Silovs is only 21 years old. He’s extremely athletic and exceptionally talented. He’s also a favourite of Canucks goalie coach Ian Clark, who lobbied internally for the club to give Silovs a game in the latter stages of last season.
At Rogers Arena for the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, Clark — who plays a crucial role scouting netminders — was pounding the table for Silovs throughout that draft year. There’s an old draft-floor tale among Canucks front office hands, which contends that as every Canucks draft pick approached from the third round on, someone at the table got a text from Clark beseeching them to select Silovs.
In the sixth round, the Canucks finally did so.
Silovs’ development from sixth-round pick to making his first NHL start at the precocious age of 21 is wildly impressive. His debut wasn’t storybook Wednesday night, but that’s no surprise in a Canucks season wholly absent of good feeling.
I'm no goalie guru. Good thing goalies are fickle because he didn't trend better after last night's showing
Last in SV% and GAA among rookie NHL goalies this season now - manvanfan
Ain't that the truth
Clark has a pretty damn good track record of goalies, so I'll leave the ins and outs up to him. He's easily the most trustworthy coach in the organization.
As for him being last in save percentage and GAA, well the Canucks are a terrible team who have given up the second most goals in the league, are averaging over 4 goals against a game (which is historically bad)... what do you expect? lol
Clark has a pretty damn good track record of goalies, so I'll leave the ins and outs up to him. He's easily the most trustworthy coach in the organization.
As for him being last in save percentage and GAA, well the Canucks are a terrible team who have given up the second most goals in the league, are averaging over 4 goals against a game (which is historically bad)... what do you expect? lol - NewYorkNuck
Goals saved above expected, it's a stat for goalies.
Currently 2nd last in the league Spencer Martin. Elvis Merzlikins is last (former Clark student). Demko 6th worst, Delia 14th worst. Silovs is 20th worst that's out of 91.
Last season Demko was making saves and was top 10. He was playing well, team was not. This year the goalies have under performed the team. Where is Clark and his expertise this season?
Goals saved above expected, it's a stat for goalies.
Currently 2nd last in the league Spencer Martin. Elvis Merzlikins is last (former Clark student). Demko 6th worst, Delia 14th worst. Silovs is 20th worst that's out of 91.
Last season Demko was making saves and was top 10. He was playing well, team was not. This year the goalies have under performed the team. Where is Clark and his expertise this season?
Benning was a drafting guru. Was he actually? - manvanfan
Coaching in the NHL, while you're here spending your free time posting anonymously on some hockey board?
Merzlikins - Clark doesn't coach him anymore (for years), not applicable
Martin - AHL goalie
Delia - AHL goalie
Demko - 100 games previous years > 15 games this year in front of a terrible team
I'd say the goalies have performed as well as the team, case in point:
Sitting on the New York Rangers bench wearing a ball cap Wednesday night, a testament to all of this, was last season’s Canucks backup, Jaroslav Halak.
The 37-year-old goaltender signed a one-year contract with the Canucks in the summer of 2021 but quickly played his way out of favour. The club couldn’t find a taker for him — despite their best efforts — at the 2022 NHL trade deadline.
After a run of losses in which the run support was non-existent, Halak struggled in the middle of his one Canucks season. In February he failed to make it out of the second period in two consecutive starts, causing the club to give up on him. They opted instead to ride Demko into the ground in the hopeless pursuit of a miracle playoff berth.
One year later, however, after a change of scenery as an unrestricted free agent, Halak is exceedingly reliable. He’s posted a well-above-average save percentage in his 15 starts behind a far more complete Rangers team.
It’s an instructive case to bear in mind, particularly as it pertains to the recent struggles of Martin and Delia. It’s also worthwhile context to remember as Demko prepares to return to action next week.
