Calgary defenseman Ilya Solovyov reaches out for the puck to try to keep it away from Coachella Valley forward Lleyton Roed during the first period of their game at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, Calif., Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024.

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Calgary Flames Bring Back Ilya Solovyov for Defensive Support

Calgary calls up defenseman Ilya Solovyov, bolstering their roster amid lineup adjustments and key defensive needs.

The Calgary Flames announced on Wednesday that they’ve called up defenseman Ilya Solovyov from the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers. He takes the roster spot left by Kevin Bahl, who’s currently on injured reserve due to an upper-body injury.

This is Solovyov’s first NHL recall of the season. The 24-year-old defenseman played 10 games for the Flames last year before clearing waivers during training camp. Since then, he’s been a standout for the Wranglers in the AHL, playing on the top defensive pairing. He’s recorded six goals, 15 assists, and a +18 rating in 41 games.

Flames recall Ilya Solovyov from the AHL’s Wranglers https://t.co/22fcXxlOTB #Flames #NHL
— FlamesNation (@FlamesNation) February 5, 2025

Last season, Solovyov showed promise during his brief NHL stint, notching three assists in 10 games while averaging nearly 16 minutes of ice time per game. Though his 46.1% Corsi For at even strength wasn’t stellar, he made up for it with solid defensive contributions, including 17 blocked shots and 14 hits.

Also Read : Blue Jackets Recall Dylan Gambrell After Kirill Marchenko Injury

Solovyov signed a two-year deal with Calgary last summer, transitioning to a one-way contract in 2025-26.

The Flames see potential in the 6’3″ Belarusian defenseman. He could step into the lineup as early as Thursday against the Colorado Avalanche, possibly replacing Tyson Barrie, who’s been struggling recently.

Image Andy Abeyta/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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Ilya Solovyov

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Anamika Shrivastava

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