The Colorado Avalanche were active on the waiver wire today, plucking blueliner Ilya Solovyov from the Calgary Flames.
The 25-year-old native of Belarus was the Flames’ seventh-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft. He worked his way through the Flames organization, playing 10 games during the 2023-24 season. He notched three assists in those 10 games.
We have claimed defenseman Ilya Solovyov off waivers from the Calgary Flames. pic.twitter.com/rHIMFhyZSv
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) October 3, 2025
He played a total of five games last season, scoring one assist. He spent the bulk of the 2024-25 season with the Calgary Wranglers of the AHL, registering six goals and 22 assists for 28 points.
The 6’3”, 209-pound defenseman has size. He’s a left-shot, making him a “big, steady force on defense who blocks shots and loves throwing hits anywhere on the ice.”
The description according to Dobber Prospects makes him an intriguing, physical presence with little offensive upside. The scouting report places Solovyov as a defensive defenseman who can kill penalties.
That’s not a bad skillset considering the need for reliable blueliners in today’s game. The scouting report on Dobber added:
“He will need to work on foot speed and try to use his body a little more as he has the height to be a physical presence on the ice.”
That situation means Solovyov could morph into a shutdown defenseman, given more time. The Flames likely didn’t have room for him on the NHL roster and preferred to send him down to the AHL.
How Solovyov fits into Colorado Avalanche organization
Solovyov likely won’t see NHL action with the Colorado Avalanche this season. He’ll head down to the Eagles and get plenty of playing time there. However, fans shouldn’t be surprised to see Solovyov’s name come up if injuries become an issue this season.
On the NHL roster, Solovyov could make a decent pairing alongside someone like Brent Burns on the third pairing. Solovyov evokes thoughts of someone like Dallas Stars tough guy Ilya Lyubushkin. Lyubushkin doesn’t generate much offense, but he’s a steady presence alongside a more offensive defenseman.
It will be interesting to see if the Avalanche can get Solovyov to play on his opposite side. If that’s the case, he could be a pair for Sam Malinski or even make a shutdown pair with Josh Manson.
These are all suppositions at this point. There’s no telling how well Solovyov can transition with the Colorado Avalanche. He’s hoping that he can get his game going and become a valuable member of the organization.