Vancouver Canucks: Is Nikolay Goldobin headed for the KHL?

Over this weekend, a rumour broke out that Vancouver Canucks forward Nikolay Goldobin was headed back to the KHL. Let’s take a look at what we know so far.

At the time of this writing, nothing has been confirmed. I was not even going to write about these rumours, but I’ve seen so many of them, I felt like it should be brought up. So let’s get right to it. Has Nikolay Goldobin played his final game with the Vancouver Canucks?

The question has arisen now after a multitude of rumours that Goldobin is getting prepared to pack his bags and head home to Russia to play in the KHL. The subject is one that is sensitive amongst Canucks fans, as the team saw young Russian defenceman Nikita Tryamkin leave to sign in the KHL just a couple of years ago.

Here’s the thing. Check up on these rumours by typing in “Goldobin” on Twitter and hitting enter. Take a look at all the things popping up. Perhaps most intriguing, is this tweet from KHL reporter Igor Eronko, which I have translated from Russian to English using Google Translate.

In English, the tweet reads:

We talked about Ozhiganov and his future return to the KHL many times in our live, only he does not want to and will not be there at CSKA. Goldobin, apparently, will be, and even some interesting lay in the attack. Perhaps Andrigetto, although he was going near Moscow

I then did further digging, and through much use of Google Translate, found this article, from NHLSuomi.com, that’s title, when translated to English, reads, “NHL career to the shipyard? Vancouver Canucks’ former super promise on KHL’s top club”

The article states that Goldobin is heading to Jannik Hansen‘s former KHL club. This rumour was also mentioned by Daily Hive Vancouver’s Rob Williams. How ironic, a former Canuck retires, and the team takes another Canuck to fill the spot left by Hansen’s retirement.

Whether you like Goldobin or not, we can’t help but hope these rumours aren’t true for two reasons. If you like Goldobin and still have faith that he can figure it out, you would be upset if he doesn’t get another chance with the Canucks. If you don’t like him and think his chances with the Canucks have run dry, then you would likely be upset that the Canucks weren’t able to trade his rights for anything.

For now, let’s hope these rumours are just that — rumours. Ideally, the Canucks would be able to try to get something for Goldobin in a trade, but the best case scenario would hands down be that Goldobin goes back home, works hard, and comes to camp in October and earns himself a spot on the Canucks out of camp. More to come.

UPDATE: Sportsnet’s Rick Dhaliwal has just reported that Goldobin’s agent, Sergei Isakov says that Goldobin did not sign in Russia and is returning to the Canucks. Whew.