Vancouver Canucks completed trade with Chicago Blackhawks proves club might have another offensive weapon
Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
A completed trade between the Vancouver Canucks and Chicago Blackhawks last year is proving that Patrik Allvin has another offensive weapon to deploy next season.
Vancouver Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin had quite a busy few weeks at the start of the offseason last summer as he acquired Evander Kane from the Edmonton Oilers, re-signed Brock Boeser and managed to lock up Conor Garland & Thatcher Demko to contract extensions.
Another one of Allvin's moves last summer saw him land some future talent from the Chicago Blackhawks, a trade that is now being praised by many for how well centerman Ilya Safonov has been playing with AK-Bars Kazan in the KHL this season.
"A smart defense-first type player and an excellent penalty killer with a big frame that sees the ice well. He makes good decisions with and without the puck and tends to be in the right place at the right time; there is potential for more of a two-way player within the right situation." Mark Henry of Dobber Prospects said about Ilya Safonov last June.
Vancouver Canucks completed trade with Chicago Blackhawks turning out to be a win
During Saturday's game against HC Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk, Canucks prospect Ilya Safonov registered a pair of goals in a 6-1 win, bringing his season total to 17 in 53 contests, two back of his career-high of 19 he set during the 2022-23 campaign.
Not only did Safonov score twice on Saturday, he's now up to four goals in his last two games and is heating up at the right time as AK-Bars Kazan now sit in second place in the KHL's Eastern Conference entering action on Sunday, one point up on Avangard Omsk and ten points back of Metallurg Magnitogorsk for first.
"Another two goals for Ilya Safonov today, giving him four goals in two games. This man just lives in the blue paint.
He's up to 29 points (17 goals, 12 assists) in 53 games. #Canucks" Dave Hall of Canucks Army shared on X.
He's up to 29 points (17 goals, 12 assists) in 53 games. #Canucks" Dave Hall of Canucks Army shared on X.
Safonov's sights are set on lifting the Gagarin Cup for the first time in his career, it looks like this might be his last chance to do so as the 24-year-old will become a free agent in the KHL on May 30th and there's a very good chance that the Vancouver Canucks will ink him to an entry-level contract shortly thereafter.
The Moscow native will probably come into camp in the fall competing for a bottom-six spot on the opening night roster and while a short stint in the AHL can't be ruled out, that way he can get adjusted to the North American game, there's no question he'll be making his NHL debut with Vancouver before 2026 wraps up.
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