Canucks acquire centre Ilya Safonov from Blackhawks for future considerations

Safonov scored seven goals and registered 22 points in 51 games for Ak Bars Kazan of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).

Listed at 6’4” and 224 pounds, the left-shot centre was originally a sixth-round selection of the Hawks in the 2021 NHL Draft. The Canucks had a pair of their own selections in that sixth round. Safonov was taken after Hugo Gabrielson and before Connor Lockhart. Nobody drafted in the sixth round in 2021 has appeared in an NHL game.

Two years ago, Safonov scored 19 goals and recorded 37 points in 64 KHL games. His Ak Bars Kazan team lost the Gagarin Cup Final that season, falling in seven games to CSKA Moscow. Safonov had three goals and three assists in 24 playoff games that year. Since then, however, his point totals have plummeted. 

According to Dobber’s Prospects website, Safonov is described as ‘a smart defense-first type player and an excellent penalty killer with a big frame that sees the ice well. He makes good decisions with and without the pick and tends to be in the right place at the right time; there is potential for more of a two-way player within the right situation.’

It’s unclear how the unsigned Moscow native fits into the Canucks plans. He is expected to participate in the club’s summer development camp that begins this weekend with the first on-ice session set for Monday afternoon at UBC. According to reports, Safonov has one year remaining on his KHL contract. After that, he seems like a wildcard who may want to give professional hockey a try. North America a try. At the acquisition cost, it’s about as low a risk proposition as there can be for the hockey club.

The Canucks are expected to release their full development camp roster on Sunday.