Goldobin’s complete game a must for Canucks

VANCOUVER — You don’t have to tell Nikolay Goldobin about being in the right place at the right time.

Blessed with natural offensive skill and a boyish enthusiasm, the Russian winger is enamoured with everything afforded NHL players. A charter jet. Fancy hotels. Great meals.

Add an environment that’s conducive to becoming better every day on and off the ice — especially amid the scrutiny of Henrik and Daniel Sedin — and you sense that a 22-year-old winger with a huge upside is starting to get it because he doesn’t have to look far to see it.

“I’m excited to even sit in the same locker-room because they [Sedins] both have 1,000 points and that’s unbelievable and hopefully, one day I’ll get that achievement,” said Goldobin, who skated on a practice line Tuesday with Markus Granlund and Loui Eriksson and is expected to play tonight against the Nashville Predators. The offence speaks for itself. Despite playing just four games this season, there was his effort against the Carolina Hurricanes on Dec. 5 — strong move to the net and the patience and finish to deposit his own rebound off the post — and that long pass in Nashville on Dec. 30 to spring Brock Boeser for his second goal of the night.

Without the injured Bo Horvat and Sven Baertschi, the Canucks are minus two of their top-three goal scorers and it’s why they have but four goals during a three-game losing streak. Goldobin thinks he can make a difference and that’s what you want because there has to be some swagger to stick in this game.

“It gives me confidence when I get the points and when we get the big wins everything is good,” added Goldobin, who has sat out the last two games. “I think I can help the team if I get a lot of [ice] time and play the right way.

“It’s all about instincts. Where is the puck and how can I make a play? But I haven’t had practices this hard. It’s hard for me.”

It’s those practices and Goldobin’s practice habits that will shape his roster place. After all, the Canucks aren’t sure what they have because he didn’t have a great training camp.

Is Goldobin a 10-, 20- or 30-goal scorer? Was playing the penalty kill in Utica and forced into puck pursuits and hounding the opposition the reason the Moscow native had 19 points (7-12) in 18 games with the Comets before being recalled last month?

Travis Green doesn’t want to handcuff Goldobin. His work to turn Boeser and Jake Virtanen into more complete players speaks for itself. And because the Canucks’ coach knows Goldobin isn’t the fastest skater, and it might not look like the effort is there, it sends a mixed message.

“His opinions of working and mine are sometimes different,” said Green. “It’s different how you track a puck, how you backcheck and protect pucks in your own zone. And it’s the pace you play when you don’t have the puck. It’s a big part of the game, especially on winning teams.”

Goldobin was initially aligned with Horvat and Boeser for a reason. Horvat’s strength on pucks, ability to handle tough matchups and find his wingers is a boon for any linemate. You know Boeser is going to play a complete game and his smarts can rub off on any player. However, if the Canucks don’t put Goldobin in the right position to succeed, it can have an adverse affect. You want to help the player, but that player has to be in position to help the team.

“Will it bring him crashing down if things don’t work out the right way?” asked Green. “There are not many players in the game who take shortcuts.

“The best players work hard all over the rink. We want Goldy to be a full-time NHL player you can win with. I’m not interested in having 20-goal scorers you lose with.”