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Avalanche trades expansion-draft target Ryan Graves to New Jersey for a Russian forward and draft pick

The Avalanche on Thursday traded a player it probably would have lost in next week’s expansion draft.

Colorado sent defenseman Ryan Graves to the New Jersey Devils for Russian forward Mikhail Maltsev and a second-round selection (61st overall) in the 2021 draft. Maltsev, 23, the Devils’ fourth-round draft pick in 2016, is coming off his NHL rookie season with New Jersey.

The Avs, who traded their 2021 and 2022 second-round picks to the New York Islanders for defenseman Devon Toews before last season, now have a second-round pick in the upcoming draft and won’t lose the 26-year-old Graves for zero in return.