It’s unlikely that NHL players, especially ones on the move to new teams, keep traditional resumes on hand.

For interested team officials and coaches, there are far more practical means to learn about a player.

So when the Pittsburgh Penguins signed defenseman Ryan Graves to a six-year deal in July, president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas and coach Mike Sullivan probably weren’t sifting through a PDF document that outlined Graves’ biography and work history.

However, if such a document existed, Graves would have had an easy time filling out the references section.

1. Cale Makar: four-time All-Star, 2020 Calder Trophy winner, 2022 Norris Trophy recipient

2. Dougie Hamilton: six-time All-Star

Graves formed successful defensive pairings with both players, partnering with Makar in Colorado for part of two seasons and with Hamilton after being traded to New Jersey in summer 2021.

“I’ve got a pretty good resume of partners over the years,” Graves said. “Every guy brings something different. One of my first partners in the NHL was Cale and that’s someone that, the way he helped me grow my game, the way he pushed me out of my comfort zone — it took me a while to make the jump from the minors to the NHL.

“You sneak in on a third pair and you just try to stick around and grow your game to be a regular every night. Then all of the sudden, you’re playing big minutes and with a future Norris Trophy winner. So, you have to grow your game.”

Soon, Graves will be able to add another impressive name to his list of references in Penguins alternate captain Kris Letang.

After Dubas completed his offseason roster makeover of the Penguins, including the blockbuster acquisition of blueliner Erik Karlsson from San Jose, questions arose as to what the club’s top two defensive pairings would look like.

Sullivan has paired Graves with Letang and Karlsson with Marcus Pettersson in the preseason.

But Graves wouldn’t be surprised if Sullivan shuffles the deck defensively at some point.

“I’ve been playing a lot with Kris, and he’s an elite player with his vision and the way he skates,” Graves said. “It’s whatever works best. We’re just trying to win hockey games. We’ll probably start it one way, and I’m sure throughout the year, you play with everybody.

“Those guys play huge minutes and have a huge impact on the game. Everyone has their role, so you just try to fit in where you can and do whatever gives you the best chance to win.”

One additional name Graves could include on his theoretical resume is former Penguin John Marino, with whom he formed an effective duo in New Jersey last season.

As part of the Devils’ top defensive pairing alongside Marino, Graves finished the season at plus-34, good for 10th in the NHL.

Graves’ role in New Jersey often pitted him against opposing teams’ first lines.

Over four meetings with the Penguins, in which the Devils went 4-0, that translated to heavy minutes against Sidney Crosby.

Training with Graves in the offseason, along with mutual friend and fellow Nova Scotian Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche, helped the Penguins captain build a familiarity with his new teammate.

That, combined with battling him on the ice, gave Crosby good insight into what the Penguins were getting when Dubas signed the 6-foot-5 Graves.

“He’s a big body and takes up a lot of space, especially down low,” Crosby said. “Once he gets a stick on you or wraps you up, it’s hard to really move. He uses his body well, defends hard and uses that reach and is able to control guys.”

Regarding offensive credentials, Graves’ career high in points came with Colorado in 2019-20, when he scored nine goals with 17 assists.

This past season in New Jersey, he contributed eight goals with 18 assists.

In skating with Karlsson, Pettersson looks to play a similar part to Graves teaming up with Letang, providing the Penguins with a blend of offensive and defensive instincts on the ice for the majority of a given game.

“I think we can kind of find the same role with two really good offensive guys on each other’s pairs,” Pettersson said. “ … (Graves) can stop plays early in our (defensive) zone. We’re a team that’s really good in transition, so I think he can be a great addition to stopping plays early, using his stick, size and strength to transition the puck the other way. That’s why I feel like he’s going to have a huge role to play here.”

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