The Pittsburgh Penguins are shaking things up, and their newest goalie might be the fresh start they desperately need.
After letting go of head coach Mike Sullivan, new coach Dan Muse is making waves with his plans for change. One of the biggest questions: Who’s going to be the main man between the pipes?
Enter Arturs Silovs, the 24-year-old netminder the Penguins picked up from Vancouver in July. They traded Chase Stillman and a 2027 fourth-round pick to get him – and that might turn out to be quite a steal.
Sure, Silovs only has 19 NHL games under his belt with the Canucks. His .880 save percentage in those games might not jump off the page.
But here’s where it gets interesting.
Last season in the AHL, Silovs turned heads with a solid .908 save percentage for the Abbotsford Canucks. Then he absolutely caught fire in the playoffs.
He didn’t just play well – he dominated. Silovs posted an incredible .931 save percentage through 24 playoff games, earning MVP honors while leading Abbotsford to the Calder Cup championship.
The timing couldn’t be better for him to make his mark in Pittsburgh. The Penguins were a mess defensively last season, giving up 3.50 goals per game – fourth-worst in the league.
Their current goalies? Well, they’ve had their struggles. Tristan Jarry saw his save percentage drop to .893, his worst showing in five years. Joel Blomqvist didn’t fare much better at .885.
What makes Silovs different is his combination of youth and potential. He’s got the confidence of GM Kyle Dubas, who’s betting the young goalie can help turn things around.
The big question is whether Silovs can handle the pressure of being an NHL starter. He’s got the talent – now he just needs to prove he can bring it every single night.
Training camp will be his chance to show he deserves one of the top two spots. For a Penguins team looking to break free from their recent struggles, Silovs might just be the fresh start they’re looking for.
