Ilya Solovyov’s six-month-old son Saveliy was restless, so the entire family was awake when this phone call came.
Suddenly, it was dad who was struggling to drift back to sleep. An NHL opportunity will always get the adrenaline pumping.
The Solovyovs planned a close-to-home escape for the American Hockey League’s all-star break, so they were just an hour up the road when Ilya found out that he was being recalled by the Calgary Flames. The Belarusian blue-liner hustled back for Wednesday’s practice at the Saddledome.
“I was in Canmore with my wife and son and we almost fell asleep, but I don’t know why — my son just wake up with no reason and start playing with me,” Solovyov said, entertaining a circle of reporters as he recounted this heartwarming and hilarious tale. “I was a little, not like frustrated, but it was a little sad that, ‘Hey buddy, it’s 11 p.m. We want to sleep. We had a fun day — was in the spa the whole day.’ So I held him and tried to bring him to sleep … And then I noticed that my phone started to make some noise.”
On the other end of the line was Brad Pascall, an assistant general manager for the Flames and head honcho for the AHL’s Wranglers.
It was the sort of call that Solovyov has been waiting for all season — another chance for the 24-year-old to prove he belongs on a big-league blue-line. With Kevin Bahl sidelined because of an upper-body injury and Tyson Barrie and Daniil Miromanov both looking like awkward fits as righties trying to work the left side, it makes sense for the Flames to test-drive another option.
‘Solo’ was at the top of the list for several reasons, including his penalty-killing prowess, his willingness to sacrifice his body and the left-shot blade on his stick.
He’ll immediately be mixed in with the shorthanded staff.
“I don’t think our back-end was great (Tuesday),” said Flames coach Ryan Huska, who likely had nightmares about all the odd-man-rushes that his squad surrendered during a 6-3 home loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. “I think they’ve done a good job of trying to pick up the slack in Kevin’s absence, but I do think we miss a player that is like Solo. So there is a time and a place where they need an opportunity to see if they’re able to take that next step. I think now is a good time.”
What is Solovyov’s next step?
He has so far appeared in 10 games in the Flaming C logo. Although his contract upgrades to a one-way for the 2025-26 campaign, that does not make this latest audition any less important.
The rugged rearguard hasn’t skated in the NHL since April and told reporters after Wednesday’s practice that, “I feel I am better than last time.” Now he needs to show it.
“He has to find a way to be able to play the game consistently at this level,” Huska said of Solovyov, who is listed at 6-foot-3 and 208 pounds and is known in the minors as a fearless shot-blocker. “You can be a really good defender at the American League level, but you have to adjust to the pace here. Can you do that? Can you move the puck out of your zone?
“He’s a big-body defenceman, needs to be hard to play against. That’s not necessarily meaning he’s going to finish hits like (Brayden) Pachal does, but we do need him to keep people away from the front of our net. Because that’s part of who he is. He is a bigger, stronger man, moves well, and we have openings for penalty-killers on the back end. We need people to step up and grab hold of that role, so there may be an opportunity for him in those situations.”
Solovyov, a seventh-round pick in 2020, is one of those guys who really seems to understand his role. While he has posted the best offensive numbers as a pro this season, with six goals and 21 points in 41 outings with the Wranglers, he realizes that he’s not here to solve the Flames’ even-strength scoring woes.
“I just have to do my job, don’t overthink it and don’t try to do too much on the ice,” Solovyov said. “You know, we have Rasmus Andersson and MacKenzie Weegar. These are guys who can make plays on the blue-line. Maybe some other guys, too. But as for me, I’m the guy who has to support them.
“I’m an at-home defenceman. My part on the ice is our zone, neutral zone and blue-line. That’s it. If I can score from the blue-line, coach will say, ‘Oh, what a shot! Good job!’ Everyone will say that. But it’s not my job to go in the rush and make a two-on-one.”
Someday, hopefully in the midst of a long and successful NHL career, Ilya will be able to tell Saveliy the story of how his dad was recalled on a cold night in Canmore, how the youngster suddenly stirred and how the family had hit the highway bright and early the next morning to be back for practice.
As this proud papa put it: “Maybe it was our alert to not miss the call?”
“It’s an 11 p.m. call and when you recognize that you will go to NHL, it’s tough to fall asleep,” Solovyov beamed. “I’m happy, and I try to enjoy this moment.”