Former Avalanche Defenseman Gets Another Shot With Penguins

Ilya Solovyov is back in Pittsburgh, hoping his latest call-up leads to something more than a short stay in the NHL.

The Penguins recalled the 26-year-old defenseman from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Sunday, Oct. 18, after sending Ryan Johnson to the AHL earlier in the day. Solovyov started the season on Pittsburgh's roster but didn't play in any of its first five games. He cleared waivers and was sent down on Oct. 10, picking up one assist in three games with the AHL club.

Now he's back, although it's still unclear when he'll get his next chance to play.

Solovyov should be a familiar name to Colorado Avalanche fans. The team claimed him off waivers from Calgary on Oct. 3, 2025, and he made a brief stop in Denver before being traded to Pittsburgh in January.

One of his highlights with Colorado came on Jan. 10, when he scored his first NHL goal in a 4-0 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. It was a memorable moment for a defenseman still trying to establish himself in the league.

The Avalanche traded Solovyov to Pittsburgh just 10 days later, receiving forward Valtteri Puustinen and a seventh-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. Colorado eventually used that pick to select Shawn Carrier.

Solovyov found some opportunities with the Penguins after the trade, recording five assists in 14 regular-season games. He also appeared in three playoff games before Pittsburgh was eliminated by the Philadelphia Flyers.

He finished last season with one goal and seven assists in 30 NHL games between Calgary, Colorado and Pittsburgh.

The production isn't eye-catching, but Solovyov has shown he can contribute when given the chance. Getting that chance consistently has been the bigger problem.

For now, he's back with Pittsburgh. Whether he can earn a regular spot remains to be seen, but he'll have another opportunity to make his case when the Penguins need him on the blue line.