Sydney Sixers captain Moises Henriques says it was simply a “misunderstanding” that left star recruit Babar Azam fuming at teammate Steve Smith – but confirmed the duo are “back friendly again”.
Tottenham 2-0 Borussia Dortmund: Champions League – as it happened
Spurs eased the pressure on Thomas Frank with a dominant first-half performance against Dortmund
The only player on a yellow card is the Spurs substitute Randal Kolo Muani.
The players emerge from the tunnel. It’s hard to make out the atmosphere because the Champions League music is blaring out around the ground.
Continue reading...Inter 1-3 Arsenal, Real Madrid 6-1 Monaco, and more: Champions League – as it happened
Arsenal continued their 100 per cent record in the competition, while Real Madrid hit Monaco for six
In case you were wondering, Club Brugge won 4-1 away at Kairat earlier today.
Mikel Arteta does not look concerned.
Continue reading...Former NBA star Lamar Odom arrested on suspicion of DUI in Nevada
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Former NBA star Lamar Odom was arrested on suspicion of DUI in Las Vegas over the weekend, authorities said Tuesday.
Odom, 46, was pulled over Saturday on Interstate 15 near Harry Reid International Airport, according to Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Shawn Haggstrom.
He could face charges including DUI, excessive speed and failure to properly maintain a travel lane, Haggstrom said.
Haggstrom didn't have attorney information for Odom. An email seeking comment from a sports agent for Odom wasn't immediately returned.
Clark County jail records showed that Odom was no longer in custody as of Tuesday.
Odom won championships in 2009 and 2010 with the Los Angeles Lakers. He also played for the Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks during a 14-year NBA career.
His 2013 marriage to Khloe Kardashian was tabloid fodder and the couple appeared together on a reality TV show before divorcing months later. That same year, Odom was arrested for DUI in Los Angeles.
In 2015, Odom made headlines after suffering a medical episode during a stay at a legal brothel in Nevada called Love Ranch.
Better Know Your Blue Jays 40-man: José Berríos
José Berríos came to the Jays in a trade with the Twins at the deadline in 2021. Austin Martin and Simeon Woods Richardson went to Minnesota.
The Jays signed Berrios to a seven-year, $131 million contract after the 2021 season. There is an opt-out after the 2026 season, and there are $5 million incentive bonuses in both 2027 and 2028. Opting out after this season would be costly to him. He will make $18,714,286 this year, and $24,714,285 in 2027, and $1 more in 2028. I have a hard time believing he could do better than that at age 33.
I understand that he wasn’t thrilled to be left off the playoff roster, and I’m sure I wouldn’t have been either. TSN posted this:
“He was not happy,” Atkins said, per MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson. “He was disappointed that he wasn’t in our rotation. He handled it well, but then when it came down to roster selection, he wasn’t on it.”
“It’s always tough when someone of his pedigree is not in the rotation,” Atkins explained of the late-season move. “I’m sure he was not excited with that decision. Having to be the one who makes it makes it very difficult. I’d describe the relationship as solid, professional.”
It would be tough to have been such a steady presence in the rotation for several years and then be forgotten when the team is finally doing well.
In four and a half seasons with the Jays, Berríos has a 53-39 record and a 4.09 ERA in 138 starts (he had a 4.08 ERA in 135 starts with the Twins, he’s nothing if not consistent). He has a 6.9 bWAR in his time with the Jays.
2025 didn’t quite match his previous two. He had a 4.17 ERA in 31 games, 30 starts, and a 1.3 bWAR. Not bad, but a step back from what he’s been. He pitched 166 innings, the least he’s thrown since 2017, but that was still 23rd most in the AL.
There is a cost to throwing as many innings as he has over the past several years.
The question is how he fits into the Jays’ plans this year. We have Shane Bieber, Dylan Cease, Kevin Gausman, Cody Ponce and Trey Yesavage set for the rotation. Eric Lauer and Ricky Tiedmann are available in case of injury.
You can never have too much pitching, but, presuming the others are healthy, it is pretty hard to imagine that Berríos wouldn’t be the odd man out.
It’s a tough spot for the team. I have my doubts that he can be traded, at least without sending a lot of money along with him.
Anyway, Steamer thinks he’ll pitch in 47 games, 19 starts, 139 innings with a 4.37 ERA. I have no idea. He could fill a long relief role, but we already seem to have a lot of pitchers in the pen as well. But, he’s going to be pain, so he’ll be on the roster.
