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Penguins defenseman set to make team debut and Dan Muse opens up about it
Photo credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Ilya Solovyov is finally getting his shot, and if you’ve been watching the Penguins’ blue line lately, you know exactly why this debut feels like a statement.
The wait is over.
After sitting as a healthy scratch for three games since the trade, the big man is drawing in against Chicago.
And let’s be honest, the timing is perfect.
At 6'3" and 208 lbs, Solovyov brings the kind of "heavy" game that doesn’t just clear the crease—it sends a message.
He isn’t here to be a finesse player.
He is here to make life miserable for opposing forwards.
(Drafted Round 7, #205 overall by Calgary)
For a guy taken that late in the draft, his path to the NHL has been a grind, but that chip on his shoulder is exactly what Pittsburgh needs right now.
He’s cheap, he’s hungry, and at 25 years old, he has zero bad habits to unlearn.
The coaching staff isn't just throwing him to the wolves; they see specific tools they can use immediately.
Dan Muse didn't mince words when describing what the new addition brings to the table.
"He's a guy we're excited to see... From what I've seen, from what the organization has seen, he's a guy that we feel like there's some elements there, from a physicality standpoint, from a defending standpoint, from a puck moving standpoint."
- Dan Muse
- Dan Muse
Solovyov adds the grit this lineup has been missing all season.
It’s not just about hitting; it’s about that "puck moving standpoint" Muse mentioned—getting it out of danger simply and violently.
Solovyov knows the pressure is on.
He hasn't played in over a week, and he’s stepping onto a new team in a loud building.
But listening to him, he doesn't sound rattled—he sounds ready to run through a wall.
"I'm really excited. I can’t wait to step on the ice with this group of guys. It’s unbelievable. I haven’t played in a week. You’ve got to expect that it’s going to be a little bit harder for me (the) first few minutes. But I’ve got to be dialed in and bring everything on the board."
- Ilya Solovyov
- Ilya Solovyov
"Dialed in" is the key phrase there.
If he keeps his game simple and uses that imposing frame to punish the Blackhawks' forwards, he won't just be a fill-in.
He could be the anchor the third pair has been desperate for.
Tonight isn't just a debut; it's an audition for a permanent job.
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Forget the trade deadline: The Pittsburgh Penguins may already have the steal of the year
Forget the trade deadline: The Pittsburgh Penguins may already have the steal of the year