Canucks acquire forward Ilya Safonov from Blackhawks for future considerations
Russia's Ilya Safonov (24) scores on Finland goalie Kari Piiroinen (1) as Kasper Puutio (10) and Mikko Kokkenen (35) defend during first period IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship bronze medal game action in Edmonton on Tuesday, January 5, 2021. (Jason Franson / The Canadian Press)
VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Canucks acquired forward Ilya Safonov from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for future considerations on Saturday.
Safonov had 22 points (seven goals, 15 assists), 22 penalty minutes and a plus-22 rating in 51 games for Ak Bars Kazan of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) in 2024-25.
He added another five points (three goals, two assists) in 13 post-season games.
In 263 career KHL games across parts of seven seasons, the 24-year-old has 95 points (49 goals, 46 assists).
The six-foot-four, 205-pound Russian centre has yet to play in the NHL.
Safonov was a sixth-round pick (172nd overall) of the Blackhawks in the 2021 NHL Draft.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 28, 2025.
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