rangers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team plays ...
youth hockey camp. He focuses on instilling pride in the youngsters attending the camp. He also won the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy in the 2000–01 season. On February 3, 2009, the New York Rangers retired Graves' No. 9 jersey before a game against the
Atlanta Thrashers The Atlanta Thrashers were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta. Atlanta was granted a franchise in the National Hockey League (NHL) on June 25, 1997, and became the League's 28th franchise when it began play in the 1999–2000 NHL sea ...
, joining fellow 1994 Stanley Cup champion teammates Brian Leetch, Mark Messier and
Mike Richter Michael Thomas Richter (born September 22, 1966) is an American former professional ice hockey goaltender. He played his entire National Hockey League career, from 1989 to 2002, with the New York Rangers organization, and led the team to the Stan ...
as well as Ranger greats Rod Gilbert and Ed Giacomin in the rafters of
Madison Square Garden Madison Square Garden, colloquially known as the Garden or by its initials MSG, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in New York City. It is located in Midtown Manhattan between Seventh Avenue (Manhattan), Seventh and Eighth Avenue (Manhattan), Eig ...
. #9 was also retired for Graves by his junior hockey team, the Windsor Spitfires. In the 2009 book ''100 Ranger Greats'', the authors ranked Graves at No. 13 all-time of the 901 New York Rangers who had played during the team's first 82 seasons.


Awards and achievements

*Member of two
Stanley Cup The Stanley Cup () is the championship trophy awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) playoff champion. It is the oldest existing trophy to be awarded to a professional sports franchise in North America, and the International Ic ...
winning teams:
1990 Important events of 1990 include the Reunification of Germany and the unification of Yemen, the formal beginning of the Human Genome Project (finished in 2003), the launch of the Hubble Space Telescope, the separation of Namibia from South ...
with the
Edmonton Oilers The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton. The Oilers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...
and
1994 The year 1994 was designated as the " International Year of the Family" and the "International Year of Sport and the Olympic Ideal" by the United Nations. In the Line Islands and Phoenix Islands of Kiribati, 1994 had only 364 days, omitti ...
with the
New York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in New York City. The Rangers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team plays ...
*Selected to one
NHL All-Star Game The National Hockey League All-Star Game () is an exhibition ice hockey tournament that is traditionally held during the regular season of the National Hockey League (NHL), with many of the League's star players playing against each other. The ga ...
:
1994 The year 1994 was designated as the " International Year of the Family" and the "International Year of Sport and the Olympic Ideal" by the United Nations. In the Line Islands and Phoenix Islands of Kiribati, 1994 had only 364 days, omitti ...
*Named to the second All-Star team: *Winner of the
1994 The year 1994 was designated as the " International Year of the Family" and the "International Year of Sport and the Olympic Ideal" by the United Nations. In the Line Islands and Phoenix Islands of Kiribati, 1994 had only 364 days, omitti ...
King Clancy Memorial Trophy *Winner of the
2001 The year's most prominent event was the September 11 attacks against the United States by al-Qaeda, which Casualties of the September 11 attacks, killed 2,977 people and instigated the global war on terror. The United States led a Participan ...
Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy *
New York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in New York City. The Rangers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team plays ...
retired his jersey number 9 on February 3, 2009


Career statistics


Regular season and playoffs


International


Transactions

*November 2, 1989: Traded by the Detroit Red Wings, along with Petr Klima, Joe Murphy and Jeff Sharples to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Jimmy Carson, Kevin McClelland and Edmonton's 1991 5th-round draft choice. *September 3, 1991: Signed as a free agent by the
New York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in New York City. The Rangers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team plays ...
. *2001: Traded by the New York Rangers with future considerations to the San Jose Sharks for Mikael Samuelsson.


See also

*
List of NHL players with 50-goal seasons Scoring 50 goals in one season is one of the most celebrated individual achievements in the National Hockey League (NHL). In , Maurice Richard became the first player to score 50 goals in a season. Bernie Geoffrion became the second player to rea ...
*
List of NHL players with 1000 games played The National Hockey League (NHL) is the major professional ice hockey league which operates in Canada and the United States. Since its inception in , 408 players have played at least 1,000 regular season games, varying in amounts between Patri ...
* List of NHL players who have signed offer sheets


References


Lemieux Is Sidelined Amid Slash Controversy- New York Times


External links

*
Madison Square Garden, Adam Graves and My First Day as a Ranger — by Jeff Ulmer

{{DEFAULTSORT:Graves, Adam 1968 births Living people Adirondack Red Wings players Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy winners Canadian ice hockey right wingers Detroit Red Wings draft picks Detroit Red Wings players Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in the United States Edmonton Oilers players King Clancy Memorial Trophy winners National Hockey League All-Stars National Hockey League players with retired numbers New York Rangers players San Jose Sharks players Ice hockey people from Toronto Stanley Cup champions Windsor Spitfires players 20th-century Canadian sportsmen