Prospect Info: 10th overall: Vancouver selects Vasili Podkolzin (RW, SKA St. Petersburg)

[Diversification]

I sort of feel it's very difficult to find a stylistic comparable because of his compete and just how hard he hits. I don't think I've ever seen Bo make big, sprinting hits like pod. I think Meier maybe works for his skill side, but then you sort of miss these other parts.

Interesting pick. Getting a bit of a Dustin Brown vibe from the limited video I’ve seen. Not a bad return for 10 OA if that’s the case.

 

[Bgav]

I don’t follow draft eligible players. What worries me is the descriptions I’m hearing. I get concerned every time I hear things like “he may not have the best upside but he’s a sure fire NHLer!”

That’s often the description of a guy who never makes any sort of impact in the NHL.

He's one of the most skilled players in the draft. Weird that you're hearing that.

 

[Pip]

What should be our expectations for next season for him?

 

[MikeK]

He's one of the most skilled players in the draft. Weird that you're hearing that.

Agreed. Some rankings had him as high as 4th. Were it not for the Russian factor it's likely he's long gone by the time we're picking. I like this pick.

 

[Knight53]

 

[Melvin]

Agreed. Some rankings had him as high as 4th. Were it not for the Russian factor it's likely he's long gone by the time we're picking. I like this pick.

The Russian Factor is a real thing though; it shouldn't be dismissed so casually.

 

[MikeK]

The Russian Factor is a real thing though; it shouldn't be dismissed so casually.

Who dismissed it casually? What I said is true. Were it not for the Russian factor he's long gone by the time we're up. I have little doubt we'll be able to get him over here. He was one of the top players in the draft and we got him at 10th. it was a great pick.

 

[Nomobo]

If he keeps showing the level of drive that he plays with now, the kid’s gonna be alright. After watching a bunch of clips of him I think he has more than enough talent to be a very good player in this league. Looks like a tailor made line mate for EP and Boeser.

 

[Melvin]

Who dismissed it casually? What I said is true. Were it not for the Russian factor he's long gone by the time we're up. I have little doubt we'll be able to get him over here. He was one of the top players in the draft and we got him at 10th. it was a great pick.

Getting him over isn't hard. Getting him to stay is another matter.

 

[logan5]

Our Look

Vasili Podkolzin Scouting Report: 2019 NHL Draft #3 -

This line in that article stood out for me - "He is clearly the third best talent in this draft..."

Is this the consensus among scouts? If so, this pick could turn out brilliantly. I remember teams passing on Jagr because they thought he might not come to the NHL. Hope this has the same result.

 

[tantalum]

He's one of the most skilled players in the draft. Weird that you're hearing that.

I pretty much loathe highlight videos as you can put them together for any draft eligible player. They don’t convey much.

I’m reading about his lack of production or inconsistent production. How his upside isn’t likely top line etc. but that he forechecks hard and that will his ticket to be a sure fire nhler. That’s simply my impression based on what I’ve seen. That historically has not been a comforting impression. I’m not saying it’s a bad pick as he went where he likely should have went. It wasn’t off the board or anything but concern comes to mind for me on some of what I’ve read that it’ll end up being an effective pick for the team.

 

[MikeK]

Getting him over isn't hard. Getting him to stay is another matter.

Keeping him isn't going to be a problem if he turns out to be the player he's capable of.

 

[CanaFan]

I pretty much loathe highlight videos as you can put them together for any draft eligible player. They don’t convey much.

I’m reading about his lack of production or inconsistent production. How his upside isn’t likely top line etc. but that he forechecks hard and that will his ticket to be a sure fire nhler. That’s simply my impression based on what I’ve seen. That historically has not been a comforting impression. I’m not saying it’s a bad pick as he went where he likely should have went. It wasn’t off the board or anything but concern comes to mind for me on some of what I’ve read that it’ll end up being an effective pick for the team.

That’s not really what people like about him. Yes his effort and intensity is foundational to his game, but it certainly isn’t *all* there is. This isn’t Tyler Motte on a cocaine bender.

 

[tantalum]

That’s not really what people like about him. Yes his effort and intensity is foundational to his game, but it certainly isn’t *all* there is. This isn’t Tyler Motte on a cocaine bender.

