Vancouver Canucks: Trading Nikolay Goldobin would be a mistake

With Sven Baertschi re-signing with the Vancouver Canucks for three years, some believe the team is ready to move on from Nikolay Goldobin. But trading ‘Goldy’ would be a huge mistake.

By now, Vancouver Canucks fans know that the front office has a different idea of what the term “rebuilding” means, as evidenced by the signings of veteran forwards Jay Beagle, Tim Schaller and Antoine Roussel.

Now that the Canucks have three more forwards on their crowded depth chart, it means one or two guys may have to leave via trade or waivers. With Sven Baertschi re-signing for three years, it could mean that they’re ready to trade away speedy winger, Nikolay Goldobin.

The Canucks don’t have an option to send Goldobin to the Utica Comets, because he’d have to pass waivers first. There’s no way 30 teams pass on a skilled 22-year-old winger who looks ready to play top-six minutes.

But the thing is, the Canucks shouldn’t even think about putting Goldobin in the minors, and trading or waiving him would be pure silly. This is a guy who’s NHL-ready and has the potential to be a 20-goal scorer.

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There are other players who should be moved out over Goldobin. This includes the disappointing Sam Gagner (signed for two more years), expensive centre Brandon Sutter or even Brendan Gaunce, who probably won’t break through the wall of being a fourth-liner.

Goldobin scored eight goals and 14 points in just 38 games last season, averaging 12:20 minutes per game.

The Canucks figure to use Elias Pettersson and Bo Horvat as their top-two centres, and ‘Goldy’ should easily find chemistry with either one. All three display excellent puck skills and blazing speed.

It’s questionable enough that the Canucks signed Beagle, Roussel and Schaller — especially to multi-year deals.

This team doesn’t need toughness nor expensive forwards that don’t contribute much offensively. The only way to make it worse would be to give up already on Goldobin. Tell me how many players in the lineup can blaze through a defense and score like this:

Rebuilding teams simply don’t give up on young players, especially ones who display Goldobin’s skill set. The Canucks should have no problem finding suitors for Sutter and Gagner, who can play more effective roles on competitive teams.

Next: Projecting the 2018-19 Canucks forward lines

There are zero excuses for trading or waiving Goldobin. The Canucks have to show their fans that 2018-19 is actually a rebuilding year. Having veteran fourth-liners keep jobs over Goldobin would just put more distrust in a fan base that’s dealt with enough agony as is.