Arturs Silovs has a special talent for performing his best in big moments, especially during the spring hockey season. In 2023, he helped Latvia win its first-ever medal at the IIHF World Championship and earned MVP honors. A year later, he stepped up for the Vancouver Canucks in the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs, helping them reach the second round.
This season, Silovs has been unstoppable with the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks. He’s taken them to their first Western Conference final, pitching shutouts in the deciding game of every series win. His stats are impressive: a 1.73 goals-against average, a .936 save percentage, and an 8-3 playoff record.
From NHL Struggles to AHL Star
Silovs didn’t play a full season in the AHL this year. He spent time in Vancouver while goalie Thatcher Demko was injured but had a tough time in the NHL with a 2-6-1 record and an .861 save percentage in 10 games. In the AHL, he performed much better, going 14-5-1 with a .908 save percentage during the regular season.
His strong play earned him the starting spot for the playoffs, and he hasn’t looked back since.
Future Challenges for the Canucks
Silovs’ success creates a challenge for the Vancouver Canucks. At 24, he will lose his waiver exemption next season, meaning the Canucks risk losing him if they try to send him back to the AHL. His salary cap hit is a manageable $850,000 for 2025-26, so it will be interesting to see if he can stay with the NHL team.
Currently, the Canucks rely on Demko and Kevin Lankinen as their main goalies. Lankinen just signed a five-year extension with no-move protection for two years, while Demko has one year left on his deal without trade protection. Demko recently said he wants to stay with the Canucks if possible.
If Demko stays healthy, he and Lankinen form a solid goalie duo. But if the Canucks trade Demko to improve their forwards, Silovs could have a chance to be the full-time starter next season.
Key Players Losing Waiver Exemption
Two important forwards on the Abbotsford team, Linus Karlsson and Aatu Raty, will also lose their waiver exemption soon.
Karlsson has been a clutch scorer in the playoffs, leading with seven goals in 12 games. Though he has little NHL experience, he still qualifies as a rookie for next season. If not re-signed by July 1, Karlsson could become a free agent.
Raty, a strong and versatile forward, lost his rookie status last season and has played 33 NHL games. He’s been effective on faceoffs but less so at scoring. He’s currently an RFA (restricted free agent) without arbitration rights and was injured during the playoffs.
Growing Defensive Depth
The Canucks’ defense is becoming stronger and younger. Elias ‘Junior’ Pettersson, 21, is solid in the NHL and remains waiver-exempt for two more years. Victor Mancini, 23, joined from a trade and is playing well in the AHL playoffs, with some waiver protection left.
Other young defense prospects include 21-year-old Kirill Kudryavtsev and 20-year-olds Tom Willander and Sawyer Mynio. Kudryavtsev has impressed in his first AHL playoffs and brief NHL games. Mynio and Willander are also preparing for their pro careers.
Looking Ahead to the Conference Final
Abbotsford faces the Texas Stars in a best-of-seven Western Conference final, with the series starting Thursday at Abbotsford Centre. The format will be 2-3-2, with the first two games at home for Abbotsford.
Arturs Silovs’ playoff run shows his talent for rising to big occasions, making him a key player to watch. The Vancouver Canucks face tough decisions as they balance goalie depth and protect young talent from waivers. With strong forwards like Karlsson and Raty developing, plus a promising defense group, the Canucks’ future looks bright. The Abbotsford Canucks’ run to the conference final adds even more excitement to this season’s story.
