Ilya Solovyov

Ilya Solovyov
Born (2000-07-20) 20 July 2000
Mogilev, Belarus
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 187 lb (85 kg; 13 st 5 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams
Pittsburgh Penguins
Dinamo Minsk
Calgary Flames
Colorado Avalanche
National team  Belarus
NHL draft 205th overall, 2020
Calgary Flames
Playing career 2017–present

Ilya Ivanovich Solovyov (Russian: Илья Иванович Соловьёв; born 20 July 2000) is a Belarusian professional ice hockey player who is a defenceman for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL). Internationally, he played for Belarus at the 2021 World Championship.

Playing career

Solovyov played as a youth in Belarus, developing within the Belarus under-20 team while participating in the Belarusian Extraliga (BXL). He was selected 53rd overall in the 2019 CHL Import Draft by the Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and made his North American major junior debut in the following 2019–20 season, where he scored seven goals and had 33 assists for 40 points in 53 games.

He was drafted in the seventh round, 205th overall, in the 2020 NHL entry draft by the Calgary Flames and returned to Belarus to play with Dinamo Minsk of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). As a rookie in the 2020–21 season, Solovyov recorded two goals and seven assists for nine points and 36 penalty minutes in 41 games.

Solovyov was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract with the Calgary Flames on 6 April 2021.[1][2] Solovyov earned his first NHL point after Connor Zary deflected Solovyov's shot from the point and scored during a 5 December 2023 game against the Minnesota Wild.[3]

Before the start of the 2024–25 NHL season, Solovyov re-signed with the Flames as a restricted free agent on a two-year contract on 18 September 2024.[4] He played the majority of the season in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Calgary Wranglers and registered six goals and 28 points through 59 appearances, sharing the team lead in goals among blueliners. Solovyov also made five appearances with the Flames, posting one assist.

Approaching the 2025–26 season, on 2 October 2025, Solovyov was placed on waivers by the Flames, and was claimed by the Colorado Avalanche the following day.[5] Solovyov scored his first NHL goal during a 10 January 2026 game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.[6][7] He was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins on 20 January 2026, in exchange for Valtteri Puustinen and a 2026 seventh-round draft pick.[8]

International play

Solovyov represented Belarus at the 2021 World Championship.[9][10][11]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2016–17 Belarus U20 BLR 1 0 0 0 0
2018–19 Belarus U20 BLR 53 3 5 8 30 4 0 0 0 2
2019–20 Saginaw Spirit OHL 53 7 33 40 35
2020–21 Dinamo Minsk KHL 41 2 7 9 36 5 0 1 1 0
2020–21 Dinamo-Molodechno BLR 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0
2021–22 Stockton Heat AHL 51 3 5 8 24 6 0 1 1 0
2022–23 Calgary Wranglers AHL 68 4 14 18 38 9 1 1 2 2
2023–24 Calgary Wranglers AHL 51 5 10 15 34 6 1 0 1 2
2023–24 Calgary Flames NHL 10 0 3 3 4
2024–25 Calgary Wranglers AHL 59 6 22 28 34 1 0 0 0 0
2024–25 Calgary Flames NHL 5 0 1 1 2
2025–26 Colorado Avalanche NHL 16 1 2 3 6
2025–26 Colorado Eagles AHL 3 0 0 0 0
KHL totals 41 2 7 9 36 5 0 1 1 0
NHL totals 31 1 6 7 12

International

Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM
2018 Belarus U18 5 0 0 0 2
2019 Belarus WJC-D1 5 0 0 0 0
2019 Belarus WC-D1 5 0 0 0 0
2020 Belarus WJC-D1 5 1 2 3 2
2021 Belarus WC 4 0 0 0 2
Junior totals 15 1 2 3 4
Senior totals 9 0 0 0 2

References

  1. ^ "Flames select Ilya Solovyov at 205th overall". flamesnation.ca. 7 October 2020.
  2. ^ "Flames sign Ilya Solovyov". nhl.com. 6 April 2021.
  3. ^ Aaron Vickers (5 December 2023). "Boldy scores twice, Wild ease past Flames for 4th straight win". NHL.com. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  4. ^ Keshavjee, Khalid (18 September 2024). "Calgary Flames re-sign Ilya Solovyov to a two-year, $775K AAV contract". The Win Column. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  5. ^ "Avalanche claim Ilya Solovyov off waivers". Colorado Avalanche. 3 October 2025. Retrieved 3 October 2025.
  6. ^ Boulding, Ryan (10 January 2026). "Miner, Avalanche shut out Blue Jackets, extend home point streak to 21". NHL.com. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
  7. ^ Ryan O'Hara (10 January 2026). "Ilya Solovyov Scores First Career Goal Against Blue Jackets". Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  8. ^ "Penguins Acquire Defenseman Ilya Solovyov from the Colorado Avalanche in Exchange for Valtteri Puustinen and a 2026 Seventh-Round Draft Pick". NHL.com. 20 January 2026. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
  9. ^ "Хоккеисты сборной Беларуси определились с игровыми номерами" (in Russian). hockey.by. 18 May 2021. Archived from the original on 31 May 2023. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  10. ^ "Team Roster Belarus" (PDF). iihf.com. 21 May 2021.
  11. ^ "Player Statistics Belarus" (PDF). iihf.com. 4 June 2021.