May 24th, 2024
Alex Rickman
Despite the Canucks season coming to a disappointing end following a second-round loss to the Edmonton Oilers, there are definite positives to be taken away from the postseason journey. From the added experience that those who had no previous playoff experience gained playing in the postseason to the memories made by fans getting to experience playoff hockey in Vancouver for the first time in a decade, there are plenty of things that could compete for the biggest positive to the Canucks playoff run. Still, perhaps the biggest positive that can be taken away was the performance of goaltender Arturs Silovs under immense pressure.
Following injuries to both Thatcher Demko and Casey DeSmith, Silovs was forced into action for the Canucks in game four of the first-round series against Nashville. Bridgestone Arena is far from an easy crowd to play in front of during the postseason, but Silovs remained calm and kept the Canucks in the game for long enough to allow some late heroics from Brock Boeser and an overtime winner from Elias Lindholm to see through a victory. From this point on, it was Silovs’s crease to lose, and he did everything in his power to keep it. After back-to-back strong performances in games five and six, including a shutout in game six to send the Canucks to round two, it was clear that we were not just witnessing a few flukey performances from a young goaltender, but the start of a potentially career-defining run for the Latvian backstop.
While Silovs may not have been able to put up the same numbers against Edmonton as he did against Nashville in round one, this really can’t be pinned on him, as the defence in front of him did far less to limit chances and help their young goaltender against a much stronger Oilers offence. Silovs made big save after big save this series, giving the Canucks chances to stay in some games they had little business being in and comfortably outperforming Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner, who was among the league’s top netminders in the regular season. Had the Canucks been able to do more in front of Silovs, we could be talking about a very different outlook for that series right now. However, despite the Canucks having to use a third-string goalie for the entirety of the second round, goaltending was the least of their concerns against the Oilers, displaying how bright the future is in the net for the Vancouver Canucks.
Silovs has, according to multiple reports, already been decided on as the Canucks backup goalie for next season, meaning Casey DeSmith’s time in Vancouver will be coming to an end this summer. It’s unfortunate to see DeSmith go after what was overall a solid campaign for him, but seeing the Canucks able to promote a backup goalie from within rather than having to look to acquire someone via trade or free agency is an encouraging sign of the health of the organization and their player development. In recent years the Canucks have struggled to find consistent backup goaltending behind Demko, and have been burned by some decisions, overpaying for the services of Braden Holtby and Jaroslav Halak in the process. If Silovs can deliver on what the Canucks expect of him in his first full NHL season, Canucks fans have a lot to be excited about not only for the team’s goaltending situation in the present but for how far this organization has come in Jim Rutherford and Patrik Allvin’s short time at the helm.
In addition to excitement over what Silovs could bring to the NHL team, this could also serve as a major opportunity for other young goaltenders within the Canucks ranks to step into bigger roles. Nikita Tolopilo, who backed Silovs up in Abbotsford next season, could potentially take over as the AHL team’s starter next year. If Tolopilo can prove himself worthy of an NHL trial in his performances with Abbotsford, the Canucks will have one of the best problems to have in professional sports: too much good goaltending. A clearer path to professional hockey is now open for goalies like Ty Young and Aku Koskenvuo, who may not play in the AHL for another few years, but no longer have to compete with both Silovs and Tolopilo for minutes upon their arrival. The Canucks may also opt to bring in a veteran goaltender to bolster Abbotsford’s ranks and provide extra organizational depth in case of injury, but no matter what they do, goalie continues to be a position that Canucks fans need not worry about.
It’s impossible to know at this time if Silovs will be able to sustain his playoff performances over the length of a full season at the NHL level, especially if starts are as spaced out as they are for many backup goalies, but it’s hard not to be excited about what’s to come for the 23-year-old netminder. Silovs will be under immense pressure to perform as a consistent NHL player, but if these playoffs have been anything to go off of, pressure is nothing to Arty, and he will welcome the challenge of playing against the best players in the world on a regular basis.