Nikolay Goldobin

History

2010-11: Nikolay Goldobin played for the Soviet Wings 1995-team in Moscow. He scored 38 goals with 24 assists and had 4 penalty minutes in 28 games.

2011-12: Goldobin skated for Vityaz Chekhov in Russia’s U22 MHL as a 16-year-old and made his first appearance in an international tournament — playing in the 2012 Four Nations U17 tournament in Russia. He scored 13 goals with 9 assists in 50 games and was -16 with 8 penalty minutes. Vityaz finished 23rd in the 32-team league. Goldobin played in 9 of 12 relegation play-out games; scoring 2 goals with 1 assist and finishing -4. He was selected by the OHL’s Sarnia Sting in the first round (36th overall) of the 2012 CHL Import Draft and was selected by Metallurg Novokuznetsk with the eighth pick in the first round of the 2012 KHL Draft.

2012-13: Goldobin made the move to North America — joining Sarnia after representing Russia in the 2012 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament in August. Goldobin was the Sting’s third-leading scorer behind Charles Sarault (Anaheim) and Reid Boucher (NJ). He scored 30 goals with 38 assists and was -7 with 12 penalty minutes; skating in all 68 games during the regular season. Sarnia was swept by Plymouth in a first round series after finishing third in the West Division. Goldobin had 1 assist and was -8 in four playoff games. He scored 1 goal with 2 assists and had an even plus/minus in three games for Russia’s U18 team at the Ivan Hlinka tournament.

2013-14: Goldobin was the Sarnia Sting’s leading scorer in his second OHL season. He played for the Russia Selects against the OHL All-Stars in the Subway Super Series but was not selected for the Russia U20 team that captured a bronze medal at the World Juniors. Skating in 67 of 68 games for the Sting, Goldobin scored 38 goals with 56 assists and was -30 with 21 penalty minutes. Sarnia had the league’s worst record, finishing last in the West Division and missing the playoffs. Goldobin had 1 assist in two games during the Subway Super Series. He was ranked 24th amongst North American skaters in the Central Scouting final rankings and was selected by San Jose in the first round (27th overall) in the 2014 NHL Draft. 

2014-15: Goldobin signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Sharks in September 2014 and was loaned to HIFK in Finland’s Liiga. He skated for the Russia U20 team in the 2015 World Junior Championship and joined San Jose AHL affiliate Worcester in April following HIFK’s season. Goldobin scored 11 goals with 10 assists and was -9 with 12 penalty minutes in 38 regular season games. He was tied with former Predators’ prospect Joonas Rask for third in scoring for HIFK in the Liiga playoffs. After finishing seventh in the regular season, HIFK swept Ilves in a best-of-three preliminary series before falling to second-place Tappara in six games. Goldobin scored 1 goal with 5 assists but was -5 with 2 penalty minutes in eight playoff games. He scored 3 goals with 2 assists and was -6 with 4 penalty minutes in nine regular season games for Worcester and had an even plus/minus with no points nor penalties in the Shark’s four-game playoff series with Hershey. Goldobin scored 2 goals with 3 assists in seven games for Russia at the WJC. Russia finished second, falling 5-4 to Canada in the gold medal game.

Talent Analysis

Goldobin is a gifted sniper with the potential to be a big-time scorer in the NHL with his excellent wrist shot. His game in his own end, particularly his defensive play, has held him back to this point. New San Jose Sharks' head coach Peter DeBoer values smart, two-way play and he — along with former Devils' coach Jacques Lemaire — helped another Russian sniper, Ilya Kovalchuk, transform from being a defensive liability to a player that is more aware in his own end of the ice. Goldobin has many of the same tools as Kovalchuk. While he may not put up the same gaudy offensive numbers as the former Thrashers and Devils forward, Goldobin has the potential to be a special player at the NHL level.

Future

Goldobin is expected to compete for a spot with the Sharks in 2015-16 as a 20-year-old after playing in FInland and with San Jose AHL affiliate Worcester last season. With a talented forward group at the NHL level, he could start the year with the AHL's San Jose Barricuda. Goldobin’s long term potential is that of a dynamic offensive weapon — if he cannot adapt his game and become a complete player.