Kevin Gravel Explained

Kevin Gravel
Birth Date:6 March 1992
Birth Place:Kingsford, Michigan, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:4
Weight Lb:212
Position:Defense
Shoots:Left
League:NHL
Team:Nashville Predators
Prospect Team:Milwaukee Admirals
Prospect League:AHL
Former Teams:Los Angeles Kings
Edmonton Oilers
Toronto Maple Leafs
Draft:148th overall
Draft Year:2010
Draft Team:Los Angeles Kings
Career Start:2014

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

Amateur

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

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

Regular season and playoffs

Team League GP GPG A Pts PIM
2008–09Marquette RangersNAHL583111429
2009–10Sioux City MusketeersUSHL5333636
2010–11St. Cloud State UniversityWCHA361564
2011–12St. Cloud State UniversityWCHA3717812
2012–13St. Cloud State UniversityWCHA421111225
2013–14St. Cloud State UniversityNCHC381013232
2013–14Manchester MonarchsAHL50002
2014–15Manchester MonarchsAHL58691523190550
2015–16Ontario ReignAHL557132030121674
2015–16Los Angeles KingsNHL50000
2016–17Ontario ReignAHL60220
2016–17Los Angeles KingsNHL491676
2017–18Ontario ReignAHL25381117
2017–18Los Angeles KingsNHL16033210000
2018–19Bakersfield CondorsAHL50110
2018–19Edmonton OilersNHL360334
2019–20Toronto MarliesAHL231238
2019–20Toronto Maple LeafsNHL30000
2020–21Bakersfield CondorsAHL371781760220
2021–22Stockton HeatAHL593111411130336
2022–23Milwaukee AdmiralsAHL492111316121232
2022–23Nashville PredatorsNHL230114
2023–24Milwaukee AdmiralsAHL63191018140442
NHL totals132113141610000

International

Awards and honors

AwardYear
USHL
All-Star Game2009–10
College
WCHA All-Academic Team2011–12, 2012–13
AHL
Calder Cup2015[18]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Evans . Mark . Rangers' Gravel commits to St. Cloud . nahl.com . December 5, 2019 . November 10, 2008.
  2. News: Muskies' Gravel added to USHL All-Star roster . December 5, 2019 . Sioux City Journal . January 23, 2010.
  3. News: Gravel, Yanakeff represent Musketeers on World Junior A Challenge . December 5, 2019 . Sioux City Journal . October 20, 2009.
  4. Web site: KEVIN GRAVEL . scsuhuskies.com . December 5, 2019.
  5. News: Hatten . Mick . Gravel, Dowd headed for Hall of Fame . December 5, 2019 . St. Cloud Times . June 18, 2015.
  6. Web site: Monarchs Sign O'Brien, Gravel, Arseneau . oursportscentral.com . December 5, 2019 . August 4, 2014.
  7. Web site: Defenseman Kevin Gravel signed to two-year entry-level deal . . 2015-07-02 . 2015-07-02.
  8. LAKings . 697903180844118016 . February 11, 2016 .
    1. LAKings recall D Kevin Gravel, G Peter Budaj (Emergency) from @TheAHL's @ontarioreign.
    .
  9. Web site: Lee. Forrest. Anton Khudobin boosts Bruins past Kings. NHL.com. March 30, 2018. February 24, 2017.
  10. News: McGran . Kevin . Blue-line survivor Kevin Gravel brings a healthy attitude to Leafs camp . December 3, 2019 . Toronto Star . September 18, 2019.
  11. News: Zupke . Curtis . Kevin Gravel is recalled by Kings after dealing with Crohn's disease . December 5, 2019 . Los Angeles Times . December 20, 2017.
  12. Web site: Oilers sign Kevin Gravel . . 2018-07-02 . 2018-07-01.
  13. News: McCurdy . Bruce . Kevin Gravel the biggest surprise as Edmonton Oilers waive three vets . December 5, 2019 . Edmonton Journal . September 24, 2018.
  14. Web site: Maple Leafs announce free agent signings . . July 24, 2019 . July 24, 2019.
  15. Web site: Kevin Gravel signs AHL contract . . . January 26, 2021 . January 26, 2021.
  16. Web site: Flames sign trio . . July 28, 2021 . July 28, 2021.
  17. Web site: Predators sign Kevin Gravel to two-year, two-way contract . . July 13, 2022 . July 13, 2022.
  18. Web site: Manchester defeats Utica to win Calder Cup . . 2015-06-19 . 2015-06-19.