Latest news with #Canucks'
Edmonton Journal
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
Canucks: Arturs Silovs' future is cloudier than ever
Article content Article content How strong his radar signal is a tough question. In the playoffs the past two years, both NHL and AHL, plus his brilliant performance for Latvia at the 2023 World Championships, he has shown himself to be a big-game performer. He still has issues in his game, such as tracking long shots, so there are doubts about how much more he can be. Article content And in Vancouver, he's clearly back to being No. 3 again, now that Demko has signed a contract extension. The plan in goal, for the near future anyway, is to have Demko and Lankinen sharing the Canucks' crease, leaving Silovs sitting behind a logjam. Article content In a sport where shooters are ascendant, there are a great many goalies who have shown themselves to be good, but not great. Given how he struggled in the 2024-25 regular season, whatever enthusiasm he has re-energized around himself will still be somewhat muted. Article content Article content Goalies with a longer NHL CV than his, like Vitek Vanacek or Kaapo Kähkönen, draw only mid-round draft picks in trade — or like Kähkönen simply move on waivers — so Silovs' trade value likely isn't huge. Article content Whatever value in trade Silovs might have will be at its maximum coming out of training camp. Another team may have a need for a goalie because of an injury and won't want to wait to see what other goalies might be exposed on waivers. Don't forget that last year's initial No. 3 goalie in Vancouver, Jiri Patera, was claimed by the Boston Bruins on Oct. 2 but was then reclaimed on waivers by the Canucks five days later. Injury limited Patera to just seven games with Abbotsford last season. Article content He wasn't the only goalie claimed on waivers last season. James Reimer and Kähkönen both found new teams through waivers. Both, though, had longer NHL track records than Silovs.
Vancouver Sun
26-06-2025
- Sport
- Vancouver Sun
Arturs Silovs' AHL MVP play makes him a Canucks trade chip
Vancouver Canucks GM Patrik Allvin made it quite clear this week: he'd like to sign Thatcher Demko to a contract extension. 'It's been a really good conversation with Thatcher and his agent, and we'll see here over the next couple of days or weeks, if we can get something in place,' Allvin said when asked about his plan for the goalie, who is eligible to sign an extension beginning next week. And with Kevin Lankinen already under contract, re-upping with Demko would set in stone the Canucks' plan in net for the foreseeable future, even if there are lingering doubts about Demko's long-term health. The Canucks' No. 1 goalie has dealt with substantial injuries in each of the past three seasons and was indeed limited to just 23 games this past campaign. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. If Demko extends, that's surely writing on the wall for Arturs Silovs , even if the jovial Latvian is coming off yet another spring where he's been a big part of the story. In the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs, he was thrust into the spotlight after Demko damaged the popliteus muscle in his left knee in the first game versus Nashville, and then Casey DeSmith was hurt two games later. Silovs became something of a cult figure, helping his team push the Edmonton Oilers to the seventh game of the second round. This past season was a struggle in the NHL for Silovs, but after returning to Abbotsford late in the season, he finally found his groove again in the playoffs. He put on a glittering show, stopping 93.1 per cent of the shots he faced and posting five shutouts while backstopping Abbotsford to the Calder Cup championship. He was named the playoff MVP for his work. No doubt that kind of play does draw the attention of other teams. 'It was a hell of a performance,' Allvin replied when asked whether Silovs had changed the story of his future in Vancouver. 'I'm happy for Artie. We know that he is a really good goalie, and this is justifying that.' But Allvin couldn't avoid noting the broader organizational context here. 'That being said, we still got a couple of good goalies in the system here, with (Nikita) Tolopilo and Ty Young, that are more than ready to play as well. So we'll see over the next couple of days, where things goes here with Thatcher. We can make decisions after that.' In other words, Demko's status will play into Silovs' status. Tolopilo played a game late in the season for Vancouver and certainly has NHL potential. That the organization is optimistic about Young as well is no surprise: he had a strong year as well, splitting his first professional season between Abbotsford and ECHL Kalamazoo. Realistically, depth goalies, even ones coming off MVP playoffs, don't draw much in a trade. Vitek Vanecek, who backed up in Florida this past season and had a strong AHL career, has been traded for a second-round pick a couple times, for instance, while Silovs' opposite number in the Calder Cup final, Kaapo Kahkonen, was once traded for Vanecek, then was traded for Chris Driedger this past spring and also was claimed on waivers twice this past season. Silovs played great, but don't expect him to be a major trade asset. pjohnston@
Edmonton Journal
26-06-2025
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
Arturs Silovs' AHL MVP play makes him a Canucks trade chip
Article content And with Kevin Lankinen already under contract, re-upping with Demko would set in stone the Canucks' plan in net for the foreseeable future, even if there are lingering doubts about Demko's long-term health. The Canucks' No. 1 goalie has dealt with substantial injuries in each of the past three seasons and was indeed limited to just 23 games this past campaign. If Demko extends, that's surely writing on the wall for Arturs Silovs, even if the jovial Latvian is coming off yet another spring where he's been a big part of the story. In the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs, he was thrust into the spotlight after Demko damaged the popliteus muscle in his left knee in the first game versus Nashville, and then Casey DeSmith was hurt two games later. Silovs became something of a cult figure, helping his team push the Edmonton Oilers to the seventh game of the second round.
