The Pittsburgh Penguins have acquired goaltender Arturs Silovs from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for forward prospect Chase Stillman and a 2027 fourth-round pick.
Pittsburgh will move to acquire a goalie just a few weeks after trading Alex Nedeljkovic to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for a 2028 third-round pick. In turning to Silovs, Pittsburgh finds a goalie who is both five years younger than Nedeljkovic, and more experienced in the playoffs.
Silovs stepped into the Canucks’ starting role during the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs with only nine games of NHL experience under his belt, following an injury to Thatcher Demko. He posted one shutout, but otherwise managed a 5-5-0 record and .898 save percentage.
He found his way back to a split role in a crowded Abbotsford Canucks goalie room this season – but fought back into the role of playoff starter after posting a team-best .908 save percentage in 21 games. Back at the helm, Silovs drove Abbotsford to a Calder Cup Championship with a .931 save percentage and 16-7-0 record. He’s a red-hot hand with upside, who will seem to settle in between the role of AHL starter and NHL backup next season. That’s exactly the support Pittsburgh could use, allowing the team to bump Joel Blomqvist up to number-two on the depth chart while still maintaining competition for the backup role.
On the other side, Vancouver invest further into their depth forward group. Stillman was a first-round selection in the 2021 NHL Draft, after a weird draft year where eight games in Denmark’s U20 league, and seven games at the World U-18 Championship, was his only gametime. He returned to the OHL for two seasons following his draft selection, and totaled 97 points in 158 games split between the Sudbury Wolves and Peterborough Petes. He served as an assistant captain for both clubs.
Stillman turned pro with the AHL’s Utica Comets in the 2023-24 season. He recorded a modest 14 goals, 24 points, and 72 penalty minutes in 54 games as a rookie, but struggled to fight his way into a routine, top-end role in the lineup. Those challenges reached a peak on a caved-in Utica lineup this season. Stillman started the year with just nine points in 46 games with the Comets, prompting a move to the Penguins organization at the Trade Deadline. He was traded alongside Max Graham and a 2027 third-round pick in the deal that landed New Jersey Cody Glass and Jonathan Gruden.
Stillman continued to struggle in his move to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. He scored just three points in 21 games with the club, and will now find himself on the move once again. Luckily, he could be headed for a golden opportunity with Abbotsford, who will be looking for a replacement for Sammy Blais’ top-six role. Blais scored 59 points across 74 games with the AHL’s Canucks last season, and his mix of grit and finesse was a major boost in the team’s run to a league title. Stillman will look to grab hold of that important role, while Silovs tries to find enough footing to jump to the NHL.
I’m sorry the reining AHL playoff MVP and winning goalie traded for a Rutherford pick from 2021 who has 12pts in 66games
Why?
Also those 12pts are in the AHL
Canucks are committed to Lankinen and Demko at the NHL level, and Silovs has to be waived to be put into the AHL. I’m surprised the Canucks got as much as they did
Not even a Rutherford pick. Think he was a throw in to the Cody Glass trade or something.
The deal is Silovs for a 4th and one less roster spot.
This is probably a nothing move on either side, but dubas definitely got the better upside.
For the record: Silovs has been a flat-out bad goalie at the NHL level. He’s still young enough to maybe turn it around, but it’s not like VAN let Ken Dryden get away.
Very small sample size and he performed decent in the playoffs all things considered. With Pittsburghs defense it won’t matter, but I think he’ll have a chance to be their best goalie.
Johan Hedberg 2.0?
I’m worried this will hurt our tank job. What if he’s good and Jarry isn’t awful?
But, I was looking over their depth chart and wondering if we could get this guy. 6’4 is the ideal size and he’s shown he can win.
Love this.
If jarry is good we can maybe move him by the deadline and still suck after. Not likely, but you never know with Edmonton still doing what they do best in not addressing a glaring need in net.
Edmonton has a glaring need in net. Well, Jarry is certainly glaring.
I hope this comes back to bite Canucks … horrible asset mgmt as usual. Now plumb the depths to find a suitable backup for the eventual Demko on IL months… but apparently Stillman once bowled three frames with Quinn’s cousin, so there’s always hope!
Good pickup by the Penguins. Not good for teams who thought Demko might become available.
Silvos is a much better deal than Demko
But Demko has shown more in the NHL than Silvos has. In any case, the Canucks committed to their Demko/Lankinen tandem (debatable), and had no choice but to trade Silvos for something. I agree that it was terrible asset management.
In a really bad goalie market they over paid two guys. They could have traded demko for assets, spent the money where they need it and just use silovs as a backup. Pretty dumb and typical of JR
Money wise – yes. Yet if Demko is actually healed he is an asset between the pipes.
no one wants to go to Canucks they Wana win and play in tax free places
no one wants to go to Canucks they Wana win and play in tax free places s
Are there any forwards or defensemen on bad enough contracts that a team would take Jarry back in a Neal for Lucic type swap?
Looks like one of the more promising moves of the summer. Nice job by the pens.
Who knows, could be the best move of the summer. Silovs could be a #1 for years.
Pretty low risk deal by the Pens, and the Canucks get some assets for a guy they’d have lost on waivers.
I think this is a great move for the Penguins. Stillman’s ceiling doesn’t look anywhere near as high as Silovs’
As a Canes fan, wish they had been in on this one.
Silovs’ numbers have been achieved behind a better defense in Rick Tocchet’s defensive system. It’s a small sample but this may be even better than signing Georgiev. The Jarry-Silovs tandem behind Graves, Dumba and co. has the potential to lead the league in GA, which is exactly what Pitts needs.
Dubas pulled off a good one here.
Haha
This is a can’t lose trade for the Pens.
If he’s really good, we can keep him and make him our goalie of the future and trade from our G prospects.
If he’s really good, we can trade him. A young established starter with RFA rights is worth a lot.
If he’s OK, we can get at least a 4th back for him.
And if he’s awful, he helps achieve this year’s goal.
Odd transaction as Silovs seemed a serviceable option if Demko continues to miss time during this next season.
Mgmt must have faith with what’s in the pipeline and felt a forward was a greater need. Time will tell I reckon.
Now if Coach can find a way to kick Petey in the ass and get him back to playing in line with his 8M per contract then ‘26’ might not be a waste. OR shitcan him and find a trade option that has some grit and spark. Hughes can’t carry Petey through another season.