As the hockey world buzzes with excitement over the emergence of young stars like Connor Bedard, one player unexpectedly stealing the spotlight is Arturs Silovs. Originally a third-string goaltender for the Vancouver Canucks, Silovs found himself thrust into the limelight due to injuries to key players and seized the opportunity to showcase his skills on the ice.
Facing off against the Nashville Predators, many doubted Silovs’s ability to compete at the NHL level. However, he silenced his critics with remarkable performances, including a standout game where he made an impressive 42 saves, a feat matched by only a few other Canucks goalies in away playoff games. Despite the Canucks ultimately falling to the Oilers in Game 6, Silovs’s exceptional play was a bright spot in an otherwise challenging series.
Before his remarkable NHL debut, Silovs had already been making waves in junior hockey with the Barrie Colts and on the international stage representing HS Riga in Latvia. Despite flying under the radar of many scouting reports, his talent was undeniable, leading to his selection by the Canucks in the sixth round of the 2019 NHL Draft. Silovs further solidified his status as a rising star with standout performances at the World U18 Championships and helping Latvia secure a historic bronze medal at the 2023 IIHF World Championships.
In addition to his on-ice success, Silovs’s popularity has surged in the world of hockey card collecting. His rookie cards in the Upper Deck Series 2, especially the coveted Young Guns and Canvas Young Guns, have seen a surge in value and demand among collectors. Notably, a recent sale of his Young Guns Red Outburst variant fetched an impressive $263, underscoring the growing interest in his cards. Furthermore, his inclusion in other Upper Deck releases and non-licensed BY cards from IIHF tournaments has expanded his appeal, particularly among European collectors.
Looking to the future, the Canucks face important decisions regarding Silovs’s role, whether as a backup to Thatcher Demko or as a valuable trade asset. Despite the uncertainties, one thing remains clear: Arturs Silovs’s unexpected rise has not only elevated him to a key player for Vancouver but also a sought-after figure in the world of hockey card collecting. With his talent on the ice and growing popularity off it, Silovs is poised for a bright future in the NHL and beyond.
