Vancouver Canucks Surprisingly Win Big in Trade Return for Arturs Silovs
Photo credit: Bob Frid - Imagn Images
The Vancouver Canucks did a lot better than many were expecting when it came to the return they got on Sunday afternoon for Calder Cup Playoff MVP Arturs Silovs.
The Vancouver Canucks found themselves with a bit of a crowded crease heading into the summer as the club locked up Kevin Lankinen to a five-year deal back in February and gave Thatcher Demko a multi-year extension which begins ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.
Because of that, it's left the reigning Calder Cup Playoff MVP Arturs Silovs on the outside looking in as he appears ready for a full-time role in the National Hockey League, and on Sunday, the club traded him to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Vancouver Canucks did better than many expected in Arturs Silovs trade
Trading Arturs Silovs is something that President of Hockey Operations Jim Rutherford recently admitted was a possibility heading deeper into the offseason, with a decision needing to be made prior to training camp.
"We've got things lined up here. Our plan going forward, right now, is to go with Demko and Lankinen. As well as Silovs played, he could be the odd guy out.
He's not waiver exempt anymore. So, we're going to have to deal with that here in the offseason, but we feel very fortunate where we are with goaltenders." Rutherford said.
He's not waiver exempt anymore. So, we're going to have to deal with that here in the offseason, but we feel very fortunate where we are with goaltenders." Rutherford said.
Ultimately, General Manager Patrik Allvin was able to add a fourth round pick, something that hinted at by David Quadrelli in a recent article on Canucks Army where he examined what the return could look like in an Arturs Silovs trade, using the Daniil Tarasov deal between Columbus & Florida as a comparable.
"If the Canucks were to go the draft pick route in a trade, they're likely looking at a fourth, and maybe a third if they're lucky." Quadrelli said.
Along with the 2027 fourth round pick they received from the Pittsburgh Penguins, the team also acquired forward Chase Stillman, younger brother of former Vancouver Canucks defenseman Riley Stillman.
The 22-year-old has now been traded twice in the last four months as he was dealt to the Pittsburgh Penguins by the New Jersey Devils ahead of the deadline in early March and now, to Vancouver.
Stillman, a native of Peterborough, Ontario, is coming off his second season in the American Hockey League and saw a dip in production, registering 12 points, after putting up 24 in his rookie campaign.
There's a lot to like about Stillman's game however and he'll likely be headed to Abbotsford this fall where he'll take on a middle-six role, at least to start the 2025-26 season.
Thomas Drance of The Athletic believes the Vancouver Canucks did quite well with the return they got for Arturs Silovs on Sunday.
"#Canucks did very well to get more for Silovs than the Blue Jackets got for Tarasov, given their NHL track records.
Good upside bet for the Penguins though. If Silovs can work through his issues navigating layered traffic at the NHL level there's no doubt he's a big game goalie." Drance said.
Good upside bet for the Penguins though. If Silovs can work through his issues navigating layered traffic at the NHL level there's no doubt he's a big game goalie." Drance said.
It's going to take a couple of seasons before this trade can be fully evaluated as to who won or lost, but it's safe to say the Pittsburgh Penguins landed a pretty solid backup goaltender for their NHL roster and Patrik Allvin did a good job to bring in a couple of assets rather than losing Silovs for nothing on the waiver wire this fall.
Source: David Quadrelli/Canucks Army
What's the likely return for the Canucks in an Arturs Silovs trade?
What's the likely return for the Canucks in an Arturs Silovs trade?
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JUILLET 13 | 2363 ANSWERS Vancouver Canucks Surprisingly Win Big in Trade Return for Arturs Silovs Do you think the Vancouver Canucks could get more than a 4th round pick for Arturs Silovs? | ||
| Yes | 1426 | 60.3 % |
| No | 937 | 39.7 % |
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