Kevin Gravel

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kevin Gravel
Gravel with the Los Angeles Kings in 2013
Born (1992-03-06) March 6, 1992 (age 32)
Kingsford, Michigan, U.S.
Height 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight 212 lb (96 kg; 15 st 2 lb)
Position Defense
Shoots Left
NHL team (P)
Cur. team
Former teams
Nashville Predators
Milwaukee Admirals (AHL)
Los Angeles Kings
Edmonton Oilers
Toronto Maple Leafs
NHL Draft 148th overall, 2010
Los Angeles Kings
Playing career 2014–present

Kevin Gravel (born March 6, 1992) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman who is currently playing for the Milwaukee Admirals in the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the fifth-round (148th overall) of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career[edit]

Amateur[edit]

While playing for the Marquette Rangers in the North American Hockey League, Gravel committed to play for his fathers Alma mater St. Cloud State University.[1] Gravel then played with the Sioux City Musketeers in the United States Hockey League for the 2009–10 season. In his first season, he was selected for the USHL All-Star Game[2] and the World Junior A Challenge.[3]

Gravel played four season for the St. Cloud State University Huskies, where he was named to the All-WCHA Academic Team for the 2012 and 2013 season.[4] He also helped the Huskies qualify for the 2013 Frozen Four and win an NCAA regional title game in 2014.[5]

Professional[edit]

After his senior year, Gravel continued his 2013–14 season by signing an amateur try-out contract with the Manchester Monarchs of the AHL. On August 4, 2014, Gravel continued within the Los Angeles Kings organization, agreeing to a one-year AHL contract with the Monarchs, the Kings' affiliate.[6] In his first full professional season in 2014–15, Gravel established a position on the blueline with the Monarchs, contributing to the club's first Calder Cup Championship in their last season in the AHL.

On July 2, 2015, the Los Angeles Kings signed Gravel to a two-year entry-level contract.[7] To begin the 2015–16 season, Gravel was reassigned to new AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign. After 42 games with the Reign, Gravel received his first NHL recall to the Kings on February 11, 2016.[8] Gravel recorded his first NHL goal on February 23, 2017 in a game against the Boston Bruins.[9]

During the summer before the 2017–18 season, Gravel was diagnosed with crohn’s disease.[10] He lost around 40 pounds, was hospitalized, and missed more than a month of training.[11] On July 1, 2018, Gravel signed as a free agent to a one-year, two-way contract with the Edmonton Oilers.[12] After attending the Oilers 2018 training camp, Gravel began the 2018–19 season with AHL affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors.[13] Contributing with 1 assist in 5 games, Gravel was soon recalled by the Oilers and remained with the club for the duration of the year, recording 3 assists in 36 games.

As a free agent from the Oilers, Gravel agreed to a one-year, $700,000 contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs on July 24, 2019.[14] He made 3 appearances with the Maple Leafs during an injury plagued 2019–20 season, featuring more prominently with AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies, with 3 points in 23 regular season games.

Un-signed leading into the pandemic delayed 2020–21 season, Gravel returned to former AHL club in the Bakersfield Condors after agreeing to a one-year contract on January 26, 2021.[15]

After successful stint with the Condors, Gravel was signed as a free agent in returning to the NHL by securing a one-year, two-way contract with the Calgary Flames on July 28, 2021.[16]

Following the conclusion of his contract with the Flames, Gravel as a free agent was signed to a two-year, two-way contract with the Nashville Predators on July 13, 2022.[17]

Career statistics[edit]

Regular season and playoffs[edit]

