Canucks acquire forward Ilya Safonov from Blackhawks for future considerations

By Canadian Press on June 28, 2025.

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.

The Canadian Press