The Edmonton Oilers traded prospect Defenseman Dmitiri Samorukov to the St. Louis Blues on October 9th, 2022 in exchange for Forward Klim Kostin. Before joining the Edmonton Oilers, Kostin had played only 46 games in the NHL with five goals and six assists to show for his efforts. The swap made sense for Edmonton because Samorukov was low in the depth chart on a team full of studded young defensemen, but definitely has the ability to play in the NHL, so giving him to a team that would give him a chance in exchange for a young forward with top six forward potential was a smart move for the Blue and Orange.
Klim Kostin has only played two games in Edmonton so far, but he fits in quite nicely on the third line. Woodcroft continues to experiment with his lines as he tries to find the right fit with Evander Kane likely out for most of the regular season. While not putting up any points just yet, Kostin has been physical and offensive. His skating ability for a 6-foot-3, 210+ pound forward is really smooth, and he has shown he can keep up with guys like Ryan McLeod and Mattias Janmark, who are speedy and gritty.
Slotting him into the third line right away was risky, but Jay Woodcroft seems to trust Kostin, and rightfully so. I wouldn’t be surprised if Kostin got an opportunity in the top six before Evander Kane comes back, and even when he does I think he’ll be able to keep his spot in the big leagues secure. Playing with guys that put the puck in the net and complement Kostin’s style of play means it’s only a matter of time before he starts putting up some points and showing why he was a good pickup for the Edmonton Oilers.