Ex-Canucks goalie Arturs Silovs named Penguins’ opening night starter vs. Rangers

The Penguins get set to open their season in the second game of the NHL’s opening night triple header, when they take on the New York Rangers in their home opener. Silovs won’t be the only ex-Canucks player in this game, as JT Miller will skate in his first regular season game as Rangers captain as his team looks to get its season started on the right foot. The Rangers missed the playoffs last season and are looking for a bounce back under Miller’s leadership.

For Silovs and the Penguins, they’ll have a chance to spoil the party as they come in as heavy underdogs not only tonight, but for the season as a whole. With Sidney Crosby trade chatter seemingly not going away anytime soon, the Penguins are expected by many to be near the bottom of the NHL standings this season.

In mid-July, the Canucks announced that they’d traded Silovs to the Penguins in exchange for forward Chase Stillman and a 2027 fourth-round pick. Stillman is set to begin the season with the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks. The Canucks originally drafted Silovs in the sixth round at 156th overall of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. Following Silovs’ magical run during the 2023-24 Stanley Cup Playoffs, it became clear that he wasn’t yet ready to be an everyday NHL starter during the 2024-25 season. Silovs opened the season as the Canucks’ opening night starter, and allowed six goals at the hands of the Calgary Flames. Hopefully tonight goes better for him.

After all, the events that happened since then were largely positive for Silovs. After a solid regular season, Silovs took his game to another level in the AHL playoffs, leading the Abbotsford Canucks to their first Calder Cup Championship in franchise history. Unfortunately, the Canucks knew he’d likely be claimed on waivers, so in an attempt to not lose him for nothing, they moved him to the Penguins. The Canucks have their goaltending tandem locked in with Kevin Lankinen and Thatcher Demko both signed through the 2028-29 season.

The Canucks’ regular season opens on October 9th, when the Calgary Flames visit Rogers Arena.