SAN JOSE – Despite getting recalled on Wednesday morning for his recent scoring surge with the Barracuda, young winger Nikolay Goldobin was scratched from the lineup for the game with the Panthers that night.
Coach Pete DeBoer has kept Goldobin around for at least another day, though, and said on Thursday that he'd "like to get him in a game."
It wasn't a guarantee, though.
"I think he deserves one, but we're in the sprint to the finish here, so we're going to do what's best to help us win a game," DeBoer said. "But, he deserves to be here, and if we can I'd like to play him."
The Sharks reassigned forward Timo Meier to the Barracuda on Thursday, although that could have been done just to get Meier a full practice with the AHL club on Wednesday while also saving some salary cap space. The Sharks held a very optional skate on Thursday, consisting mostly of players that did not play against Florida, including Goldobin.
Goldobin, the 27th overall pick in the 2014 draft, is itching to get in his first NHL game since Nov. 22, 2015.
"[DeBoer] said I deserved that [recall] and I agree with him, so waiting for the first game, you know? Hopefully going to impress him with my game," Goldobin said.
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What's been working for him lately in the AHL?
"I think I work harder and win the battles, like what [the] coaches [have] been telling me lately. I think I'm doing a pretty good job at that."
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Dylan DeMelo continues to skate as he recovers from a broken right wrist, although he's still not able to wind up and take full slap shots. He said he's on schedule with the original eight-week timetable given on Jan. 13.
The defenseman was hurt on Jan. 10 during a game in Edmonton.
