On a sleepy Friday afternoon after a night of promoting the LA Rams, the Colorado Avalanche found the time to put in a waiver claim and were awarded Belarusian left handed defenseman Ilya Solovyov.
Sovolov is a former 2020 seventh round pick of the Calgary Flames. He was drafted as a double overager and began his pro career right away. First in a season with Dynamo Minsk in the KHL and then he joined the Flames organization for four seasons primarily in the AHL. The 6-foot-3, 209 pound defenseman got in 15 NHL games with the Flames over the last two season registering four assists. The size makes him a physical shutdown first defenseman but he’s worked to add offense and a good first pass to his game.
At 25 years old Solovyov is not considered a prospect but he was still on an upward trajectory having hit 28 points in 59 games with the Calgary Wranglers. He is on a one-way contract making $775K this year before likely becoming a Group IV Unrestricted Free Agent next summer.
This move doesn’t come as much of a surprise as the roster always felt incomplete after the summer and GM Chris MacFarland isn’t shy about rebuilding a roster in-season. The need was enhanced due to Sam Girard’s injury and although he’s expected back soon, the fact that Sam Malinski did not look comfortable on the left side in the recent pair of preseason games against Vegas with no other realistic option for the left side probably was another factor.
When Girard returns this transaction sets up an interesting question if the Avalanche are going to carry eight defenseman or risk Keaton Middleton on waivers for the purpose of sending him down to the AHL. Solovyov can go back on waivers at anytime but he needs to be on the Avalanche roster for 30 days if they want to get him down to their AHL assuming he goes unclaimed by the Flames. Considering Solovyov was still an asset for Calgary that might be unlikely. But first, his trial with the Avalanche now begins.
