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Looking to make the leap: Nikolay Goldobin

Florida Panthers v San Jose Sharks

SAN JOSE, CA - NOVEMBER 05: Nikolay Goldobin #82 of the San Jose Sharks in action against the Florida Panthers at SAP Center on November 5, 2015 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

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This is part of Sharks day at PHT...

Earning a roster spot on a veteran team that just went to the Stanley Cup Final won’t be easy, but Nikolay Goldobin will give it a shot.

The 20-year-old was drafted in the first round, 27th overall, in 2014. He has speed and skill and could be ready to make an impact at the NHL level as soon as this season.

Goldobin got his firs taste of NHL action last season, as he scored a goal and an assist in nine regular season games with the Sharks between Oct. 16 and Nov. 22.

Although his agent Igor Larionov admitted that his client wasn’t ready for the NHL last season, it’s a different story this time around.

Goldobin now has a full year of pro hockey under his belt and he his time in the AHL certainly helped too.

Here’s an excerpt from a recent CSN Bay Area article about Goldobin:

Headed into camp, Goldobin may be penciled in to start the season with the Barracudas, but I would imagine he’ll be given every opportunity to shine in some preseason games. As a skilled winger he’ll need to be on a line with a top center, so perhaps he gets a look with Joe Thornton or Logan Couture. There is always the chance Goldobin could push someone like Tomas Hertl, Melker Karlsson or Matt Nieto down the lineup, or maybe even a veteran like Patrick Marleau. It may not happen right away, but if Goldobin starts the year in the AHL and is tearing it up, he won’t have to take a cross-country flight on a recall. That should make some current Sharks a bit nervous.

In his young career, Goldobin has already a little success playing with Thornton:

The Sharks currently have 13 forwards on the roster, but that includes the two-way contracts of Joonas Donskoi, Chris Tierney and Micheal Haley.

Although Donskoi’s job appears to be safe, the other two players could become victims of Golbodin’s training camp success.

With everyone healthy, the Sharks likely won’t have a top-six roster spot Goldobin, but potential injuries could fix that problem too.