On a quiet Friday afternoon, following a busy night of promoting the LA Rams, the Colorado Avalanche made a roster move — claiming Belarusian left-handed defenseman off waivers.
Solovyov, a former seventh-round pick by the Calgary Flames in the 2020 NHL Draft, entered the professional ranks immediately after being selected as a double overager. He began his career with Dynamo Minsk in the KHL before spending the next four seasons in the Flames organization, primarily with their AHL affiliate. Standing at 6-foot-3 and 209 pounds, the Belarusian defenseman appeared in 15 NHL games over the past two seasons, tallying four assists. Known for his physical presence and defensive reliability, Solovyov has also made strides in developing his puck-moving skills and offensive contributions.
Now 25 years old, Solovyov is no longer viewed as a prospect but continues to trend upward, coming off a strong AHL campaign where he posted 28 points in 59 games for the Calgary Wranglers. He’s on a one-way contract worth $775,000 for this season and is expected to become a Group IV unrestricted free agent next summer.
The Avalanche’s decision to claim Solovyov isn’t entirely surprising, as the team’s blue line felt incomplete after the offseason. General manager Chris MacFarland has shown a willingness to make in-season adjustments, and with Sam Girard sidelined by injury, Colorado’s need for another left-shot defenseman became more pressing. Although Girard is expected to return soon, Sam Malinski’s struggles on the left side during recent preseason games against Vegas highlighted the lack of depth at that position.
Once Girard is back, the Avalanche will face an interesting roster decision: whether to carry eight defensemen or risk placing Keaton Middleton on waivers to send him to the AHL. Solovyov himself could also be placed on waivers if necessary, but he must remain on Colorado’s roster for at least 30 days before that option becomes available — and there’s no guarantee he’d clear, given Calgary may try to reclaim him. For now, Solovyov begins his trial run with the Avalanche, looking to prove he belongs on a contending NHL roster.