Game Preview: Jalen Green returns for the Suns tonight against the 76ers
Who: Phoenix Suns (26-17) @ Philadelphia 76ers (23-18)
When: 5:00 pm Arizona Time
Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Watch: Arizona’s Family 3TV, Arizona’s Family Sports
Listen: KMVP 98.7
Tonight finally looks to be the night that Jalen Green returns for the Phoenix Suns from his two-and-a-half-month absence with a hamstring injury. Before yesterday’s game against the Brooklyn Nets, Suns head coach Jordan Ott said as much, saying that all signs point to him playing in today’s matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Green, 23, was one of the main pieces the Suns acquired when they traded Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets during the offseason. A 20-point scorer for his career, Green played two games for the Suns this year after re-aggravating his hamstring that he had hurt before the season. In two games this season, Green averaged 15.5 points per game in the two contests, but got hurt in the second. Green’s 29 points were the second-most ever scored in a Suns debut, and his six made threes are the most ever in a Suns debut.
Coming into the matchup, the Suns have momentum. Strong games from Dillon Brooks, Devin Booker, and Collin Gillespie, along with the team hitting 20 or more threes, led the team to a 126-117 victory over the Brooklyn Nets for their second in a row and fifth in seven games.
Phoenix is currently tied with the Los Angeles Lakers for sixth in the Western Conference. A win tonight over the Philadelphia 76ers would make them ten games over .500 for the first time this season and since the 2023-24 season. Philadelphia is no easy opponent, however.
Projected Starting Lineups
Injury Report
Suns
- Mark Williams — QUESTIONABLE (Right Knee Injury Management)
- Jordan Goodwin — AVAILABLE (Jaw Sprain)
76ers
- Joel Embiid — OUT (Right Ankle Injury Management)
- Paul George — QUESTIONABLE (Left Knee Injury Management)
- Johni Broome — DOUBTFUL (Left Thumb)
- Kelly Oubre, Jr. — AVAILABLE (Left Knee)
What to Watch For
Obviously, how Jalen Green performs and how the team adjusts to his presence. There’s not a large sample size of how he’ll perform as a Sun, considering he’s played just one whole game without getting hurt, and Dillon Brooks didn’t play in it. Presumably, he’ll be on a minutes restriction, so just because he’s likely to start does not mean that he’ll be playing starters’ minutes.
Look for Devin Booker to be the team’s primary ball handler and shift back to playing point guard, which he did before Collin Gillespie became a starter. The Suns look to have a stronger bench unit if Green is starting. Gillespie and Grayson Allen look to be the team’s first subs, along with Jordan Goodwin playing a combo guard role.
Like Jordan Ott said postgame after the team’s win, there will be bumps in the process of implementing Green into the rotation, but his presence around the team while injured should help.
Keys to a Suns Win
Both teams are coming off victories yesterday. Joel Embiid hasn’t played in a back-to-back in over two years, and Mark Williams’ status for back-to-backs is always in the air. Even with Green returning, the Suns could be missing one of their starters with a roster that played a game less than 24 hours before tip-off.
If the Suns can do what they did against the Nets, make threes early, move the ball, and limit turnovers, they should be in good shape to get their third-straight win. After being a mystery going into the season, the 76ers are having a strong year. Sitting in fifth in the Eastern Conference, when Joel Embiid has been in the lineup, he’s produced strong numbers, and Tyrese Maxey was just named an All-Star Starter yesterday. Phoenix will have their hands full with Maxey, one of the league’s best guards and leading scorers, they’ll need to find ways to limit his production to get the win.
Prediction
Suns keep the winning ways rolling. Whether Mark Williams plays or not, I don’t expect Joel Embiid to, so Philadelphia won’t have a strong advantage inside. Jalen Green’s return should give Phoenix another ball handler and fresh legs in the second half of a back-to-back. Give me the Suns in a good win.
Suns 118, 76ers 113
Bodø/Glimt 3-1 Manchester City: Champions League – as it happened
Kasper Hogh scored a brace and Rodri was sent off as Manchester City were humbled by hugely impressive hosts on a freezing night in the Arctic Circle
Erling Haaland: Having grown up in Bryne, a mere 1,948 kilometres south of Bodo, this represents something of a homecoming for the Manchester City striker. The 25-year-old has scored five goals in the Champions League this season and will be hoping to add to his tally following an extremely fallow period in which he has scored just one goal, a penalty against Brighton, in his last seven games in all competitions.
