Hustle rounds out Goldy’s game
It has taken years for Bo Horvat to improve his skating stride and strength.
It has taken less than a year for the Canucks’ centre to appreciate how quickly Nikolay Goldobin can go from looking like he’s somewhat stoic to streaking past a defender.
Goldobin said Monday that comparing his smooth skating style to others — “they are just moving their feet quick” — can give that lackadaisical illusion, but Horvat knows the stride is something else.
“It doesn’t look like he’s skating that hard and all of a sudden he’s on a breakaway,” marvelled Horvat.
Canucks coach Travis Green is rightfully schooling his young players on playing without the puck, an imperative ingredient for trust and NHL survival.
And with eight injured players, a six-game losing streak and a fourgame road trip opening tonight in Las Vegas, the defensive due diligence is understandable because of the small margin of error for a team that doesn’t score often enough. In that respect, Goldobin has been better.
“He has been more aggressive and I’ve liked his intensity level away from the puck,” said Green. “He’s moving his feet on the forecheck and I thought last game was one of his better games. When he has time and space, he has made some good plays. And he has made some turnovers (eight in 28 games) when he’s trying to force a play — a
1-on-2 or 1-on-3 — where it’s just not going to cut it in the NHL.
“We’re willing to be patient with young guys, but they have to take responsibility and start to realize the mistakes they’re making. Another thing is tracking the puck. We want Goldy to be able to forecheck and not give the other team traction.”
However, it’s what Goldobin possesses that you simply can’t teach.
He blew by Brent Burns Saturday and nearly scored on an impressive dangle. Earlier, he picked the short side on the power-play goal that ended the club’s 222-minute-and57-second streak of scoring futility. He then nearly sent the game into overtime, but hit the post and finished with five shot attempts.
Five goals don’t scream stardom, but the potential of the 22-yearold Moscow native is intriguing because he’s like a comet quickly screaming across the ice.
Goldobin got Drew Doughty back-peddling Dec. 30 at Rogers Arena before whipping a backhander home from the high slot. And in his Canucks debut on March 4, 2017, at the Staples Center, he chased down a long, bouncing, backhanded clearance by Ben Hutton and scored on the breakaway.
“Most of the Russians have good skill and I don’t want to forget about my skill,” stressed Goldobin. “This is the best I can do and I always want to feel confident about myself. Maybe I do some turnovers sometimes, but I’m still trying to make a play every time.”
You like to hear that. Goldobin knows he needs to be a complete player, but he punched his ticket to the NHL by having a 38-goal Ontario Hockey League season as a junior and a 21-goal campaign as a pro in the American Hockey League. He had 15 goals in 46 games for the San Jose Sharks’ AHL affiliate in 201617 and went to the Canucks in a deal a year ago for Jannik Hansen.
“I’ve had a lot of improvements lately and I’m playing with a lot more confidence,” added Goldobin. “It’s like when I was playing in the AHL, I’m feeling the puck and I’m feeling good. I’ve got to show my best so I can earn a spot for next year. There are a lot of wingers, but everyone has a different strength at something and I’m not wondering about it, I’m just doing my best. I know how I can play.”
Green likes to deploy pairs of forwards and Goldobin and Jake Virtanen have worked their way up and down the lineup depending on their play, the matchup and speed of the opposition. What Goldobin likes is that he’s getting a fair chance and with another year left on his two-way contract, he wants to make it here.
He’s getting to know the city better and knows where to find a Russian convenience store to get goods from back home, including caviar.
“I’m by myself and my family is not visiting this year, but I have good teammates,” said Goldobin. “I can just walk around and the weather is getting nicer, so I feel comfortable.”
He’s also buoyed by countryman Ilya Kovalchuk’s desire to return to the NHL after playing the last five seasons in the KHL. At 34, Kovalchuk pines to win an elusive Stanley Cup and join Pavel Datsyuk, who has captured Olympic gold, a world championship and an NHL title.
“I won’t forgive myself when I get older if I don’t try for the Stanley Cup,” Kovalchuk told reporters.
The first overall pick in 2001 put up a pair of 52-goal seasons with Atlanta and the winger has 816 points (417 goals, 399 assists) in 816 career games with the Thrashers and the New Jersey Devils.
“I’m really happy that he’s going to come back — maybe with our team — and I would love that,” said Goldobin. “He’s making a good move. The NHL is better.”