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The lanky Latvian proved in the NHL playoffs that he’s ready to take his game to another level and back up Thatcher Demko next season
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Published Jul 16, 2024 • Last updated 4 hours ago • 4 minute read
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Canucks goalie Arturs Silovs and head coach Rick Tocchet savour a series-clinching 1-0 win in Nashville on May 3. Photo by Brett Carlsen /Getty Images
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The lanky Latvian has been signed, sealed, and expects to deliver.
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Vancouver Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin confirmed Tuesday that the NHL club has signed popular goaltender Artūrs Šilovs to a two-year contract extension that carries an annual average value of $850,000 US.
It leaves the Canucks with $165,833 in salary cap space with Tucker Poolman not on long-term injury reserve and with two capable stoppers to share the net next season.
“Artūrs helped a lot when called upon last year as he continues to grow and develop,” Allvin said in a statement. “We expect him to battle for a full-time position with the big club. Our group will help sharpen his skills and provide all the tools to take another step in his young career.”
Šilovs become the talk of the town for his laid-back approach and for shouldering a significant workload when it mattered the most. What he accomplished in his first three playoff starts last season — including a shutout May 3 in a 1-0 victory at Nashville to clinch the first-round series against the pesky Predators — didn’t go unnoticed.
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In a dozen NHL regular-season games, and then supplanting the injured Thatcher Demko and Casey DeSmith, the growth in his game is matched by the demeanour to handle the heat, even though he often looks like a spent boxer between rounds in a title bout.
He is now in position to back up Demko — with DeSmith joining the Dallas Stars in free agency — because he’s one cool cat.
Arturs Silovs stretches to deny Leon Draisaitl of the Oilers during May 14 Stanley Cup playoff encounter in Edmonton. Photo by Greg Southam /Greg Southam
Šilovs slumps in his stall during intermissions with an ice bag on top of his head. He doesn’t talk. He just has the look of knowing what he has to do when the mayhem resumes. He is a modern-day Rocky Balboa who just wants to go the distance.
The rookie turned playoff saviour and cult figure for legions of adoring fans. They don’t shout “Rocky, Rocky.” It’s “Arty, Arty.”
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“I don’t think he thinks — he just does what he’s told,” said impressed Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet. “He’s just a guy who comes to the rink every day and does this thing.”
Which gets us back to that ice pack. What gives?
“It’s always been there, just to cool myself down,” shrugged Šilovs. “It was a huge relief after winning Game 6 (Nashville). Everything has come together. For me, I just have to keep with things in my game, and that (cheering) is like outside noise. It’s nice to have it, but you just have to be so focused on doing your job.”
It comes with not being overwhelmed by the spotlight or expectations and often looking like a new version of Ken Dryden during his first playoff test.
Šilovs backstopped his native Latvia to world championship bronze in May of 2023 on home soil with a stunning display — 7-2-0, 2.20 goals-against average, and .921 save percentage — to earn MVP honours and the kind of confidence you can’t manufacture.
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It even included a little swagger.
“There was always a thought we could win against Canada in the semifinals,“ he recalled. “We could have played in the final, and who knows, maybe win? It was great, but I always have that thing where I think I could have played a little bit better. A goal or situation you could have handled better.”
For those who have played the position, that mindset and a willingness to work on his game are springboards to success.
“You have to give (goalie coach) Ian Clark a lot of credit,” said former Canucks goalie John Garrett. “When Artūrs first came in, he was so athletic, but was overplaying a lot of things. First couple of times I saw him, I thought it was going to be hard to rein him in. Obviously, Ian has done that.”
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“He’s in control, and calm and cool. He’s at the top of the crease. His feet are steady.”
It’s not all gravy for Šilovs. He knows he needs to track pucks better and become more adept at handling long shots and traffic that comes with crowding his crease.
Šilovs appeared in 34 regular-season games with the AHL Abbotsford Canucks in 2023-24, posting a record of 16-11-6 with a 2.74 GAA and a .907 save percentage, as well as four regular season games with Vancouver, sporting a 3-0-1 mark with a 2.47 GAA and an .881 save percentage.
Šilovs also appeared in his first 10 playoff games of his NHL career with the Canucks going 5-5-0 with a 2.91 GAA and an .898 save percentage.
The 6-foot-4, 203-pound stopper has logged 89 regular season AHL games across four seasons. He sports a record of 45-30-11, a GAA of 2.62, and a .906 save percentage, along with nine regular season NHL games, with a record of 6-2-1 with a 2.62 GAA and an .898 save percentage.
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And there were also two AHL playoff games with a 1-1 record and 2.85 GAA and a .914 save percentage.
The Riga native has represented his country on other occasions, including the 2019 U18 World Championships. He was selected by the Canucks in the sixth round, 156th overall, in the 2019 NHL Draft.
bkuzma@postmedia.com
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Courtesy : https://theprovince.com/sports/hockey/nhl/vancouver-canucks/arturs-silovs-signs-two-year-contract