The goaltending position is wildly unpredictable. This is especially true when dealing with prospects at the position. Thus, having multiple options in the farm system gives you a better chance at getting useful minutes at the NHL level. The Penguins added another option yesterday for a reasonable price.
Artur Silovs is coming off of an impressive run this past spring. The 24-year-old netminder went 16-7 with a .931 save percentage en route to a Calder Cup championship as the playoff MVP. He was 14-5-1 with a .908 save percentage in the Abbotsford Canucks in the regular season. The season prior with Abbotsford he compiled a 16-11-6 record with a .907 save percentage.
Additionally, Silovs was named IIHF’s MVP for the 2023 World Championship. It was Latvia’s first ever medal in the tournament and came in a 4-3 victory over the United States in overtime.
At the NHL level he is currently behind Thatcher Demko and Kevin Lankinen. With Demko getting a new contract and Lankinen their chosen backup it didn’t leave Silovs a ton of wiggle room. In Silovs’ 19 career NHL games he carries a .880 save percentage. Not a huge sample to draw from, but apparently not one the Canucks were willing to see grow.
For the Penguins it is an easy trade to make due to the low cost of acquisition. Silovs will come in and compete with Joel Blomqvist and Sergei Murashov for time in the organization. Blomqvist also showed promise at the AHL level then had trouble gaining traction at the NHL level. Blomqvist has 15 NHL games to his name and an .885 save percentage.
Murashov has yet to make his way to the NHL. He had a .922 save percentage in the ECHL and a .913 in the AHL last season. None of these three goaltenders are sure things for regular NHL action which is why you fill out the depth and create healthy competition for roster spots.
There are no sure things with goaltenders so adding Silovs to the mix is a prudent decision. It creates a competitive environment, will hold each player accountable, and hopefully push the position forward to yield at least one NHL capable goaltender. The outcomes can range from getting a regular starter out of the group all the way to each of them fizzling out in the minors. It is why it is smart to throw more darts at the problem like the Penguins just did.
All in all, Kyle Dubas was able to swing another value trade which gives the organization more pathways towards getting a playable NHL starting goaltender. The system continues to grow and find more depth.
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Interesting trade. Giving up little, getting a high ceiling in return. I love the approach of creating competition in every position, and now with a new coaching staff that doesn’t have favorites yet, it’s an actual competition!
Definitely curious to see where the goaltending position goes moving forward. If one of the younger guys can step forward and earn NHL playing time, we could have a great trade piece and fleece someone (like Edmonton) when the opportunity presents itself.
Glad I am not a Canucks fan. Too much term and $$ tied up in inconsistent (at best) goaltending.
Hopefully this means there is a potential deal for Jarry. Edmonton perhaps? Hopefully.