Marc Guehi: The England defender completed a £20m move to Manchester City from Crystal Palace yesterday, with Pep Guardiola describing him as a high-class defender who is the “perfect age” and will provide an immediate boost owing to injuries. Sadly, the boost won’t be as immediate as Pep would like because his new recruit is ineligible to play against Bodo/Glimt. Jamie Jackson reports from just north of the Arctic Circle …
Continue reading...Timberwolves vs Jazz Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game
Anthony Edwards is usually pretty big on statements, so his omission from the All-Star starters should propel the Minnesota Timberwolves tonight as they visit the Utah Jazz.
Edwards erupted for 55 points in the weekend loss to San Antonio, and my Timberwolves vs. Jazz predictions signal another Ant avalanche here against a Utah team that’s lost four in a row.
Get the latest on this January 20 matchup with my free NBA picks and betting tips.
Timberwolves vs Jazz prediction
Timberwolves vs Jazz best bet: Anthony Edwards Over 30.5 points (-112)
There were always going to be some disappointments in the loaded Western Conference All-Star voting. Anthony Edwards wasn’t exactly a snub – he was tied with Victor Wembanyama for the last starting spot – but we’re talking about one of the faces of the NBA having to settle for coming off the bench.
That feels like the kind of slight that Ant would take personally, and I’m banking on a backlash here in Utah. Plus, Edwards is already in scorching form, returning from a foot issue with a masterpiece in San Antonio, where we had made 19 of his 33 shots and scored 26 points in the fourth quarter.
If he did that against a Wemby-led defense, what damage might he do to the Utah Jazz? Utah has given up 120+ points in five of its last six contests, with the Charlotte Hornets hitting the 150-point mark against Will Hardy’s team earlier this month.
Ant has done more of his scoring damage on the road this year, with a 33.1 PPG mark away from Target Center, and he cooked the Jazz in their prior matchups this season, dropping a combined 72 points across two matchups in November.
Look for Edwards to be in the same ballpark again here, especially with a little extra motivation behind him.
Timberwolves vs Jazz same-game parlay
The Over is 27-16 for the Jazz this season, and this game has all the ingredients for a shootout.
Utah has strung together some embarrassing defensive efforts lately, while Minnesota ranks third in the NBA with 120 PPG. The Over has been a winning ticket in six of the Jazz’s last nine contests.
I’m also riding Donte DiVincenzo’s current hot streak. He’s drilled 3+ three-pointers in six of his last seven games, and there could be some extra shots up for grabs if Naz Reid is ruled out with a shoulder injury.
DiVincenzo finished with 14 points in his last outing against Utah.
Timberwolves vs Jazz SGP
- Anthony Edwards Over 30.5 points
- Over 244.5
- Donte DiVincenzo Over 13.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Gobert back at it
Rudy Gobert is off the injury report after missing Minnesota’s loss to the Spurs, and he’s nailed this Over in four of his last five games.
He’s averaging 13.4 RPG so far this month, and Utah will be shorthanded in the frontcourt if Lauri Markkanen sits out.
Timberwolves vs Jazz SGP
- Anthony Edwards Over 30.5 points
- Over 244.5
- Donte DiVincenzo Over 13.5 points
- Rudy Gobert Over 12.5 rebounds
Timberwolves vs Jazz odds
- Spread: Minnesota -10.5 (-110) | Utah +10.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Minnesota -450 | Utah +350
- Over/Under: Over 244.5 (-110) | Under 244.5 (-110)
Timberwolves vs Jazz betting trend to know
The Timberwolves are 9-1 SU in their last 10 meetings with the Jazz, but only 6-4 ATS. Find more NBA betting trends for Timberwolves vs. Jazz.
How to watch Timberwolves vs Jazz
| Location | Delta Center, Salt Lake City, UT |
| Date | Tuesday, January 20, 2026 |
| Tip-off | 9:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | FDSN North-X, KJZZ |
Timberwolves vs Jazz latest injuries
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This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
Avalanche Send Ilya Solovyov to Penguins for Valtteri Puustinen and Draft Pick
The Colorado Avalanche have announced that they have traded defenseman Ilya Solovyov in exchange for forward Valtteri Puustinen from the Pittsburgh Penguins, along with their seventh-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
We have acquired Valtteri Puustinen and Pittsburgh's own 7th Round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft in exchange for Ilya Solovyov. pic.twitter.com/zegVaNPIgW
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) January 20, 2026
The Avalanche claimed the Belarusian defenseman off waivers from the Calgary Flames in October. He wasn’t going to be an every-game type of player, but at 6-foot-3, 209 pounds and shoots left, he is a strong defenseman that can play in a bottom-pairing role and be confident enough to move the puck while throwing his body in front of it as well. He got into 16 games with the Avalanche and scored his first career NHL goal, alongside two assists for three points in his tenure.
