Avalanche trade D Ilya Solovyov to Penguins

Field Level Media|published: Tue 20th January, 14:57 2026

Jan 12, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Avalanche defenseman Ilya Solovyov (28) shoots the puck in the second period against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

The Pittsburgh Penguins acquired defenseman Ilya Solovyov from the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday in exchange for forward Valtteri Puustinen and a 2026 seventh-round draft pick.

Solovyov, 25, is signed through this season on a contract with an average annual value of $775,000.

A native of Belarus, Solovyov has three points (one goal, two assists) with a minus-1 rating, six penalty minutes, 19 blocks and 19 hits while averaging 11:34 on the ice in 16 games with Colorado this season.

For his career, Solovyov has seven points (one goal, six assists), a minus-7 rating, 12 penalty minutes, 44 blocks, 45 hits and 13:37 average ice time in 31 games for the Calgary Flames (2023-25) and Colorado.

The Avalanche selected Solovyov off waivers from the Flames on Oct. 3.

Puustinen, 26, will report to the Avalanche's American Hockey League affiliate, the Colorado Eagles. The native of Finland has played the entire 2025-26 season with the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and has 26 points (seven goals, 19 assists) in 35 games.

The Penguins picked Puustinen in the seventh round of the 2019 NHL Draft. He played in 66 games in parts of three seasons with Pittsburgh (2021-22, 2023-25) and totaled 24 points (seven goals, 17 assists), a plus-2 rating, 10 penalty minutes, 38 blocks and 51 hits in 11:22 average ice time.

--Field Level Media

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