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Former Calgary Flames prospect Ilya Solovyov is on the move once again

Colton Pankiw
Colton Pankiw
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Jan 20 2026, 8:54 pm
Former Calgary Flames prospect Ilya Solovyov is on the move once again
Stephen R. Sylvanie/Imagn Images

The 2025-26 season has been a rather tumultuous one for Ilya Solovyov.

The former Calgary Flames prospect, who logged 15 NHL games with the organization, was placed on waivers ahead of the 2025-26 season. The hope was that he would give the Flames some extra depth on the back end, but that failed to work out, as the Colorado Avalanche chose to put in a claim on him.

The 25-year-old 6-foot-3 blueliner wound up suiting up for 16 games with the Avalanche, during which time he scored his first NHL goal while logging two assists. While he’s spent the entire season in the NHL, he’s been used rather sparingly, averaging less than 12 minutes per game.

Things may change in a positive manner going forward for Solovyov, as he was traded on Tuesday afternoon.

The Pittsburgh Penguins took to X on Tuesday to announce that they have acquired Solovyov from the Avalanche in exchange for 26-year-old forward Valtteri Puustinen and a 2026 seventh-round pick. Puustinen has logged 66 NHL games in his career, scoring seven goals and 24 points.

This presents a good opportunity for Solovyov, who goes from the NHL’s best team to one in the Penguins, who are scrapping for a playoff spot. They currently sit in third place in the Atlantic Division with a 23-14-11 record, good enough for 57 points.

Solovyov, who was selected in the seventh round of the 2020 draft, appears to be a depth defender who can be suited up in the third pairing whenever required. That should bode well for the Penguins, who have had inconsistent play from a number of other depth defencemen to this point in the 2025-26 season.

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