In a notable transaction impacting organizational depth, the Vancouver Canucks have traded goaltender Arturs Silovs to the Pittsburgh Penguins. The deal sees forward Chase Stillman and a fourth-round selection in the 2027 NHL Entry Draft heading back to Vancouver.
Silovs, a 24-year-old Latvian netminder, recently garnered significant attention for his standout performance in the American Hockey League. He was a pivotal figure in the Abbotsford Canucks` run to the Calder Cup title, posting an impressive 16-7 record with a 2.01 goals-against average and a .931 save percentage during the playoffs. His heroics earned him the playoff MVP award, a rare feat for a goaltender.
Despite his AHL success and promising trajectory, Silovs faced a challenging path to becoming a regular in the Vancouver Canucks` net. The team currently features established goaltenders Thatcher Demko and Kevin Lankinen, both signed to long-term contracts. This depth chart reality limited Silovs` immediate opportunity at the NHL level, having appeared in 10 games with the Canucks, recording a 2-6-1 record with a 3.65 GAA and .861 save percentage.
Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin acknowledged Silovs` contributions, particularly to the Abbotsford affiliate. “We would like to thank Arturs for everything he has done for the hockey club, including helping Abbotsford win the Calder Cup,” Allvin stated. He further elaborated on the rationale behind the trade, citing the team`s depth in goal from the NHL down through the development levels as a key factor in providing Silovs an opportunity elsewhere, while simultaneously adding future assets and forward depth to the Vancouver organization.
Heading to Vancouver in the trade is forward Chase Stillman. Originally a first-round selection (29th overall) by the New Jersey Devils in the 2021 draft, Stillman split the recent season between the AHL`s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and the Utica Comets (Vancouver`s previous AHL affiliate before Abbotsford), registering 12 points over 65 games. The acquisition of Stillman and the 2027 draft pick aims to bolster Vancouver`s organizational depth and future assets pool.
This trade represents a strategic move for both franchises: Pittsburgh acquires a goaltender with recent championship pedigree and significant potential, while Vancouver leverages a position of organizational strength (goaltending depth) to address other areas, acquiring a former high draft pick and a future asset.
