Leon Draisaitl heaps massive praise on Russian linemate Vasily Podkolzin

Oilers superstar Leon Draisaitl has always had a great deal of respect for fellow forward Vasily Podkolzin. Ahead of the new season, Draisaitl underlined just how much he values him as a linemate.

Speaking at the Oilers’ Captain’s Skates, the German star was asked about his teammate’s outlook for the season and responded with high praise. Draisaitl called the 24-year-old winger a major part of his success last season.

“Podzy does a lot of things that people don’t really see,” Draisaitl said. “He does a lot of work for me, and it lets me have a lot of time with the puck and sets me up in great situations.”

“I really love playing with him. He’s a great player. He’s really underrated with the puck and his hockey sense. He doesn’t need to score to be valuable,” he added.

Podkolzin, who was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks with the 10th Overall selection at the 2019 NHL Entry Draft has struggled to find his footing in the league, despite being a highly touted prospect.

Thankfully, he seems to have carved out a role for himself with one of the Oilers superstars and has deservedly garnered high praise for his efforts.

Vasily Podkolzin’s advanced metrics justify Leon Draisaitl's flowers

Draisaitl’s comments came after one of his best campaigns yet, where he finished as the NHL’s MVP runner-up with 52 goals and 104 points in 71 games. While much of the spotlight stayed on Draisaitl, he credited Podkolzin as an important part of his production.

Podkolzin’s numbers were modest by comparison with 8 goals and 24 points in 82 games. However, his role went far beyond scoring. The winger provided support in the corners, played well around the net and helped drive possession when paired with Draisaitl.

Advanced metrics also showed that the line generated favorable expected-goal results while staying defensively reliable. The 24-year-old ranked second in the entire league in shots-for percentage (61.26%), fourth in expected goals-for percentage (62.21 xGF%) and fourth in high-danger chances-for percentage (64.88 HDCF%) among forwards with at least 150 minutes played.

Beyond possession metrics, Podkolzin led the Oilers with 211 hits and ranked second on the team in blocked shots. Tracking data also showed his speed was elite, recording 187 bursts over 20 mph, nearly matching Draisaitl’s 202.

The undeniable chemistry that they share will be an interesting storyline to watch heading into Oilers training camp in the coming weeks, as the team is primed to have many new faces and will have to find spots for these players to fill.