Former Colorado Avalanche defenseman Ilya Solovyov is back on waivers after the Pittsburgh Penguins made him available Friday.
Solovyov made Pittsburgh’s opening-night roster but has not appeared in a game this season. If he clears waivers Saturday, the Penguins can assign him to their AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Colorado had claimed Solovyov off waivers from the Calgary Flames on Oct. 3, 2025, and he later scored his first NHL goal with the Avalanche on Jan. 10. That goal came in a 4-0 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets.
After being traded to Pittsburgh, Solovyov skated in 14 regular-season games and picked up five assists. He also dressed for three playoff games before the Penguins were eliminated by the Philadelphia Flyers.
Between his time in Colorado and Pittsburgh, Solovyov played 30 NHL games last season. He finished with one goal and seven assists while averaging just under 13 minutes of ice time per game.
What happens next depends on whether another team puts in a claim. If he goes unclaimed, Pittsburgh can send him to the AHL, where he would have the chance to keep playing while waiting for another NHL shot.
The Penguins also got forward Bryan Rust back in the lineup. Rust missed the start of the season because of an upper-body injury suffered in a preseason game against Buffalo on Sept. 26, and he returned Wednesday against the Washington Capitals.
Solovyov has already been with Calgary, Colorado and Pittsburgh, and this latest waiver move could leave him searching for a fourth NHL organization.
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