I’m more worried about him being talked about like Raffi Torres. Decent enough player but not really one that helps the organization take a step forward. Again he’s not a reach. He seems to have gone where he should have so we will wait and see if the scouts got it right.

 

[BeardyCanuck03]

The Russian Factor is a real thing though; it shouldn't be dismissed so casually.

The top end Russians always come over though.

Now, I can understand the Russian factor being you aren't sure exactly what you are getting because these kids get bounced around from team to team way too much in their younger years.

 

[CanaFan]

I’m more worried about him being talked about like Raffi Torres. Decent enough player but not really one that helps the organization take a step forward. Again he’s not a reach. He seems to have gone where he should have so we will wait and see if the scouts got it right.

For sure he *could* end up exactly like Raffi Torres or even worse, but that’s a risk of any prospect. I don’t think it’s any more true of Podz than of any of the guys who we could have taken at 10 instead. Even Boldy who I would have preferred could end up as just a Brett Connolly. But that isn’t the upside for Podz nor is his floor really what people like about him (or least for myself). I’m not trying to sell you on him - I have my own concerns and he wouldn’t have been my top pick (Boldy) or even my second (Newhook). But I don’t think he’s terribly far off those two and he might even be ahead of them in the mainstream scouting circles.

 

[Nabrules]

Drafting big wingers with low IQ seems to be a trap. Nichushkin, Virtanen , puljujarvi lately.. hopefully he starts producing next year.

No one said he has low IQ.

 

[DFAC]

Lol this narrative that he’s some sort of grinder is hilarious.... Podz skill level is through the roof and easily top 5 in this draft class.

I like the Radulov comparisons

 

[Nabrules]

The Russian Factor is a real thing though; it shouldn't be dismissed so casually.

All the top Russian Players come over. Everyone keeps mentioning Kaprisov, he was a 4th round pick. Nothing like Podkolzin

 

[Melvin]

All the top Russian Players come over. Everyone keeps mentioning Kaprisov, he was a 4th round pick. Nothing like Podkolzin

Again, it's getting them to stay that's the hard part. A lot of them come over but if things aren't going well then they are a higher risk to bolt than non-Russian players. And things probably aren't going to go well. Because it's the Canucks.

 

[Nabrules]

Again, it's getting them to stay that's the hard part. A lot of them come over but if things aren't going well then they are a higher risk to bolt than non-Russian players. And things probably aren't going to go well. Because it's the Canucks.

Well if things aren’t going well that essentially means they aren’t a good player or along those lines which is another ball game

 

[Derp Kassian]

I pretty much loathe highlight videos as you can put them together for any draft eligible player. They don’t convey much.

I’m reading about his lack of production or inconsistent production. How his upside isn’t likely top line etc. but that he forechecks hard and that will his ticket to be a sure fire nhler. That’s simply my impression based on what I’ve seen. That historically has not been a comforting impression. I’m not saying it’s a bad pick as he went where he likely should have went. It wasn’t off the board or anything but concern comes to mind for me on some of what I’ve read that it’ll end up being an effective pick for the team.

he played in 3 different leagues in his draft year, from what I'm reading this is highly unusual... his d1 year will be the true indicator of what he will be imo

 

[Mr. Canucklehead]

It definitely caught me off guard at the draft, in that there had been virtually no pre-draft buzz linking the Canucks to Podkolzin, but after the initial surprise some real excitement. A longer term project to be sure, but a very skilled, versatile player that I’m excited to have in the pipeline going forward.

 

[mathonwy]

Keeping him isn't going to be a problem if he turns out to be the player he's capable of.

I dunno.

Vancouver is a small city comparatively speaking and Russians seem to like to live big and spend big.

 

[Bleach Clean]

Yes, in a way. His total package is a top 5 talent, but still not without flaws. However, with adding in the production risk (there are very, very, very few successful cohorts, based on my review, i wonder where the Potato GM had him), this hurts him for me.

To take any player top 5, i think production has to be there; otherwise its too risky. At 10, i can come around to production concerns if everything else is there. But then add another layer (Russian) and i hesitate.

I understand. With that said, if his true talent puts him in the top5, perhaps all of this is a risk worth taking?

Follow up question: Where do you rank just his skill level? Total package implies that he gives up something in pure sill, but has a well rounded game.