[ad_1]
Breadcrumb Trail Links
Canucks GM has about $1 million left to spend under the 2024-25 salary cap. Will it all go to Arturs Silovs?
Get the latest from Patrick Johnston straight to your inbox
Published Jul 09, 2024 • 3 minute read
You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.
Arturs Silovs and Ian Cole speak during the second period Photo by Derek Cain /Getty Images
Article content
CapFriendly may soon be going dark, the men behind it having been signed up by the Washington Capitals to work in their hockey operations department, but its continued existence reminds us of two things when we zoom into the Vancouver Canucks’ roster page for 2024-25.
Advertisement 2
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
- Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events.
- Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account.
- The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.
- Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword.
- Support local journalism.
SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
- Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events.
- Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account.
- The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.
- Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword.
- Support local journalism.
REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
- Access articles from across Canada with one account.
- Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.
- Enjoy additional articles per month.
- Get email updates from your favourite authors.
Sign In or Create an Account
or
Article content
First of all, the Canucks still have about $1 million in salary cap space.
Second, Arturs Silovs needs a contract.
It’s pretty easy to tie those two truths together.
But why Silovs hasn’t yet signed isn’t obvious. His agent Paul Theofanous hasn’t replied to queries, and Silovs’ status hasn’t been commented on much by the team, other than a carefully delivered remark from GM Patrik Allvin in late June, before the opening of the free agency window.
“We’re very pleased with Silovs and his progress, his play and performance in the playoffs. The discussion is what’s best for him and what’s best for the Vancouver Canucks. At this point, we’re still talking internally. But Silovs is definitely a good candidate to be on the big team next year,” Allvin said.
Canucks Report
Thanks for signing up!
Article content
Advertisement 3
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Arturs Silovs skates onto the ice during warmup before Game Seven of the Second Round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Arena on May 20, 2024 Photo by Derek Cain /Getty Images
He had been asked about Silovs’ position on the depth chart, with the unstated question being whether Allvin would look for a veteran to back up Thatcher Demko next season.
It wasn’t exactly an endorsement of Silovs, with lots of chatter in the moment that the Canucks might have some concerns about Demko’s status going into next season. Demko was close to a return to action at the end of the Canucks’ playoff run, but speculation in late June suggested maybe his off-season wasn’t going as planned.
There has been no further suggestion that’s the case, and the fact that the only goalie Allvin signed in free agency was Jiri Patera was telling about Silovs’ likely position on the depth chart — Silovs isn’t perfect, but he did enough in the playoffs to show he can handle NHL starts, while Patera signed a two-year, two-way deal with Vancouver.
Advertisement 4
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
You don’t sign a backup goalie to a two-way contract, which pays you less in the minors than in the NHL.
Patera was No. 3 in Vegas for the past two seasons, managing eight appearances for the Golden Knights, but hardly showing anything that suggests he is a better prospect to start the season as Demko’s backup over Silovs.
So if we assume Silovs is the backup for next season, a contract for about $1 million per season makes sense.
And conceivably, if you get it for a little less than the slight-more-than-$1 million you still have in cap space, that would, amazingly, give the Canucks a chance to finally accrue cap space next season.
Arturs Silovs talks to media during end of season media avalability at Rogers Arena in Vancouver on May 23, 2024. Photo by NICK PROCAYLO /PNG
That was an issue Allvin raised during 2023-24, the fact his team couldn’t accrue any cap space over the season. That made making trades more difficult.
Advertisement 5
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
The Canucks were close to trading for Chris Tanev this season, for instance, but because they were essentially out of cap space, they were beat out by the Dallas Stars. If Vancouver hadn’t needed Calgary to retain salary on Tanev, the story might have been different.
Allvin did admit to Postmedia after the trade deadline that he had tried to off-load Tucker Poolman’s contract, which would remove a $2.5-million dead weight from the team’s salary cap, but he wasn’t able to, obviously.
In hockey, you never say never, so perhaps this might yet come to pass.
And if that were to happen, there would be more money to pay Silovs, one supposes. But whether his agent is waiting on this possibility isn’t known.
In the end, Silovs’ contract is a lone loose, hanging thread for Allvin. Stitching it up will likely show the way toward what else Allvin might do to shore up his squad.
pjohnston@postmedia.com
Recommended from Editorial
-
NHL teams splash cash on first day of free agency: ‘A lot of money spent’
-
NHL Free Agency: Canucks tried to hit a grand slam, hope Jake DeBrusk is a home run
Article content
Share this article in your social network
[ad_2]
Source link
Fitnessnacks – #Canucks #Arturs #Silovs #contract
Courtesy : https://theprovince.com/sports/hockey/nhl/vancouver-canucks/canucks-arturs-silovs-needs-a-contract