Arturs Silovs and the Calder Trophy: Analyst has hot take on the Canucks' netminder

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Cooper Godin
September 6, 2024 (11:06)

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The Athletic has named Vancouver Canucks goaltender Arturs Silovs as candidate for the 2024-25 Calder Trophy.

This year's crop of rookies in the National Hockey League is going to be special to watch. Among those that are set to enter their rookie season in the NHL are Matvei Michkov, Macklin Celebrini, Lane Hutson, Cutter Gauthier, among others.

Also entering his rookie season in the National Hockey League is Arturs Silovs. While he's played nine games with Vancouver over the last two seasons, he still meets the requirements for the Calder Trophy and is classified as a rookie.

This week, Scott Wheeler and Harman Dayal of The Athletic ranked the top-20 candidates for the Calder Trophy this season, as well as a handful of honourable mentions. Among those mentioned by Wheeler and Dayal was Arturs Silovs, who comes in at number 12 on their ranking.

"Silovs was unexpectedly thrown into the pressure cooker of playoff hockey last season when Thatcher Demko and Casey DeSmith got hurt early in the first round against Nashville. The affable 23-year-old Latvian exceeded all expectations for an inexperienced third-string goaltender: He outdueled Juuse Saros in Round 1 and kept the Canucks close against a terrifying Oilers offense in Round 2. And now, with Demko expected to miss training camp and preseason with no timetable for return because of injury, Silovs could wind up as the Canucks' No. 1 goaltender for the start of the regular season." Dayal said.

He added, "Silovs is exceptionally rangy and athletic, particularly from side to side. He has struggled with tracking long-distance shots through traffic at the NHL level and his AHL results while promising (.907 save percentage last season), aren't dominant. He can make some early noise though given the potential opportunity from Demko's injury and the insulation he'll presumably get from the Canucks' defensive environment, which was elite last year under Rick Tocchet. Silovs is reportedly dealing with a minor injury of his own, but it isn't expected to affect his availability for training camp."

It's always tough for goaltenders to take home the Calder Trophy and that's because they usually don't play as many games to prove themselves to voters as a forward or defenceman would. Only 15 goaltenders in NHL history have won the Calder Trophy since it's inception ahead of the 1932-33 season. The last to win it was Steve Mason of the Columbus Blue Jackets for his strong play during the 2008-09 season.

With Demko's status uncertain to start the season, Silovs may be given the starting reigns with the Canucks and if he gets off to a good start, it could catch the attention of those who vote for the Calder Trophy.

Source: The Athletic
Ranking the NHL's top 20 Calder Trophy candidates for the 2024-25 season