Artūrs Šilovs

Artūrs Šilovs
Šilovs in 2023
Born (2001-03-22) 22 March 2001
Ventspils, Latvia
Height 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight 208 lb (94 kg; 14 st 12 lb)
Position Goaltender
Catches Left
NHL team
Former teams		 Pittsburgh Penguins
HS Rīga
HK Mogo
Vancouver Canucks
National team  Latvia
NHL draft 156th overall, 2019
Vancouver Canucks
Playing career 2021–present

Artūrs Šilovs (born 22 March 2001) is a Latvian professional ice hockey player who is a goaltender for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL). Šilovs was drafted in the sixth round, 156th overall, by the Vancouver Canucks at the 2019 NHL entry draft, with whom he made his NHL debut in 2023. Playing with the Latvian national team, Šilovs played a central role in the country's first-ever medal at the World Championships in 2023.

Šilovs spent most of his Canucks tenure with the team's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate in Abbotsford, with whom he won a Calder Cup championship in 2025. Unable to secure a full-time NHL roster spot, he was traded to the Penguins months later.

Playing career

Šilovs started his hockey career with HS Rīga of the Optibet Hockey League.[1]

Vancouver Canucks

On 22 June 2019, Šilovs was selected by the Vancouver Canucks in the sixth round, 156th overall, of the 2019 NHL entry draft.[2] On 27 June 2019, he was subsequently selected 11th overall by the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) in the 2019 CHL Import Draft.[3] Šilovs signed a contract with Vancouver on 23 August 2019.[4] In September 2019, he signed with Barrie for the 2019–20 OHL season.[5]

Šilovs began the 2020–21 season playing for HS Rīga and HK Mogo. On 19 January 2021, he was assigned to the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League (AHL).[6] He made his AHL debut for Manitoba on 27 February 2021.[7]

In the 2021–22 AHL season, he played for the Abbotsford Canucks, recording a .888 save percentage for the team in 10 games.[1]

Šilovs made his NHL debut with the Vancouver Canucks on 15 February 2023, against the New York Rangers.[8] He finished the 2022–23 season playing five games for Vancouver and 44 games for Abbotsford, being named the team MVP for Abbotsford.[9]

Continuing to play primarily in Abbotsford through the 2023–24 season, Šilovs was called up to make his Stanley Cup playoffs debut following injuries to Vancouver's regular goaltenders, Thatcher Demko and Casey DeSmith, three games into the Canucks' first-round series against the Nashville Predators. On 28 April 2024, he started his first playoff game, stopping 27 of 30 shots and helping the Canucks to a 4–3 win.[10] Šilovs retained the net even after DeSmith's return to the roster, and on 3 May, he recorded his first playoff shutout in Vancouver's series-clinching game 6, a 1–0 win. He became the youngest goaltender in franchise history to earn a playoff shutout.[11] In July 2024, Šilovs signed a two-year contract extension with the Canucks.[12]

As the starting goaltender for the Abbotsford Canucks in the 2025 AHL playoffs, Šilovs led his team to a Calder Cup championship, winning the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as playoffs MVP for his efforts.[13]

Pittsburgh Penguins

Prior to the start of the 2025–26 season, Šilovs was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Chase Stillman and a 2027 fourth-round pick.[14] He was named the starting goaltender by new head coach Dan Muse ahead of the season opener against the New York Rangers. He went on to make 25 saves to earn his first regular season shutout in the eventual 3–0 win. In the process, Šilovs joined Maxime Lagacé as the only Penguins goaltenders to earn a shutout in their Pittsburgh debut and Marc-André Fleury as the second-ever goaltender to earn an opening-night shutout for the team.[15]

On 5 July 2026 as a restricted free agent, Šilovs signed a one-year, $2.8 million contract to avoid contract arbitration.[16]

International play

Medal record
Men's ice hockey
Representing  Latvia
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place2023 Finland/Latvia

Šilovs made his international debut with Latvia under-18 team at the 2019 World U18 Championships, where his team placed eighth. Three years later, he accepted his first invitation to join the senior national team at the 2022 World Championship, where he played four games and recorded a .952 save percentage. He began the tournament as backup goaltender to Columbus Blue Jackets starter Elvis Merzļikins but was judged to have significantly outperformed Merzļikins during the tournament, and was given the start in the team's final game in the group stage. Latvia did not advance to the knockout rounds.[17]

