Pittsburgh sends AHL player and fourth-round pick to Vancouver for 6’4” Latvian netminder
The Pittsburgh Penguins have bolstered their goaltending depth by acquiring Latvian goalie Arturs Silovs from the Vancouver Canucks.
From the team:
The Pittsburgh Penguins have acquired goaltender Arturs Silovs from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for forward Chase Stillman and a 2027 fourth-round pick, it was announced today by President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Kyle Dubas.
Silovs, 24, is signed through the 2025-26 season and his contract carries an average annual value of $850,000.
Silovs is coming off a career season with the Abbotsford Canucks of the American Hockey League where he led the team to the Calder Cup Championship as Playoff MVP. In 21 regular-season games with Abbotsford last season, the goaltender went 14-5-2 with a .908 save percentage and career-best 2.41 goals-against average. On the team’s run to their first Calder Cup, Silovs compiled a 16-7 record in 24 games with a 2.01 goals-against average and .931 save percentage. His five shutouts in the playoffs were one shy of the AHL all-time record in one playoff run, and he became just the fourth goaltender to be named the Playoff MVP.
In parts of five AHL seasons with Abbotsford and Manitoba, the goaltender has played 110 games and compiled a 59-35-13 record with a 2.58 goals-against average, .906 save percentage and nine shutouts. In 26 career Calder Cup Playoff games, Silovs has gone 17-8 with a 2.08 goals-against average, .929 save percentage and five shutouts.
The 6-foot-4, 203-pound goaltender has played in parts of three seasons with Vancouver, playing in 19 games with a 3.13 goals-against average and .880 save percentage since 2022. He suited up for 10 games with the team last season.
The Riga, Latvia native has represented his home country on several different occasions, including the World Championship (2023 & ’22) and the 2018 World Under-18 Championship. Most recently at the 2023 World Championship, he led his team to the bronze medal by going 7-3-0 with a 2.20 goals-against average and .921 save percentage and was subsequently awarded the tournament’s Most Valuable Player and Best Goaltender, as well as named to the First All-Star Team.
Silovs was originally drafted in the sixth round (156th overall) of the 2019 NHL Draft by Vancouver.
Defenseman Chase Stillman, 22, heads the other way in the deal along with a 2025 fourth-round draft pick. Stillman, a former first-round pick in 2021, hasn’t lived up to expectations. Since joining Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in the AHL after being dealt in the Cody Glass trade, he’s recorded just one goal and two assists over 19 games.
Silovs, 24, is the centerpiece of the transaction and presents an intriguing addition to Pittsburgh’s goaltending mix. After dealing backup Alex Nedeljkovic to the Sharks earlier this offseason, the Penguins have found a potential replacement with NHL and AHL experience.
Silovs gained attention during the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs when he appeared in 10 games for Vancouver, which finished with a 5-5 record. His .898 save percentage and 2.91 goals-against average were serviceable under pressure, though far from elite. During regular season NHL appearances, he’s posted an 8-8-2 record with a .880 save percentage and a 3.19 GAA. However, his AHL numbers tell a different story—Silovs helped lead Abbotsford to the Calder Cup Final with a strong .924 save percentage and a 16-7 record.
The move sets up a competitive situation in training camp between Silovs and Joel Blomqvist, who’s also in contention for a spot on the NHL roster. While Silovs may not represent a massive upgrade, he provides potential upside. If he can build on his AHL momentum, the Penguins could find themselves with a solid contributor between the pipes heading into the new season.
