Evidence Shows Vancouver Canucks Goalie Couldn't Be Happier About Arturs Silovs Being Traded
Photo credit: The Hockey News
Now that the Vancouver Canucks no longer have Arturs Silovs in the organization, it opens up a lot of room for other goalies to step up and show they deserve a spot in the NHL, and no one is more motivated than Nikita Tolopilo.
With the Canucks re-signing goalie All-Star netminder Thatcher Demko to a four-year deal, and already having Kevin Lankinen locked up for the next six, the team did not have really have any open slots for young Arturs Silovs to break into the NHL.
They ultimately made the choice to get something in return for him after a major championship season in the AHL, trading him to the Pittsburgh Penguins for a 4th-round pick and prospect Chase Stillman.
Nikita Tolopilo motivated after Arturs Silovs being traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins
With Silovs gone, there is now an opening for the starting goalie spot with the Abbotsford Canucks in the American Hockey League, meaning that that netminder becomes next in line for a call-up to the NHL if there is an injury to Demko or Lankinen.
Starting goaltender Thatcher Demko and back-up Kevin Lankinen are locked up financially, and Silovs would probably still be here as the No. 3 if he was waiver exempt. Now, Tolopilo is under a bigger microscope as the go-to guy in Abbotsford and the what-if guy in Vancouver.
Although humble, Tolopilo has all the extra motivation to make some massive strides this offseason in order to showcase that he is the organizations true number 3 goalie, and that he can be trusted if Canucks call his name during 2025-26.
He even outplayed Silovs last season, going 20-14-2 in the regular season with a 2.66 GAA. 902 save percentage and four shutouts.
It will be interesting to see what the future holds as it is not guaranteed that Demko will have a big bounce back season after struggling in 2024-2025.
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 14 | 2341 ANSWERS Evidence Shows Vancouver Canucks Goalie Couldn't Be Happier About Arturs Silovs Being Traded Do you think Nikita Tolopilo will break into the NHL with the Vancouver Canucks in 2025-26? | ||
| Yes | 1007 | 43 % |
| No | 1334 | 57 % |
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