After his strong showing at the 2022 championships, Šilovs rejoined the national team for the 2023 World Championship, which was jointly hosted by Latvia and Finland. Šilovs relieved goaltender Ivars Punnenovs early in the team's first game of the tournament, and thereafter started every game for Latvia, leading them on an unexpectedly deep run to the bronze medal game. There they defeated the heavily-favoured United States national team, winning the bronze medal, the first of any medals for Latvia at an IIHF World Championship.[18][19] Šilovs played 60 minutes more than any other goaltender in the tournament.[18] In recognition of his pivotal role in the team's success, he was named the championship's best goaltender and most valuable player (MVP) by the IIHF directorate, as well as to the Media All-Star Team.[20] Following the historic result, the Latvian Saeima declared a public holiday.[21] Šilovs later finished second in the voting for the inaugural IIHF Male Player of the Year award, behind Connor Bedard.[22]

Šilovs played in 2026 Winter Olympics for Latvia. He played in three of the four games Latvia played in the tournament, leading the nation to their fourth win all-time in Olympic tournaments with NHL players participating in their game against Germany.[23]

Personal life

Šilovs was born in Ventspils, Latvia. He learned to skate when he was three years old, playing forward at that time.[24][25] When he was six years old, he became a goaltender.[25] When he was ten years old, he moved to Riga.[25]

He married his wife, Vendija, on 23 August 2019, when he was 18.[26] The pair divorced in 2023.[27]

Public art was placed in downtown Riga in Šilovs' name after his world championship run.[28]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Bold indicates led league

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPWLOTLMINGASOGAASV% GPWLMINGASOGAASV%
2017–18 SK Rīga 17 LHL.1 8———4471712.28— 6——2601403.22—
2018–19 HK Riga MHL 73403421412.45.920 ————————
2018–19 HS Rīga LHL 2081101,1036023.26.914 ————————
2019–20 Barrie Colts OHL 36161342,03013113.87.891 ————————
2020–21 HS Rīga LHL 2011124904.34.923 ————————
2020–21 HK Mogo LHL 42202341002.56.899 ————————
2020–21 Manitoba Moose AHL 101058202.07.920 ————————
2021–22 Abbotsford Canucks AHL 103605422813.10.888 ————————
2021–22 Trois-Rivières Lions ECHL 106316092412.37.920 ————————
2022–23 Abbotsford Canucks AHL 44261252,55410442.44.909 211126602.85.914
2022–23 Vancouver Canucks NHL 53203061402.75.908 ————————
2023–24 Abbotsford Canucks AHL 34161162,0159242.74.907 ————————
2023–24 Vancouver Canucks NHL 43012431002.47.881 10555982912.91.898
2024–25 Vancouver Canucks NHL 102615433303.65.861 ————————
2024–25 Abbotsford Canucks AHL 2114511,2465002.41.908 241671,4925052.01.931
2025–26 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 39191282,24711523.07.888 321197501.52.939
NHL totals 582720103,33817223.09.886 13767963412.56.907
LHL totals 26101411,4627923.04.914 ————————

International

Year Team Event Result GPWLTMINGASOGAASV%
2018 Latvia U18-IA 11th 2200120201.00.960
2019 Latvia U18 8th 51402711513.32.918
2022 Latvia WC 10th 4220196401.22.952
2023 Latvia WC 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 107206012212.20.921
2026 Latvia OG 10th 3120140703.01.873
Junior totals 73403911712.61.932
Senior totals 1710609373312.14.915

Awards and honours

Award Year Ref
International
World Championship Best Goaltender 2023 [20]
World Championship Media All-Star Team 2023 [20]
World Championship MVP 2023 [20]
AHL
Calder Cup 2025 [29]
Jack A. Butterfield Trophy 2025 [29]

