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Kyle Dubas drops a blunt truth about Ilya Solovyov and the Penguins gamble
Photo credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
Kyle Dubas just pulled back the curtain on Ilya Solovyov, and the Penguins blue line suddenly feels like it has a new purpose.
Dubas chatted with Josh Getzoff on Penguins Live and didn't treat Solovyov like a throw-in. He talked like this was a targeted add.
Pittsburgh got Solovyov from Colorado on Tuesday, moving out Valtteri Puustinen plus a 2026 seventh-round pick.
That price screams "tryout," but it's the smart kind. Solovyov is 25, plays left defense, and has enough runway to surprise you.
This season, he has 16 NHL games and 3 points, going 1-2-3 in limited minutes. That's not the story, though.
The story is how he plays when the puck isn't on his stick. He's big enough to win inside space, but he doesn't look like a statue.
Here's the post that kicked off the notebook talk.
Dubas' angle matters because it hints at role, not hype. The Penguins want a defender who can survive shifts, make a first pass, and keep the chaos down.
Ilya Solovyov gives the Pittsburgh Penguins a choice
Penguins fans are tired of "project" defensemen, so the patience level is basically zero right now.
Solovyov was drafted in 2020, seventh round, by the Calgary Flames. That's the long road, not the red carpet.
He also comes with a clean cap hit at $775,000, and his deal runs through 2025-26. If it clicks, that's real value.
If it doesn't, the exit is painless. You can park him in the AHL without torpedoing the roster.
Dubas sounded like he's betting on reliability. Not flash, not power-play dreams, just a calmer third pair.
Now it's on the coaching staff to find him the right partner and keep the matchups sane.
The next game will tell you plenty, because the Penguins don't need another name. They need another answer.
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JANVIER 22|167 ANSWERS Kyle Dubas drops a blunt truth about Ilya Solovyov and the Penguins gamble Should Kyle Dubas keep taking low-cost swings like Ilya Solovyov? | ||
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