Penguins and Avalanche make three-piece trade

The Colorado Avalanche have been one of the NHL's best teams in 2025/26, but despite their dominant start to the season, they're not going to sit back and wait, but instead be proactive in upgrades, especially after the injury in a shock accident to Valeri Nichushkin.

Now, they've made a surprising trade, as they have officially dealt Ilya Solovyov, a defenseman they picked up on waivers from the Calgary Flames over the summer after he simply didn't fit in on their blue line.

Announced on social media, it has been revealed that the Pittsburgh Penguins gave up 26-year old AHL forward Valtteri Puustinen and a 2026 seventh-round draft pick to acquire the talented defenseman.

In 2025/26, Solovyov has appeared in 16 games for the Avalanche, posting 1 goal and 3 points in that time along with a -1 differential, but simply put, the team clearly didn't believe in the 25-year old.

In return, the Avalanche land Puustinen, who has played in 35 games for the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, tallying 7 goals and 26 points in that time, and given the upside and the depth that he brings to their forward group, it's a solid deal all around.

As for Pittsburgh, they acquire a talented blue liner with solid experience, and after the way some of their other buy-low options have panned out in recent years, it's safe to say that both teams will be happy with this deal.

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