On August 18th, 2024, just months after he signed a two-year contract extension with the club that drafted him, Vasily Podkolzin was traded to the Edmonton Oilers for a fourth round pick at the 2025 NHL Draft.
The move came after Podkolzin saw his ice time and usage in the NHL decline for the second straight season. He only played 19 games with the Vancouver Canucks and notched two assists. He also spent 44 games down in the American Hockey League with their affiliate, the Abbotsford Canucks.
It looked like Podkolzin was poised to become another draft bust with his career aiming downwards fast, going from being selected 10th overall at the 2019 NHL Draft to barely holding onto an NHL spot just five years later. That was until newly hired general manager Stan Bowman took a chance on him.
Podkolzin has blossomed into a productive NHL player
Since becoming a member of the Oilers, he has seen his career bounce back in a big way and reach new heights. His first year, Podkolzin played 82 games scoring eight goals and 16 assists for 24 points, logging 13:13 of time on ice per game with primarily third line usage.
Last season, Podkolzin had a career best year averaging 15:23 of TOI in the Oilers top-six, scoring 19 goals and 18 assists for 37 points in 82 games. He has proven himself to have great chemistry with Leon Draisaitl and the other Oilers core players and is expected to start the season on the top line.
His speed and power game, combined with his high skill level makes him a great complimentary player to play with the Oilers stars. He can forecheck and get involved in the play while having the refined talent to make passes and help drive offence as a playmaker and goal scorer.
Podkolzin has the opportunity to flourish
Newly named Oilers head coach Mike Babcock has preached the importance of depth and seems to want to make every player on the roster involved and given a role. This would include complimentary players like Zach Hyman and Podkolzin.
Hyman specifically was given his first NHL opportunity with the Toronto Maple Leafs under Babcock and he could be like a blueprint for Podkolzin. Both of them play a power game and have the grit and intensity to battle and both have the intelligence to play alongside stars.
If Babcock can push Podkolzin to fill the role as a potential replacement for Hyman as he ages, it could be a game changer for the Oilers going forward. The team currently has him locked up as he is entering the first of a three-year contract extension paying him just $2.95 million per year.
Babcock has also revealed that Podkolzin will get a crack on the top powerplay unit to start the season, something that should see him take a big step offensively. Captain Connor McDavid had high praise of Podkolzin when talking about him joining the powerplay. He said "Our power play does the best work when we win pucks back & we get those second & third chances. Podzy does that better than most. He'll be a good net-front presence."
Although his position in the lineup changes slightly with the recent injury updates, especially with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins now sidelined, he will still be given a top-six role. He also likely will see time on the top line once the Oilers get back to full strength.
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