What Could Ilya Safonov Actually Bring to the Canucks?
There’s something kind of fun about Ilya Safonov arriving in Vancouver. Right now, nobody really knows what the Canucks have. Six seasons in the KHL, 25 years old, 6-foot-3 and coming off a 16-goal, 33-point season with Kazan Ak-Bars. Those are the numbers. The rest is still a bit of a mystery.
Safonov’s potential is still a mystery for the Canucks.
But maybe that’s exactly what makes Safonov interesting. Vancouver has no idea yet whether he can come in and score 25 goals. If he makes the team, his impact could be much more about the things that don't always show up in the box score. He’s a big centre who can protect the puck, get into the tough areas and make life uncomfortable for defenders. In the prospects showcase, the Abbotsford coach specifically pointed out his strength on pucks, his physical play and his ability to get inside. Those are useful NHL qualities.
The Canucks have been trying to add more size and competition to their lineup, and Safonov could fit nicely into that conversation. Think of him as somebody who could make a fourth line a little harder to play against, or perhaps move up when injuries hit. If he can take faceoffs, kill penalties and handle defensive-zone assignments, suddenly there are a lot more ways to use him. And if he chips in 10 or 12 goals along the way, that’s gravy.
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Safonov is experienced, but there’s still room to grow.
There’s another part of this that shouldn’t be overlooked. Safonov is 25. He isn’t coming over as an 18-year-old prospect who needs three years to figure out professional hockey. He has already played against grown men in a serious professional league. The question is whether his game translates to the NHL, not whether he knows how to play.
That translation will take time. He has a language barrier; he’s adjusting to a new country and a new style of hockey, and his wife and four-year-old son are still in Moscow. That's a lot to have on the plate before even worrying about making an NHL roster.
The expectations are reasonable but also hopeful.
So the expectations should probably stay reasonable. But if Safonov can turn into a reliable, physical, puck-holding forward who can play centre or wing and handle some defensive work, Vancouver may have found something pretty useful.
Sometimes the best addition isn't the guy who jumps off the page. Sometimes it's the guy who makes the other 11 forwards a little easier to use.