Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Arturs Silovs has not only been one of the best players on the team amid their surprising 10-5-4 start, but the 24-year-old has also been one of the top netminders in the NHL through the first quarter of the season.
Silovs is also among the top contenders for the Calder Trophy, awarded to the league’s top rookie, according to Harman Dayal and Scott Wheeler of The Athletic.
The offseason acquisition was ranked sixth on Dayal’s and Wheeler’s list of candidates for the hardware.
The NHL writers said Silovs was one of the “few ingredients behind the Penguins’ surprise ascent into an early playoff spot.”
“Silovs’ early numbers have been terrific; he’s lost just twice in regulation over 10 starts, is sporting an outstanding .917 save percentage and ranks top 10 among all NHL goaltenders for goals saved above expected,” Dayal and Wheeler wrote. “Silovs’ side-to-side athleticism, quick reactions to in-tight chances and ability to take the bottom half of the net away have all shone in Pittsburgh. He has been a streaky, inconsistent goaltender throughout his career, so he still needs to prove that this is sustainable rather than just a hot start. Still, there’s a genuine possibility he turned a corner during his sensational AHL playoff run last spring.”
Story continues below advertisement
The Vancouver Canucks selected Silovs in the sixth round of the 2019 draft and the Latvian made his NHL debut with five games during the 2022-23 season.
Silovs played 19 regular season games across parts of three seasons with the Canucks before being traded to the Penguins in July.
He earned a surprising start over two-time All-Star Tristan Jarry in Pittsburgh’s season-opener and has gone 4-2-4 in his 10 starts.
Story continues below advertisement
More NHL: Penguins Rookie Goalie Makes Franchise History With Impressive Shutout
Featured image via Per Haljestam/Imagn Images