Ilya Solovyov was searching for the right word in English, and he was a little annoyed that it wasn’t coming to him.
Then Zakhar Bardakov walked by and broke his concentration with some locker room banter in Russian.
“Shut up, buddy,” Solovyov said.
The word Solovyov was looking for? Opportunity.
He’s only been with the Colorado Avalanche for two weeks, but Solovyov is already seizing this second chance and settling in well with his new NHL club.
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“I feel pretty comfortable here,” Solovyov said. “The teammates are so nice. They try to help me everywhere. It’s different system, different locker room, different cultures, like all different. A huge change for me, and the first time I was in this situation in North America. It’s pretty important for me. I’m glad to see the guys trying to help me, especially the teammates.”
Solovyov, 25, was a seventh-round pick by the Calgary Flames who spent most of the past four seasons in the AHL. He had a couple of stints with the Flames, totaling 15 games, but Calgary put him on waivers at the end of training camp.
The Avs did not go on a bargain-bin shopping spree for defense depth this past offseason like they did the previous one, but used a waiver claim to add Solovyov, a left-handed, defensive-minded guy who is listed at 6-foot-3 and 208 pounds.
“I was pretty frustrated when Calgary put me on waivers,” Solovyov said. “My agent called me in the next hour and said a few NHL teams are interested in you. My agent said it would probably be Colorado because they were interested. And one of my teammates said someone from their management staff called him and asked him about me and what kind of player I was.”
That teammate was old friend Dryden Hunt, who might have a future in hockey management. His recommendation looks pretty good so far.
Solovyov made the Avs as the No. 7 defenseman, pushing Keaton Middleton back to the AHL. Colorado coach Jared Bednar admitted that he didn’t really know what to expect when the club claimed Solovyov, beyond some information from the scouting and analytics departments.
When Samuel Girard returned to the injured list, it was Solovyov’s chance to join the lineup. He’s played four games for the Avs, and his time on ice has increased in every contest — something the Belarusian defenseman noted with pride.
“I like him a lot,” Bednar said. “You know what his sort of identity and MO is coming in. I think he’s gotten better. I thought Columbus he was outstanding, and last night, he was pretty good again. He’s a big, physical guy that can move the puck efficiently. He’s a smart player. He seems to be doing a nice job with and without the puck. I like the edge he brings … the size he brings.”
It’s been a whirlwind for Solovyov. The Avs claimed him Oct. 3, but he couldn’t officially join the team for practice until a week later, after his immigration paperwork was finalized.
He was in the lineup one day later, making his Colorado debut against the rival Dallas Stars. Then there was a road trip to Buffalo and Columbus, so he hasn’t had a lot of time to sort out Denver and his daily routines.
But he’s getting there.
“I lived in Calgary four years, and I don’t remember where all the stuff is,” Solovyov said. “In my hometown, yeah, I can go without navigation anywhere. Here, I know where Cherry Creek shopping center is. I know where Ball Arena is, Family Sports (Center). I know a couple Russian stores to buy food. I know where Target is. That’s probably all I need right now.
“When my wife and son comes? Then I’ve got to find the parks, a nice walking area. I know the shopping center. She will like that one.”
Solovyov’s wife, Vlada, and 14-month-old son, Saveliy, are still back in Calgary. He said not having them here is the biggest challenge he’s facing right now.
On the ice, the transition has looked smooth. He played nearly 16 minutes Saturday night against the Boston Bruins. It’s a small sample, but the Avs have created 57 percent of the expected goals and more than 61 percent of the scoring chances at 5-on-5 in nearly 50 minutes with Solovyov on the ice, according to Natural Stat Trick.
It’s only been four games, but Solovyov said assistant coach Nolan Pratt encouraged him in a recent meeting to be more aggressive offensively if he sees the right opportunities during a game, whether it’s pinching down from the blue line in the offensive zone or jumping into a rush.
“It’s a credit to him and what he’s done since he’s been here in the short time playing games,” Bednar said. “He’s got a pretty good skill set. He’s got decent hands and vision and hockey sense. We want him to sort of expand. It’s not just about surviving in the league or being here. It’s about making a positive contribution on a nightly basis.
“I think there’s room for growth, but he’s done a nice job since he’s come in, and I feel pretty comfortable with him back there already.”
Getting settled and feeling like part of the team is certainly part of it. Solovyov said the first couple of days in Denver were tough, even moving here from another Rocky Mountain city, but he’s acclimated to the altitude. Bednar said his conditioning is an area that can improve, but he wouldn’t be the first player to join the Avs and be in that position.
Solovyov had a fellow Belrusian and former KHL teammate with him in Calgary, Yegor Sharangovich. Here, he’s been able to lean on Bardakov and Valeri Nichushkin for help.
Even if it means getting chirped while trying to do an interview after practice.
“It takes less time to feel (part of) the whole team,” Solovyov said. “I can ask Z or Val a bunch of stuff, like, ‘What do I have to do as a young guy? What do I have to not do?’ Other guys help as well, but these guys … it’s nice to speak to someone in your own language.”
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