References

  1. 1 2 "Arturs Silovs at eliteprospects.com". Eliteprospects. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  2. ↑ "Canucks select nine players at 2019 NHL Draft | Vancouver Canucks". www.nhl.com. 22 June 2019.
  3. ↑ Wilkins, Cory (27 June 2019). "2019 CHL Import Draft Results". Canadian Hockey League.
  4. ↑ "Canucks Sign Arturs Silovs to Entry Level Contract". NHL.com. 23 August 2019. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  5. ↑ "Colts Sign Arturs Silovs – Barrie Colts". barriecolts.com. Archived from the original on 11 October 2019.
  6. ↑ "Canucks Send Trio to Moose". Manitoba Moose.
  7. ↑ "Recap: Manitoba 1 at Laval 2". Manitoba Moose.
  8. ↑ Aykroyd, Lucas (17 February 2023). "Latvia's Silovs makes Vancouver debut". IIHF.com. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  9. ↑ "Canucks goalie prospect Arturs Silovs named IIHF World Championship MVP". Sportsnet.ca. 28 May 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  10. ↑ Kierszenblat, Adam (28 April 2024). "Canucks mount historic comeback in Game 4 win over the Predators". The Hockey News. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  11. ↑ "Arturs Silovs becomes youngest goalie in Canucks history to record playoff shutout". Sportsnet.ca. 3 May 2024. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  12. ↑ "Canucks Agree to Terms with Goaltender Artūrs Šilovs on a 2-Year Contract | Vancouver Canucks". www.nhl.com. 16 July 2024.
  13. ↑ Kuzma, Ben (23 June 2025). "Abbotsford Canucks: The journey really was the adventure to capture 2025 Calder Cup crown". The Province. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
  14. ↑ "Silovs traded to Penguins by Canucks for Stillman, draft pick". nhl.com. 13 July 2025. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  15. ↑ Satriano, David (7 October 2025). "Penguins spoil old coach Sullivan's Rangers debut with shutout win". NHL.com. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
  16. ↑ "Penguins' Egor Chinakhov avoids arbitration by signing three-year deal". Sportsnet. 5 July 2026. Retrieved 5 July 2026.
  17. ↑ Wagner, Daniel (22 May 2023). "Arturs Silovs finishes World Championship with .952 save percentage". Vancouver Is Awesome. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  18. 1 2 Kennedy, Ian (29 May 2023). "Top 10 players at the World Championship: Arturs Silovs sealed the door". The Hockey News. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  19. ↑ Aykroyd, Lucas (28 May 2023). "Latvia wins historic bronze in OT". IIHF.com. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  20. 1 2 3 4 O'Brien, Derek (28 May 2023). "Silovs MVP, All-Stars named". IIHF. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  21. ↑ Hernandez, Victoria (29 May 2023). "Latvia beat US hockey, so parliament met in jerseys to declare national holiday at midnight". USA Today. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  22. ↑ Podnieks, Andrew (19 June 2023). "Bedard named IIHF Male Player of the Year". International Ice Hockey Federation. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  23. ↑ Karafilis, Brandon (22 February 2026). "Silovs Looking to Build From Olympic Experience | Pittsburgh Penguins". www.nhl.com. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
  24. ↑ "Latvijas hokeja izlases panākumā artavu dod arī Ventspils un HK "Venta 2002"" [Ventspils and HK "Venta 2002" also contribute to the success of the Latvian hockey team] (in Latvian). ventspilnieks.lv. 20 November 2020. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  25. 1 2 3 Kuzma, Ben (29 April 2024). "Stanley Cup Canucks Coffee: How Arturs Silovs became the talk of any town, at any time". The Province.
  26. ↑ "Jau trīsarpus gadus precējušies. NHL debitanta Šilova sieva Vendija atklāj pāra skaisto mīlasstāstu". tv3.lv (in Latvian). 22 February 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  27. ↑ "Hokejists Artūrs Šilovs izšķīries no sievas". tv3.lv (in Latvian). 5 September 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  28. ↑ "Foto: 'Hokeja vārtsargs' – bronzas medaļu sajūsma turpinās ar vides objekta atvēršanu". Delfi (in Latvian). 15 June 2023. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
  29. 1 2 Pr, Ahl (23 June 2025). "Signed, Šil'd, delivered: Canucks win Calder Cup". theahl.com.
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