NHL PRESEASON:
Canucks edge the Kings, 4-3, in OT
All it takes is a few sentences to realize Nikolay Goldobin is no Nikita Tryamkin.
That’s mostly because Goldobin can string a few together and in English. Tryamkin, not so much.
There are other reasons. Height comes to mind.
But none is bigger than this: Goldobin doesn’t think an American Hockey League assignment is equivalent to a poker to the groin.
That’s not to say Goldobin is in love with the idea of playing in Utica. He’s not.
He turns 22 years old next month and has already logged 126 AHL games, including playoffs. He turned a brief assignment to the minors late last year into a tour du force, scoring four goals in three games.
Offensively, he’s as ready for an NHL shot as he’ll ever be. In many ways, he’s done all he can in the minors.
“Yes, I think I’ve reached that level, I’ve done that,” Goldobin said. “I’m putting all my effort now on reaching roster spot here.
“I don’t want to go ... No one wants to go back.
“I feel like I’ve played enough there.”
How do the Canucks feel? That probably depends on where you are in the organization.
Management would like to avoid any chance of getting “Tryamkin’d” again.
They would love nothing more than Goldobin lighting up the pre-season, making the team and winning over the new coaching staff.
But Goldobin has never seemed to have an easy time winning over his coach’s trust in professional hockey.
In part, that’s because so many North American coaches needle toward safe, responsible hockey and Goldobin is a free-thinking creative player who takes chances.
Take the first pre-season game. Goldobin had some nice moments. He had an assist on a Canucks’ power-play goal. He made some smart defensive plays breaking up rush attempts in the neutral zone. He also tried a blind back-pass from the boards through the middle of the ice. It worked out fine, but it was nearly picked off for an odd-man rush against.
Travis Green’s Utica teams were smart, disciplined and always committed to being in the right place at the right time.
It could take Goldobin some time to get that figured out, which is why some believe he’ll be starting this year in Utica.
That’s where things get interesting. There is no agreement with the KHL and theoretically Goldobin could be lured back to Russia — maybe even with a chance to play in the Olympics.
As Vancouver learned last year with Tryamkin, the threat is real.
The Canucks know it’s possible, but they believe in Goldobin and his desire to carve out a North American career.
“Every time I’ve spoken to his agent about this, the answer is he’s committed to staying here and plans on playing in the NHL for a long time,” Vancouver GM Jim Benning said.
Goldobin backed the sentiment up this weekend, declaring he has no desire to play in the KHL.
“I’m not thinking about leaving,” Goldobin said. “Of course I would be disappointed if I don’t make the team, but I don’t want to go back to Russia.
“I want to play the best league in the world. This is my dream. I’m not going to just give up on it like that.
“I am going to work on this till the end.” Is that the last of it? Of course not. Things could change. But those re-assuring words will come as a something of a relief to the Canucks because these days, when it comes to Russian players, a team can never be sure. The threat is real.
“They treat you way better here than they do in Russia,” Goldobin said. “It’s nice to be here, speak English and fly around the United States.”
That’s as strong a verbal commitment as you’re going to hear from a player.