Considering the injuries the Avalanche have to their forward group, this is a trade that made sense in a pinch, considering other options they have to call up from the Eagles if they need another bottom-pairing player.
Puustinen has spent the entire 2025-26 season so far with the Pittsburgh Penguins AHL team, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. In 35 games, he has seven goals and 19 assists for 26 points. He played 52 games with the Penguins during the 2023-24 season and finished with five goals and 15 assists for 20 points.
At 26 years old, and 5-foot-9, 183 pounds, he can play both left and right wing, giving more wing depth that the Avalanche sorely need with Gabriel Landeskog, Joel Kiviranta, and Logan O’Connor out right now. Alongside Puustinen, they also receive Pittsburgh's own seventh-round pick, which is now the fourth seventh-round pick they will have in the upcoming 2026 Draft.
Tuesday Morning Minnesota: The “New Twin Alert” Edition
The Twins signed their first multi-year free agent contract since Carlos Correa (yes, it’s been that long) by adding catcher Victor Caratini to their roster. Ben Jones has more on the signing.
The Past Week on Twinkie Town:
- Check out The Feed, where you can add your discussions about the Twins!
- Matt Monitto is keeping track of the new jersey numbers on the Twins roster.
- Zach Koenig has a new theme song for the Twins ownership group.
- James Fillmore reviews last week’s baseball movie night, Alibi Ike. We’ve got Major League coming up this Friday!
- Brandon Brooks has a new Rival Roundup for us all!
- We’re around to Round 13 in Zach Koenig’s list of the definitive moments in Twins history.
Elsewhere in Twins Territory:
- Former Twin Ryan Pressly announced his retirement. According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Twins have hired Pressly to work with the team. According to Declan Goff of SKOR North, he will work with pitchers in both the majors and minors and will also be with the team during spring training.
- The Twins have claimed former top prospect Vidal Brujan off waivers. Mickey Gasper was DFA’d as the corresponding move.
- The Twins finalized their 2026 international signee class. Jesse Borek at MLB.com has a deeper look at a few of the notable signings.
In the World of Baseball:
- Two major dominos fell in free agency this past week:
- Kyle Tucker will be signing a four-year, $240 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Sonja Chen at MLB.com has more on the signing.
- Bo Bichette is signing with the New York Mets for three years and $126 million. Manny Randhawa and Mark Bowman at MLB.com have more details on the move to Queens for the shortstop.
- Hall of Fame voting results will be announced tonight. Brian Murphy at MLB.com looks at the likely candidates to join Jeff Kent in Cooperstown this year.
Raptors vs Warriors Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game
The Golden State Warriors were dealt a devastating blow with Jimmy Butler tearing his ACL last night, ending his season.
Meanwhile, it’s been a roller coaster season for the Toronto Raptors, so can they take advantage of this matchup while the Dubs try to find their bearings without Butler?
My Raptors vs. Warriors predictions and NBA picks break it all down for Tuesday, January 20.
Raptors vs Warriors prediction
Raptors vs Warriors best bet: Raptors +3.5 (-110)
Both the Golden State Warriors and the Toronto Raptors are banged up, but the loss of Jimmy Butler probably makes the Dubs reassess their entire trajectory of this season.
The strength of both teams is defense, with each ranking in the Top 5 in defensive rating. This makes me like the underdog.
Butler's absence, combined with playing the second half of a back-to-back, while getting more than three points with the Raptors as underdogs, is a great spot to back Toronto as the Warriors try to figure out life without Jimmy Buckets.
Raptors vs Warriors same-game parlay
Butler’s first assignment in this game was likely shutting down Brandon Ingram. Ingram is averaging 21.7 points per game this season, and while he’s been in a bit of a slump, this is the perfect opportunity for him to get back on track.
Meanwhile, Immanuel Quickley has had an up-and-down season for the Raptors, but he’s averaging 17.6 points per game over his last 13 and has topped 15.5 points 10 times over that stretch.