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2008–09 Marquette Rangers NAHL 58 3 11 14 29
2009–10 Sioux City Musketeers USHL 53 3 3 6 36
2010–11 St. Cloud State University WCHA 36 1 5 6 4
2011–12 St. Cloud State University WCHA 37 1 7 8 12
2012–13 St. Cloud State University WCHA 42 1 11 12 25
2013–14 St. Cloud State University NCHC 38 10 13 23 2
2013–14 Manchester Monarchs AHL 5 0 0 0 2
2014–15 Manchester Monarchs AHL 58 6 9 15 23 19 0 5 5 0
2015–16 Ontario Reign AHL 55 7 13 20 30 12 1 6 7 4
2015–16 Los Angeles Kings NHL 5 0 0 0 0
2016–17 Ontario Reign AHL 6 0 2 2 0
2016–17 Los Angeles Kings NHL 49 1 6 7 6
2017–18 Ontario Reign AHL 25 3 8 11 17
2017–18 Los Angeles Kings NHL 16 0 3 3 2 1 0 0 0 0
2018–19 Bakersfield Condors AHL 5 0 1 1 0
2018–19 Edmonton Oilers NHL 36 0 3 3 4
2019–20 Toronto Marlies AHL 23 1 2 3 8
2019–20 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 3 0 0 0 0
2020–21 Bakersfield Condors AHL 37 1 7 8 17 6 0 2 2 0
2021–22 Stockton Heat AHL 59 3 11 14 11 13 0 3 3 6
2022–23 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 49 2 11 13 16 12 1 2 3 2
2022–23 Nashville Predators NHL 23 0 1 1 4
NHL totals 132 1 13 14 16 1 0 0 0 0

International[edit]

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2012 United States WJC 7th 6 1 0 1 0
Junior totals 6 1 0 1 0

Awards and honors[edit]

Award Year
USHL
All-Star Game 2009–10
College
WCHA All-Academic Team 2011–12, 2012–13
AHL
Calder Cup 2015 [18]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Evans, Mark (November 10, 2008). "Rangers' Gravel commits to St. Cloud". nahl.com. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
  2. ^ "Muskies' Gravel added to USHL All-Star roster". Sioux City Journal. January 23, 2010. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
  3. ^ "Gravel, Yanakeff represent Musketeers on World Junior A Challenge". Sioux City Journal. October 20, 2009. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
  4. ^ "KEVIN GRAVEL". scsuhuskies.com. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
  5. ^ Hatten, Mick (June 18, 2015). "Gravel, Dowd headed for Hall of Fame". St. Cloud Times. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
  6. ^ "Monarchs Sign O'Brien, Gravel, Arseneau". oursportscentral.com. August 4, 2014. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
  7. ^ "Defenseman Kevin Gravel signed to two-year entry-level deal". Los Angeles Kings. 2015-07-02. Retrieved 2015-07-02.
  8. ^ @LAKings (February 11, 2016). "#LAKings recall D Kevin Gravel, G Peter Budaj (Emergency) from @TheAHL's @ontarioreign" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  9. ^ Lee, Forrest (February 24, 2017). "Anton Khudobin boosts Bruins past Kings". NHL.com. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  10. ^ McGran, Kevin (September 18, 2019). "Blue-line survivor Kevin Gravel brings a healthy attitude to Leafs camp". Toronto Star. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
  11. ^ Zupke, Curtis (December 20, 2017). "Kevin Gravel is recalled by Kings after dealing with Crohn's disease". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
  12. ^ "Oilers sign Kevin Gravel". Edmonton Oilers. 2018-07-01. Retrieved 2018-07-02.
  13. ^ McCurdy, Bruce (September 24, 2018). "Kevin Gravel the biggest surprise as Edmonton Oilers waive three vets". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
  14. ^ "Maple Leafs announce free agent signings". Toronto Maple Leafs. July 24, 2019. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
  15. ^ Bakersfield Condors (January 26, 2021). "Kevin Gravel signs AHL contract". Twitter. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  16. ^ "Flames sign trio". Calgary Flames. July 28, 2021. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  17. ^ "Predators sign Kevin Gravel to two-year, two-way contract". Nashville Predators. July 13, 2022. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  18. ^ "Manchester defeats Utica to win Calder Cup". National Hockey League. 2015-06-19. Retrieved 2015-06-19.

External links[edit]