One of the Vancouver Canucks‘ improbable playoff heroes is staying with the organization for at least two more years.
The Canucks announced Tuesday that goaltender Arturs Silovs, 23, has signed a two-year contract to stay with the club.
Frank Seravalli of the Daily Faceoff reports that the deal carries a $850,000 cap hit.
Vancouver extended a qualifying offer to the goaltender late last month, keeping him under team control.
In Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs this past season, Silovs was called up from AHL Abbotsford after starting netminder Thatcher Demko suffered an injury.
The 23-year-old served as backup to Casey DeSmith for two games, before DeSmith suffered an injury of his own. Silovs stepped in and led the Canucks to their first playoff series victory since 2020, and earned the starter position in Round 2 against the Edmonton Oilers.
Silovs finished the playoffs with a 5-5 record, a 2.91 goals-against average and an .898 save percentage.
Prior to his post-season call-up, the Latvian played just nine regular-season NHL games with the Canucks, four of which were last season.
“Arturs helped us out a lot when called upon last year as he continues to grow and develop as a goalie,” Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin said in a statement. “We expect him to come into training camp and battle for a full-time position with the big club. Our group will continue to work with him to help sharpen his skills and provide him with all the tools necessary to take another step forward in his young career.”
Silovs was selected in the sixth round of the 2019 draft and spent the 2022-23 season and most of the 2023-24 season with AHL Abbotsford.
The Vancouver Canucks have made a significant move in securing their goaltending future by signing Artus Silovs to a two-year deal. The 20-year-old Latvian netminder has shown great potential and is seen as a key piece in the Canucks’ long-term plans.
Silovs was originally drafted by the Canucks in the sixth round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. Since then, he has continued to impress with his performances in various leagues, most recently playing for the Barrie Colts in the OHL. In 24 games with the Colts last season, Silovs posted a .917 save percentage and a 2.71 goals against average.
With the departure of veteran goaltender Braden Holtby, who was recently traded to the Dallas Stars, the Canucks were in need of a young, promising goalie to fill the void. Silovs fits the bill perfectly, as he has shown great potential and has the skills to become a top goaltender in the NHL.
The two-year deal gives Silovs the opportunity to continue his development within the Canucks’ organization and potentially make his mark at the NHL level in the near future. With Thatcher Demko firmly established as the team’s starting goalie, Silovs will have the chance to learn from one of the best in the league and further hone his skills.
Canucks fans can look forward to seeing Silovs in action in the coming seasons and hope that he can help lead the team to success. With his talent and potential, there is no doubt that Silovs has a bright future ahead of him in Vancouver.