Raptors vs Warriors SGP
- Raptors +3.5
- Brandon Ingram Over 23.5 points
- Immanuel Quickley Over 16.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Picking Up the Slack
Let's add a couple of Warriors who could step up in Jimmy Buckets' absence to the Raptors point scorers we already have.
Raptors vs Warriors SGP
- Brandon Ingram Over 23.5 points
- Immanuel Quickley Over 16.5 points
- Buddy Hield Over 8.5 points
- Moses Moody Over 11.5 points
Raptors vs Warriors odds
- Spread: Raptors +3.5 (-110) | Warriors -3.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Raptors +135 | Warriors -160
- Over/Under: Over 225 (-110) | Under 225 (-110)
Raptors vs Warriors betting trend to know
The Warriors have only covered the 1H Spread in 18 of their last 45 games for -12.90 Units and a -25% ROI. Find more NBA betting trends for Raptors vs. Warriors.
How to watch Raptors vs Warriors
| Location | Chase Center, San Francisco, CA |
| Date | Tuesday, January 20, 2026 |
| Tip-off | 10:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | Sportsnet, NBC Sports Bay Area |
Raptors vs Warriors latest injuries
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Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
Report: Williamson could be a long shot trade target for the Wizards
January 2026 has been a shock for the Washington Wizards. Early in the month, there was speculation that then-Atlanta Hawks guard Trey Young may be a target for Washington and that Young preferred the Wizards. In a matter of days, Young got traded to the Wizards for a relatively low price asset-wise: Corey Kispert and CJ McCollum. So using that line of thinking, a recent piece by Joshua Robbins of The Athletic indicates that New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson could also be a target for Washington considering how quickly the Wizards acquired Young.
The Pelicans, at least on the record, do not intend to trade him. But considering his injury history despite his talent, if the Wizards offer some compensation their way, it’s possible that the Pelicans could listen. Here is an excerpt from Robbins’ piece:
With the Young trade as the template of a low-cost trade for a distressed asset, league sources speculated that New Orleans Pelicans big man Zion Williamson would be someone the Wizards would have to consider if the price is right.
The Pelicans reportedly have told teams they’re not going to trade Williamson, Herb Jones, Trey Murphy III, Derik Queen or Jeremiah Fears. As it pertains to Williamson only, however, league sources expressed skepticism to The Athletic about that report.
League sources said they cannot envision any scenario in which Washington would give up one of its own future first-round picks. But one source speculated that a pick owed to the Wizards, such as the least favorable of the Houston Rockets’ (top-four protected), LA Clippers and Oklahoma City Thunder’s 2026 first-round picks, might satisfy the Pelicans’ goals.
To be crystal clear: The Wizards trading for Williamson appears to be an extreme long shot. But it was mentioned as a possibility by enough league sources that it at least should be mentioned here.
The Wizards made noise early this month by acquiring one of the league’s most potent scorers. So, knowing how quickly that move happened, who knows what could happen with Williamson? Let us know in the comments below.
Wales coach Steve Tandy left trapped in middle of toxic Ospreys and Cardiff saga
Doubt over regions is fast escalating into a civil war
Six Nations squad announcement overshadowed
The prevailing mood in Welsh rugby has been frequently dark, but rarely this bible black. Once upon a time a Six Nations squad announcement would have topped the agenda across the country; on Tuesday it felt like a semicolon in a much bigger narrative. Even Wales have never selected seven players whose club is in imminent danger of being axed by their own union.
The bare facts of the situation are increasingly stark for all involved. The existing owners of Ospreys, Wales’s most successful region of the past two decades, have just been nominated controversially as the preferred bidders for Cardiff, potentially clearing the way to reduce the number of Welsh professional sides from four to three. The internecine politics have become so increasingly toxic that Steve Tandy, the national head coach, had to plead for rugby‑related questions at his lunchtime squad announcement.
Continue reading...Trouble brewing in the locker room?
When the Knicks first started to struggle, fans and analysts were quick to diagnose the problem as fatigue, with a side of some schematic issues, and players just playing badly. But with every passing game, their so-called rough stretch looks less and less like a stretch, and more and more like who they actually are going to be the rest of the way. And in a lot of these losses, they don’t just look tired or like they aren’t executing. They look like a disjointed and dysfunctional team, if you can even call them that. During so many timeouts and blowouts, the players aren’t picking each other up, aren’t coming together, and it’s turned a lot of fans into sleuths and even lip readers.