Edmonton Journal
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
Abbotsford Canucks Live: Abby aims to win Game 6 — and first Calder Cup — in steamy Charlotte
Article content Three series games have required overtime, including a pair of double-overtimes, and it could come down to somebody playing hero when it matters most. Abbotsford hasn't lost two-straight games in the post-season and it's been more than two months since they lost two in a row. Mercurial Abbotsford winger Danila Klimovich, who had been in and out of the lineup, played double-overtime hero in Game 1. He also scored in double overtime against the Texas Stars in the Western Conference final. They might name a street after him in Abbotsford if he strikes tonight, should there be an extra session. However, the telling blow is more likely to be landed by the Canucks' top line, or the day could be saved by the guy between the pipes. Linus Karlsson, Arshdeep Bains and Max Sasson have combined for 61 points (25-36) through these playoffs. Karlsson leads playoff scoring with 25 points (13-12), Bains is second with 22 points (7-15), and Sasson eighth with 14 points (5-9). Sasson leads in shots with 72, while Karlsson has 64 and Bains 42.
Vancouver Sun
19-06-2025
- Sport
- Vancouver Sun
Canucks: Is versatile UFA Jack Roslovic back on radar as right wing, centre option?
What was old could be new again. The Vancouver Canucks have had past interest in versatile forward Jack Roslovic, and his value as an affordable unrestricted free agent in a chess game to set the Canucks' roster next season is beyond notable. With UFAs Brock Boeser and Pius Suter heading to the market July 1, there is a pressing need to acquire a centre via the trade route and right winger in free agency. The clamour to land a pivot to support Elias Pettersson — especially with the departure of J.T. Miller — is constant and complicated. It must be a present and future fit. The Canucks can shift Filip Chytil to the right side to ease that positional burden, but it could create another big one in the middle. That is why Roslovic keeps popping up on the radar as roster insurance to play centre or wing. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. The Canucks have reportedly offered their 15th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, plus a player, for small but feisty restricted free agent centre Marco Rossi, 23. He is at second contract odds with the Minnesota Wild and wants a deal similar to winger Matt Boldy, 24. The winger is earning $7 million US annually the next five seasons. The Wild offered Rossi five years at $25 million, which he turned down. Boldy has a combined 87 goals the last three campaigns and had 27 goals this season. Rossi has 46 goals in the last two seasons and 24 in 2024-25. As for Roslovic, a year ago the 2015 first-round draft pick was in the Canucks' mix to find an elite free-agent winger. They swung and missed on Jake Guentzel (Tampa Bay), Sam Reinhart (Florida re-sign) and Tyler Toffoli (San Jose) before landing Jake DeBrusk. Somewhere on the wish list was Roslovic. Roslovic, 28, then signed a one-year, $2.8-million extension with the Carolina Hurricanes, who are searching for scoring in free agency. They lost Martin Necas and Mikko Rantanen to trades this season and are looking at UFAs Mitch Marner or Nikolaj Ehlers to fill a void. Four years ago, the Canucks were intrigued by Roslovic's potential. The 2015 first-round draft pick of the Winnipeg Jets struggled to find his footing and was dealt to the Columbus Blue Jackets in a multi-asset swap. Roslovic had 22 goals the following season and 22 this campaign. At his best, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound Columbus native has talent, is sneaky fast, but a streaky scorer. He started strong with nine goals in a 10-game span this season, and had a dozen through 20 games. However, he had just one goal the next 12 outings, which of course led to the question: Who is the real Roslovic? Is there more in the tank? He was a roster option in the postseason, a healthy scratch for portions of three series, and had four points (1-3) in nine games. Roslovic is coming off a one-year extension at $2.8 million, and according to AFP Analytics, he is projected to fetch a three-year deal at $4.1 million in annual average value. For the Canucks, that resonates on two levels. He is not a salary-cap crunch and will be 31 when that possible contract expires. At that point, he is either a keeper or trade bait at the deadline to be a depth acquisition for a playoff-bound team. Management could aim higher, but that comes with some risk and heftier pricetag. Ehlers, 29, has been on the Canucks' radar in the past, and his speed and creativity could bring a dire need for offence. He is generously listed at six feet, and the Canucks also need to get bigger and faster and find some finish. The club was ranked 23rd this season at 3.06 goals per outing, despite DeBrusk (28), Suter (25) and Kiefer Sherwood (19) hitting career highs. The power play was mid-pack at 15th with a 22.5 per cent efficiency, but DeBrusk did strike for 14 goals, which ranked fourth overall. Ehlers believes he is a first-line centre. He proved that potential in the playoffs this season on the Jets' second line with Vladislav Namestnikov and Cole Perfetti. He silenced his critics, who wondered if he could produce with just 14 career playoff points in 37 games. He responded with five goals in his last five games of the second round and finished with seven points (5-2) in eight games. He missed nine games this season with a foot injury and aggravated it April 12. Ehlers had a career-high 63 points (24-39) in 69 games this season and has scored at least 20 goals in eight-straight campaigns. However, he is injury prone and that has kept him from getting to the 30-goal plateau. He had 28 goals in just 62 games in 2021-22, and 29 in a full season in 2017-18. This solid season speaks to Ehlers getting a big leap from his expiring $6-million cap hit. AFP Analytics projects that the Denmark native will land a six-year deal at $8.1 million annually. OVERTIME — One possible Canucks' free-agent target went off the board Wednesday. The Chicago Blackhawks re-signed right winger/centre Ryan Donato, 29, to a four-year, $16-million extension. He had a career-high 31 goals and 62 points in 80 games this season. His compete on a struggling team caught Vancouver's attention and he was scouted. bkuzma@
