Nikolay Goldobin to Make Season Debut Against the Predators

The Canucks recalled Nikolay Goldobin from the Utica Comets on Sunday, but have yet to play him. That changes today, though, as Canucks head coach Travis Green has announced that Goldobin will be making his regular season debut as Vancouver takes on the Nashville Predators.

No word yet on who Green’s removing from the lineup to accommodate Goldobin’s debut. The list of candidates has to be a long one. The Canucks last game against the New York Islanders was a 5-2 loss, and nobody looked particularly good in that game.

Based on ice-time and the coach’s tendencies to date, I would suspect it’s Alexander Burmistrov who draws out of the Canucks lineup. Then again, Jake Virtanen looked downright lost against the Islanders in what might have been one of his worst games of the season.

Goldobin’s certainly earned the opportunity. Everyone who follows the Comets agrees that he’s been their best player this season, and the numbers back that up. In 18 games with the Comets, Goldobin has 19 points (seven goals and 12 assists) and has played in all phases of the game, including the penalty kill.

This won’t be Goldobin’s first tour of duty with the Canucks. Last season, Goldobin played 12 games in Vancouver after they acquired him at the trade deadline and contributed three goals. Hopefully this time, he does enough to stick around.