Ilya Solovyov is back on the Pittsburgh Penguins’ roster, and the 26-year-old defenseman is again chasing a longer run in the NHL.
Pittsburgh recalled Solovyov from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Sunday, Oct. 18, after sending Ryan Johnson to the AHL earlier in the day. Solovyov had opened the season with the Penguins but never got into a game during their first five. He cleared waivers and was assigned to the AHL on Oct. 10, where he recorded one assist in three games before getting the call back up.
The latest turn adds another chapter to a whirlwind stretch for Solovyov. The former Colorado Avalanche defenseman was claimed off waivers by Colorado last season, and shortly after that, the Avalanche dealt him to Pittsburgh in a move that sent forward Valtteri Puustinen and a seventh-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft back to Colorado. The Avalanche later used that pick to draft Shawn Carrier.
Solovyov did carve out a small role with the Penguins after arriving in the trade. He collected five assists in 14 regular-season games and also appeared in three playoff games before Pittsburgh was eliminated by the Philadelphia Flyers.
Across three NHL stops last season - Calgary, Colorado and Pittsburgh - he finished with one goal and seven assists in 30 games.
The numbers don’t jump off the page, but Solovyov has shown he can chip in when he gets the opportunity. The bigger issue has been finding that opportunity often enough. For now, he’s back in Pittsburgh, waiting to see when the next opening on the blue line comes.
In Other News...
Avalanche Forward Depth Tested Again After Another Zach LHeureux Setback
Zach LHeureuxs return to the Avalanche lineup will have to wait a little longer after another injury interruption slowed what was already a delayed start to his season. The forward is now dealing with an upper-body issue unrelated to the lower-body problem that had kept him out before, and head coach Jared Bednar said he will miss at least two more games as the team heads out on the road.
Bednar also confirmed LHeureux will not travel with the club on the upcoming trip, another frustrating pause for a player trying to get his season moving. For Colorado, it adds one more test to a forward group that has already had to manage depth concerns before getting much of a look at what LHeureux can provide. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Could Get Pulled Back Into A Goalie Saga Fast
Connor Hellebuycks situation in Winnipeg could soon become one of the more interesting goalie stories on the board, and Colorado has been mentioned as a team worth watching if it turns into something bigger. The Jets team-imposed suspension is expected to run through October 23, and once that date passes, Hellebuyck could rejoin the club. He reportedly asked for a trade in August, which has kept the conversation alive even as Winnipeg has not confirmed any intention to move him.
For the Avalanche, the appeal is obvious enough to be part of the buzz. They do have goaltending options, but a name like Hellebuyck can change the temperature of a situation quickly if Winnipeg opens the door. Buffalo has also been floated as a possible fit, and for now this remains speculation rather than a clear-cut market, but Colorado would be wise to stay attentive if the Jets posture shifts once Hellebuyck is back in the picture. [Read more 🡒]
Former Avalanche Forward Is Already Stirring Questions About Colorados Decision
Jack Drury is already making an early impression in Nashville, and that is bound to get a little extra attention back in Colorado. In the Predators 5-2 win over the St. Louis Blues, Drury scored his first goal with his new team after being moved by the Avalanche in the offseason, then signing a five-year deal to stay put in Nashville.
For Colorado, it is a familiar kind of offseason storyline: a player the organization once added in a trade is now settling in elsewhere and starting to show why another club valued him enough to commit long term. Drury had already spent time with the Avalanche after coming over from the Carolina Hurricanes, so this is less about a strangers breakthrough than a former depth piece reminding his old team what it gave up. [Read more 🡒]