Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly congratulated Surrey native Arshdeep Bains for scoring his first NHL goal during the Vancouver Canucks’ victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday. This goal, which also marked Bains’ first NHL point, was a milestone for both him and British Columbia’s Punjabi community, as Bains became just the fourth Punjabi player in NHL history to score a point in the league.
Bains’ goal came midway through the second period, about four minutes after the Canucks’ flurry of goals, when he was able to bury a rebound from teammate Daniel Sprong’s shot, beating Penguins goalie Alex Nedeljkovic. Bains’ parents watched proudly from the stands at Vancouver’s Rogers Arena as their son achieved his first NHL goal.
“It just happened so fast, and all the guys were so happy,” Bains said post game, reflecting on how meaningful the moment was for him and his family.
Prior to the game, Bains had received words of encouragement from Canucks legends Henrik and Daniel Sedin, who expressed a feeling that he would have a memorable game. “They had a feeling,” Bains remarked post-game, adding, “It almost felt like it was meant to be.” His teammates were also thrilled, with forward Kiefer Sherwood joking that he wished Bains had “a bigger smile” during the celebration, noting how excited the entire team was for the rookie’s accomplishment.
Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet praised the Surrey native’s achievement, saying, “You remember your first NHL goal; it’s pretty special,” while Canucks star Elias Pettersson commended Bains for his strong work ethic and playmaking skills, predicting that the young forward will continue to make an impact as he grows with the team.
After going undrafted, Bains signed with the Canucks as a free agent in 2022. He spent the 2022-23 season with the Canucks’ AHL affiliate in Abbotsford and played eight games with Vancouver last season without recording a point. This season, after being assigned to Abbotsford in a cap-space transaction, he rejoined the Canucks lineup on Saturday, where he scored his first NHL goal—a moment his family and fans will not soon forget. 
The Canucks announced earlier today that Bains was once again assigned to Abbotsford alongside defenceman Erik Brannstrom, which is certainly another paper transaction to allow the club to accrue more cap space on a day off.
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