Yet all of that until recently was just speculation. But after the Knicks’ latest embarrassment, which came in the shape of a beatdown at the hands of the struggling Mavericks, players seemed to finally start voicing a bit more of their opinions on what’s taken place.
Deuce McBride, who’s never been one to shy away from being honest and transparent, talked about how the team has had some underlying issues that were masked with wins earlier in the season, and how the Knicks have gotten way too comfortable while their opponents have been hungrier.
Josh Hart, who is often labeled as the heart of the team and is among the most vocal players on the team, said, “We have to make sure we have a professional mindset to everything. We gotta come in & be locked in. We can’t go into practice & have things said several times; we can’t come out & not execute an ATO.”
Hart also spoke candidly about the need to look in the mirror, saying, “We all need to do some soul-searching. Some are looking in the mirror. Right now we’re playing embarrassing basketball. We’re not executing on the offensive end. Defensively, we’ve been abysmal. We’ve been terrible defensively all year”.
The captain, Jalen Brunson, echoed those sentiments and added a sense of urgency and even desperation.
And that was just seconds after looking, and sounding a bit lost when asked about why the team didn’t show up.
And that was after the broadcast caught Brunson trying to rally the guys together and instill that sense of urgency in everyone else.
The honesty and frustrations didn’t end there as head coach Mike Brown, who has received his own share of criticisms, voiced his frustrations postgame.
On one side, it’s nice to see a team realize that they are indeed playing not just a bad brand of basketball, but doing so with an overall embarrassing level of effort, energy, and physicality, or lack thereof. On the other hand, it’s frustrating to see them acknowledge it, say the right things, and still do nothing to fix it. And all while that’s going on, this team, maybe more so than any other struggling team, has looked lifeless. We may never find out if this is because of the coaching change, something that happened in the locker room, or if it has to do with players not being happy with their roles. But one thing is for sure. This team is in a dark place. And that’s not just about their recent record or the results.
They look like a group of individuals, and not a team. They don’t look like they enjoy playing with each other, or even being around each other. That’s led to them being much worse than the sum of their parts, and that’s a concern considering the earlier reports that the front office is looking to stick with this core throughout the rest of the season. Because unless something magical happens off the court, and in the lockerroom, the on-court results and process likely won’t change much. And if that’s going to be the case, you can make a strong argument that this team needs a change for the sake of change, even if it means a potential downgrade on paper.
Penguins trade Valtteri Puustinen to Colorado for Ilya Solovyov
The Penguins announced a trade on Tuesday, sending forward Valtteri Puustinen and a seventh round pick to Colorado in exchange for defenseman Ilya Solovyov.
Puustinen, as mentioned in the last Wilkes Weekly, was climbing the ranks of the all-time WBS scoring list but will see his progress stopped with 101 career AHL points with the Penguins. The 26-year old former seventh round pick in 2019 has been a part of the Pens’ organization professionally since the start of the 2021-22 season, scoring 24 points in 66 career NHL games with Pittsburgh. His place in the organization peaked with 20 points in 52 games during the 2023-24 season before sliding into a role more of organizational depth over the last two seasons.
Pittsburgh picks up 6’3”, 208 pound left handed defenseman Solovyov. Similar to Puustinen, Solovyov has been playing mostly in the AHL since the start of the 2021-22 season, though he has played 16 NHL games with the Avalanche this season scoring three points (1G+2A) in a limited role that saw him average 11:13 of ice-time per game. Solovyov had been something of a regular for the Avs, playing seven games since January 4th and even stringing together a three-game point streak from 1/6 – 1/10. Solovyov played for the Avs just last night in their win over the Capitals, although for only 8:34.
The Penguins, who have dressed 12 different defensemen through 48 games, are still seeking answers on their bottom part of their blueline in what’s been a season-long search. Jack St. Ivany was made a healthy scratch yesterday, Ryan Graves has bounced between the NHL and AHL on another erstwhile season, Harrison Brunicke has been assigned back to junior and Caleb Jones recently suffered an injury in his AHL rehab stint coming back from a lengthy injury.
It remains unclear where Solovyov fits into that mix, especially since the team has some decent LHD options in Brett Kulak, Parker Wotherspoon and Ryan Shea. Pittsburgh has never been shy about shuttling bodies in and out to see what may happen, Solovyov could be the next short-term opportunity to see what ability he has coming off his recent time in Colorado.