WWYDW: Question 44
By J.D. Burke
6 years agoThe Canucks have been humming along nicely of late, stringing together a pair of rare home wins at Rogers Arena against the Toronto Maple Leafs and Carolina Hurricanes. And they’ve been able to do that without Erik Gudbranson in their lineup.
Depending on who you talk to, that’s going to add some much-needed physicality, sandpaper and leadership to a lineup that’s short on all those elements or it’s going to cost a transitional defenceman with upside and a little something to offer offensively for little tangible game. I think everyone knows where I stand on this topic.
It doesn’t really matter what I think, right? I mean, that’s probably true, in some respects. For the purpose of CanucksArmy’s What Would You Do Wednesday, it’s absolutely a truism. So that’s why I’m asking you, the reader, what the Canucks should do with their defence corps when Gudbranson returns to full health?
Last week I asked: How do you think the Canucks should handle Nikolay Goldobin, whether that’s in the short or long-term of this season?
Goon:
Gagner’s been a bit more visible lately – scratch Burmistrov, who has been invisible to the eye and on the scoresheet, move Gagner to centre between Vanek and Goldobin, and just give them insane offensive zone starts, since they’re all offensively gifted players who can’t play a lick of defence.
It might be a disaster, but it would be a heck of a fun disaster.
defenceman factory:
Gaunce takes Burmistrov’s spot centering Vanek and Gagner.
Goldy, Granlund and Virtanen could be a very strong line
Forever 1915:
Goldobin is waiver-eligible and on the last year of his ELC next season. This season is a good time to figure out what his next contract (2019+) will be. One plan is to bring up Goldobin periodically and max out his waiver exemption up until the trade deadline. Flip Vanek for whatever you can get and then play Goldobin in his place for the rest of the season. Ideally, Goldobin will have rounded out his game (so he won’t be one dimensional like Vanek) and can bring some youthful energy for the last quarter of the season.
tyhee:
I think Goldobin is getting old enough and experienced enough that the idea really has to be that by no later than next year he plays in the NHL. The question is how best to get there.
To me the ideal scenario is for the Canucks to trade a veteran forward or two this season-perhaps approaching the trade deadline, but sooner if appropriate-and recall Goldobin pretty much for good at that time. If it looks as if the Comets have a chance of making the playoffs they could paper him back down for a day, though papering him down if the Comets look like they could possibly make the playoffs.I’m fine with Goldobin developing a little longer in the AHL, but do believe that unless, then assign him back to the Comets at some convenient time while playing him in Vancouver as much as possible.
This recent callup was because guys got hurt and the team needed a depth forward. It wasn’t a permanent promotion or tryout type callup and in those circumstances I’m fine with him not playing for a short time before being reassigned. That being said, I do want him to get a chance to come in and stick sometime this season. It would be different if he didn’t appear to be trying to do and say the right things this season in Utica-but he says the right things, isn’t complaining (or if he is, we aren’t hearing about it, which is almost as good) and while he’s not turning into Bergeron or Kesler, seems to be at least paying attention to what he’s being told about where to go in the defensive zone.
He has another year on his contract, but I really hope they’re communicating well enough with him that he knows where he stands and isn’t confused about the reasons. It would be a shame to go through losing another Russian youngster in circumstances in which he says he doesn’t understand his usage.
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