The Chicago Blackhawks have announced a trade involving forward Ilya Safonov to the Vancouver Canucks. In return, the Blackhawks will receive future considerations from the Canucks.
Ilya Safonov, 24, played for Ak Bars Kazan in the KHL last season, where he scored 22 points with seven goals and 15 assists over 51 regular-season games. He ranked eighth on his team in points and tied for eighth in assists. Additionally, he was ninth in goals scored during the regular season. In postseason play, Safonov contributed five points with three goals and two assists across 13 games, ranking fourth on his team in goals.
Throughout his career in the KHL, Safonov has accumulated a total of 95 points from 49 goals and 46 assists over 263 regular-season games. His postseason record includes appearances in 59 games with a tally of eight goals and nine assists.
Safonov hails from Murmansk, Russia. He stands at six feet four inches tall and weighs 205 pounds. The Chicago Blackhawks originally selected him as their sixth-round pick (172nd overall) during the NHL Draft in 2021.