In a notable move impacting their organizational depth charts, the **Vancouver Canucks** have completed a transaction sending goaltender **Arturs Silovs** to the **Pittsburgh Penguins**. The return for Vancouver includes forward Chase Stillman and a fourth-round selection in the 2027 NHL Entry Draft.
Silovs departs the Canucks organization after a tenure highlighted by significant success at the American Hockey League level. The 24-year-old netminder was instrumental in the Abbotsford Canucks` deep playoff run, where he backstopped the team to the Calder Cup title. His exceptional performance throughout the postseason earned him the prestigious Playoff MVP award, a distinction rarely achieved by goaltenders, underscoring his potential and ability to perform under pressure.
During the regular season with Abbotsford, Silovs posted a respectable 14-5-1 record with a .908 save percentage and a career-best 2.41 goals-against average. While his NHL appearances with Vancouver (10 games) yielded a 2-6-1 record with less flattering statistics (3.65 GAA, .861 SV%), his AHL pedigree, particularly his playoff heroics where he recorded a 16-7 record, 2.01 GAA, and .931 SV% with five shutouts, made him a valuable asset.
However, the path to establishing himself as a regular NHL starter in Vancouver was undeniably crowded. With Thatcher Demko and Kevin Lankinen already under long-term commitments anchoring the Canucks` goaltending tandem, Silovs faced a significant bottleneck for opportunity at the sport`s highest level. This organizational depth in goal appears to have been a primary driver behind the trade from Vancouver`s perspective.
Management stated that the move was intended, in part, to provide Silovs with a clearer opportunity to compete for NHL minutes elsewhere, while also acquiring assets to enhance the Canucks` overall organizational depth. Expressing gratitude for Silovs` contributions, especially his pivotal role in the Calder Cup victory, the team reaffirmed confidence in their goaltending pipeline across all levels.
In exchange for Silovs, Vancouver acquires forward Chase Stillman. Originally a first-round pick (2021) by the New Jersey Devils, Stillman split the previous season between the AHL affiliates of both the Penguins (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton) and the Canucks (Utica Comets). He registered 12 points over 65 games, projecting as a depth forward addition to the Vancouver system. The inclusion of a future fourth-round pick further adds to the Canucks` pool of draft assets.
Ultimately, the trade represents the often-unsentimental nature of professional hockey. A promising player, even one with recent MVP honors, is moved to navigate roster constraints and provide him a fresh start, while the selling team acquires future assets and organizational depth. For Arturs Silovs, it marks the end of his time in Vancouver and the beginning of a new chapter in Pittsburgh, where he will look to translate his AHL success into an NHL opportunity.
