Canucks Reassign Arturs Silovs

The Canucks reassigned goaltender Arturs Silovs to AHL Abbotsford on Thursday, general manager Patrik Allvin said in a team announcement. The move signals Thatcher Demko, who’s missed Vancouver’s last three games with back spasms, should be available Friday against the Hurricanes. Head coach Rick Tocchet told Dan Murphy of Sportsnet before Wednesday’s overtime loss to the Capitals that the latter was close to returning.

Silovs, 23, had been on the Canucks’ roster since Friday, the day after Demko left his start against the Kraken due to a collision with teammate Noah Juulsen. He backed up Kevin Lankinen while Demko was unavailable and didn’t get into any game action.

Vancouver has shuffled the Latvian native between leagues a handful of times this season. However, he hasn’t played an NHL contest since Demko returned from the lingering knee injury that ended his 2024 playoff run after one game in late November.

Starting the season as Lankinen’s backup while Demko was unavailable, Silovs made it clear he needs more development time in the minors. The 2019 sixth-round pick posted a 1-4-1 record in six starts and one relief appearance, underwhelming with a .847 SV% and 4.11 GAA and just one quality start.

Silovs burst onto the scene in the 2024 playoffs after Demko and then-backup Casey DeSmith exited their first-round series against the Predators with injuries. He started 10 straight contests, carrying them to a series win over Nashville and a Game 7 loss to the Oilers in the second round, posting a .898 SV%, 2.91 GAA, and one shutout.

In five games with Abbotsford this season, Silovs has a .900 SV% and 2.44 GAA with a 2-3-0 record. The 2023 World Championship MVP signed a two-year, $1.7MM contract to return to the Canucks in July after a couple of weeks on the restricted free agent market.