Ahead of their game in Minnesota, the Colorado Avalanche announced the termination of Ilya Solovyov’s AHL conditioning loan, returning him as the seventh defenseman. Acquired from Calgary in October, Solovyov did not score in three games with the Colorado Eagles but contributed to their strong performance. At 25, he brings potential as a bottom-pairing defenseman and has a $775k cap hit, aiming to solidify his role as a depth defender with the Avalanche. His pending UFA status adds urgency to impress this season.
