The Vancouver Canucks' recent trade of goaltender Arturs Silovs to the Pittsburgh Penguins has sparked debate among fans and analysts, with some questioning the long-term implications of the decision. Silovs, fresh off a stellar performance as MVP in the Calder Cup Playoffs, was dealt for forward Chase Stillman and a fourth-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft. While Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin expressed gratitude for Silovs' contributions and cited a desire to provide him with opportunity, the move raises questions about Vancouver's goaltending depth and future prospects.
Silovs' journey with the Canucks organization has been marked by both promise and uncertainty. He stepped up during the 2024 playoffs when injuries plagued Thatcher Demko and Casey DeSmith. He later backstopped the Abbotsford Canucks to their first-ever Calder Cup title, posting a .931 save percentage and five shutouts in 24 games. Despite his AHL success, Silovs struggled in his limited NHL appearances, recording a 2-6-1 record with a 3.65 goals-against average and .861 save percentage in 10 games last season. In 19 NHL regular-season games, Silovs is 8-8-2 with a 3.13 GAA and .880 save percentage.
The Canucks' decision to trade Silovs appears to stem from their confidence in their current NHL tandem of Thatcher Demko and Kevin Lankinen. Demko recently signed a three-year, $25.5 million contract, while Lankinen inked a five-year, $22.5 million extension. With both goalies locked up long-term, Silovs' path to the NHL crease in Vancouver was unclear. Allvin stated the team felt "very well positioned in goal at the NHL, AHL and developmental level".
However, some argue that the Canucks may regret trading a young, promising goaltender with considerable upside. Silovs' playoff MVP performance showcased his potential to perform under pressure, and his international experience with Team Latvia further adds to his value. Moreover, the return for Silovs – Chase Stillman and a fourth-round pick – may not adequately compensate for the loss of a potential starting goaltender.
An NHL scout believes the Canucks made a solid move trading Silovs. The scout noted that Silovs likely wouldn't clear waivers, and the Canucks would have lost him for nothing. The scout added that getting a fourth-round pick and Stillman is "pretty good business".
With Silovs now in Pittsburgh, he has an opportunity to compete for a significant role with the Penguins. The Penguins moved Alex Nedeljkovic to San Jose, creating an opening for another goalie to potentially share the workload with Tristan Jarry.
The trade leaves a question mark on Vancouver's goaltending depth. While the Canucks have AHL goalies they are eager to see develop, none have Silovs' resume. One of those goalies is Nikita Tolopilo, who made his NHL debut in 2024-25. In the event of an injury to Demko or Lankinen, the Canucks will rely on Tolopilo, leaving them with less experienced options than they had in Silovs.
