Goldobin ‘excited’ for another shot with Canucks
Time moves fast. Nikolay Goldbobin and Sven Baertschi passed each other in the airport Tuesday. Goldobin was heading to Pittsburgh to join to the Vancouver Canucks after a fast American Hockey League start, and Baertschi was heading back to the Utica Comets for the second time this season after failing to gain NHL traction.
“It was awkward, but we’re good friends,” Goldobin said of crossing paths.
The two share a common bond because they’re at a fork-in-thecareer road. The Canucks made a one-year, $900,000 US commitment to see if the 24-year-old Goldobin could take his game to another level. And they were anxious to see if the 27-year-old Baertschi could bounce back after two concussion-related incidents last season that limited the winger to 14 points (9-5) in 24 games.
Then came the bombshell: Goldobin, Baertschi and Alex Biega were put on waivers Sept. 30.
“He [Baertschi] was upset, obviously, just like me,” Goldobin said of the demotions. “But we pushed each other and played really good together and that’s why I think I got called up.”
Instead of pouting, Goldobin and Baertschi were instrumental in the Comets getting off to an 8-0 AHL start. Goldobin had a spurt of eight points (1-7) in a three-game span last month to be named player of the week and now leads Utica in scoring with 20 points (8-12) in 18 games. Baertschi had 10 points (2-8) in seven games before being recalled to the Canucks Nov. 1 after Micheal Ferland suffered a concussion.
So as Baertschi and Antoine Roussel (conditioning loan) take 769 combined NHL games to the AHL, it was Goldobin heading the other way. Against the Penguins, he was slotted on the right side with
J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson to start the night, but played just 8:37 and didn’t register a shot in a wild 8-6 loss.
Goldobin has been down this recall road before, but this time it’s different. Prior to the game against the Penguins, the Canucks were ranked 27th in 5-on-5 production after their first 25 games. Outside of exploding for five power-play goals last Thursday in Nashville for a 6-3 win, they have combined for just four goals in the other three stops on this six-game trip.
They need Goldobin to be responsible, but they also need him to score. And whether it was going to be lining up with Bo Horvat or Pettersson, the opportunity is more important than the optics.
You could argue that the Canucks are showcasing Goldobin for a possible trade. Or you could contend that they’re not ready to give up on him.
“I can’t describe it and it may not show on my face, but I’m excited to be back,” said Goldobin. “It [season] didn’t start the way I wanted [one assist in four pre-season games]. “Of course, it was tough. I was preparing to start in the NHL, but it [waivers] happened.
“First couple of weeks, I really had a tough time and I just let it go a little bit and tried to enjoy the way I am. I worked hard and did a good job in Utica. I had a good attitude and I didn’t give up — I wanted to enjoy the hockey.”