WWYDW: Do You Want Gold?

The Canucks recalled Nikolay Goldobin from the Utica Comets early Sunday morning while in New York to face the Rangers meaning he was available to them that game. Goldobin took warmups but didn’t play for the Canucks in their 4-3 overtime loss.

Ahead of yesterday’s game against the New York Islanders, Canucks head coach Travis Green labelled Goldobin a game-time decision. Game-time came and went, and Goldobin wasn’t a part of it. Green scratched Goldobin for the second game in a row, to the frustration of many. Oh, and the Canucks lost that game, handily, by a score of 5-2.

The Goldobin situation has been brewing for a few weeks now. It’s not just the byproduct of his recent call-up and subsequent scratches. And everyone seems to have an opinion on it.

So, I want to know what yours is. How do you think the Canucks should handle Nikolay Goldobin, whether that’s in the short or long-term of this season?

Last week I asked: Who do you think has the inside track on the Calder Trophy, awarded to the NHL’s best rookie?

If all the rookies continue on similar paces, it has to be Boeser for the Calder. His PPG is significantly higher than the other rookies in the scoring race, so (if these scoring rates continue) he’ll handily have the most points.

Keller’s been great, but he’s had little impact on the overall success of his team. Arizona was terrible last year, and they’re terrible again this year. Boeser has played a big part in transforming the Canucks from one of the worst teams in the NHL last year, and probably the most boring team in the NHL last year, to a team that may push for a playoff spot and is way more fun to watch this year.

Boeser’s killing it on the scoresheet and he’s making the Canucks fun and competitive again. Gotta be Boeser.

I suspect there’s a voting bias in favour of northeastern teams. There’s not many high-scoring rookie forwards from the NE this year (most are in the west), but there is defenseman Will Butcher with the Devils.

Therefore I predict that Boeser is going to lead rookies in scoring, and Butcher is going to win the Calder. And a lot of Canucks fans are going to be very, very upset.

But in 2019, either Petterson or Gaudette will win the Calder and Canucks’ tears will be dried.

If TSN and Sportsnet can dedicate 10 minutes a night on Matthews, us Vancouver fans can homer it up and vote for Brock for Calder. We come from a recent broken trail of Hodgson, Schroeder, Jensen, Patrick White, Grabner (well ok), and Bourdon. Can’t we just have this?

I’m just happy he’s playing at such a high level. Honestly don’t care if he doesn’t win the Calder. Sure it would be nice, but it’s hard for me to take seriously awards voted on by writers. Not winning the award won’t change the fact he’s the best rookie if he’s the best rookie. If ya know what I mean.

In 1992 Bure won the calder and the race was very tight because the NYR (Amonte) were getting all the public along with Detroit’s Lidstrom. At the end of the race it most likely came down to Bure playing 15 less games. Bure was electrifying and dazzling the west coast but people on the east coast rarely saw him. Bure is the only Canuck ever to win this award and he was a special talent and barely won. The structure of the league isn’t as bad now but still I am banking on Barzal winning if the points are close because he will get the most exposure playing in the New York Market.