Former Vancouver Canucks goalie calls out management for Silovs trade
Former Vancouver Canucks goalie Richard Brodeur has a bone to pick with the organization’s current management regime.
Brodeur, who is currently tied with Thatcher Demko for third all-time in wins at 126, doesn’t agree with what the Canucks are doing in goal. While he doesn’t seem to have an issue with either Demko or Kevin Lankinen, he believes that GM Patrik Allvin made a mistake trading Arturs Silovs this offseason.
“That kid is ready and he’s going to have a good career,” Brodeur said to Michael Potestio of Kamloops News. “I don’t know why they let this guy go, but I’m not the management.”
Silovs began the 2024-25 season with the Canucks in a tandem role with Lankinen, but wound up being reassigned to the AHL after some immense struggles. In fact, in just 10 NHL appearances last season, he put up a ghastly 3.65 GAA along with a .861 save percentage.
Silovs did recover nicely in the AHL, however, being named the Calder Cup Final MVP after leading the Abbotsford Canucks to their first championship this past July. He appeared in 24 games during the run, recording a 2.01 GAA along with a .931 save percentage and five shutouts.
Shortly after the magical run had come to an end, the Canucks traded Silovs to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Chase Stillman and a fourth-round pick in the 2027 draft.
The issue with the Canucks’ decision, which Brodeur also noted, is that Demko’s health is a cause for concern moving forward. The 29-year-old has appeared in 50 or more games just twice in his career and was limited to just 23 games in the 2024-25 season. Should he continue to struggle to remain healthy, Brodeur may wind up being right in his assessment that Canucks management will regret this deal.