Canucks acquire Ilya Safonov from Blackhawks for future considerations

The Vancouver Canucks announced Saturday that the club has acquired center Ilya Safonov from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for future considerations.

Safonov was originally chosen by the Blackhawks in the sixth round of the 2021 NHL Draft and remains unsigned.

Through 51 games in 2024-25 with the KHL’s Kazan Ak-Bars, the 24-year-old Russian-born forward collected seven goals and 15 assists for 22 points coupled with 22 penalty minutes and a plus-22 rating. The 6-foot-4 pivot then added another five points counting three goals and two assists in 13 postseason appearances.

In all, through part of seven seasons in the KHL, Safonov has totaled 49 goals and 46 assists for 95 points in 263 career contests.

Beyond his time in the KHL, Safonov has also seen success in international competition, most notably in joining Russia at the 2021 World Juniors where through seven games he put up two goals and 14 penalty minutes. Safonov also competed with the Russians at the 2017 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, finishing with one goal and one assist for two points in five games.

Safonov is the latest acquisition for the Canucks and general manager Patrik Allvin, who on Wednesday added veteran left winger Evander Kane from the Pacific Division rival Edmonton Oilers in exchange for a fourth-round selection in the 2025 NHL Draft. Sidelined for the entire 2024-25 regular season due to injury, Kane returned for the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs where in 21 outings he collected six goals and six assists for 12 points.

Additionally, as reported by Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli, the Canucks appear close to a contract extension with right winger Conor Garland, who can sign a new agreement as of July 1. In 81 appearances with the Canucks in 2024-25, Garland finished with 19 goals and 31 assists for 50 points.