In a move that had been looming due to a crowded goaltending situation, the Vancouver Canucks have traded Arturs Silovs to the Pittsburgh Penguins. While necessary, the deal hasn’t sat well with fans in British Columbia.
Despite the logic behind the transaction, the emotional connection Vancouver supporters had with Silovs is hard to overlook.
Silovs, who recently earned MVP honors in the Calder Cup playoffs, heads to Pittsburgh in exchange for forward prospect Chase Stillman and a 2027 fourth-round draft pick. Stillman, originally selected in the first round of the 2021 NHL Draft, has yet to break through at the top level.
The 24-year-old Silovs faced a tough path forward in Vancouver, as he would have required waivers to be reassigned to the AHL next season. With limited room in the crease, the Canucks were almost forced to make a move.
His departure leaves a noticeable void — not just in the goalie depth chart but in personality. Silovs became a fan favorite, known as much for his performances as for his easygoing demeanor and unique fashion sense, like his signature pink paisley shirt.
That said, there’s no sense of outrage in Vancouver — not yet. Most recognize it wasn’t feasible to retain a third-string goaltender without putting him at risk of being claimed.
From the outside, however, the consensus appears to be that Pittsburgh got the better of this deal, especially among hockey analysts and insiders.
AHL and FloHockey writer Chris Peters weighed in on the trade, noting that the Penguins’ goaltending depth needed a boost. While prospects like Joel Blomqvist show promise, Peters points out that most of them aren’t ready for full-time NHL duty.
He highlighted Silovs’ standout performance during the Calder Cup playoffs as evidence that the Latvian netminder is ready to take the next step and potentially earn more ice time in the NHL.
If Silovs progresses into a starter, Peters suggests, the Penguins may have filled one of their most pressing organizational needs. With Tristan Jarry’s consistency under scrutiny, the addition of a young and athletic goaltender with playoff pedigree adds important upside to Pittsburgh’s offseason.
Peters didn’t hold back in praising the move, calling it an “A+ trade” for Penguins GM Kyle Dubas. From his view, the Penguins gave up little, a prospect who hasn’t shown much NHL potential and a mid-round draft pick, in return for a player who could address their goaltending concerns for years to come.
Silovs may have room to grow, especially after an uneven regular season, but his playoff breakout suggests more is yet to come. As Peters noted, he’s only a year older than Blomqvist, another Penguins goalie prospect who also had his struggles at the NHL level this season.
Tony Androckitis, another well-known AHL observer, suggested that Pittsburgh might not be done reshaping its goalie depth chart. With Silovs now in the mix, more movement could be on the horizon for the Penguins’ crease situation.
