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

[Bleach Clean]

HF Posters? Doubtful. Are VHL and MHL games even streamable?

They are searchable. Try Youtube first. Requires some digging and exact game references.

Here are three you can watch:

 

[Bleach Clean]

More media:

Another Game:




Hlinka Gretzky Highlights:




Shift by Shift (August):

Vasili Podkolzin vs Sweden U18 | Aug 10 2018


All VHL Games (Requires Searching for Specific Games):

СКА-Нева (Санкт-Петербург) Высшая хоккейная лига - YouTube


All CSKA games:

СКА-1946 МХЛ - YouTube

 

[The Iron Goalie]

@Ronning On Empty Many thanks

 

[F A N]

Conversely, I’m confused about reports his skating needs improvement. His skating pops carrying the puck through the neutral zone.

I think the question is whether he has the separation speed to beat Dmen wide the at the NHL level the way he has been able to do thus far.

 

[The Drop]

I feel like Cam Robinson is a pretty objective source when it comes to Canuck news. Was searching a bit on Podkolzin and found these that seem to apply here:

 

[DFAC]

I feel like Cam Robinson is a pretty objective source when it comes to Canuck news. Was searching a bit on Podkolzin and found these that seem to apply here:

Again, I dont know why people are so fixated on comparing Podz to Jake. The two play nothing alike and if people actually watched clips of Podz, they’d see

 

[PuckMunchkin]

Again, I dont know why people are so fixated on comparing Podz to Jake. The two play nothing alike and if people actually watched clips of Podz, they’d see

Podz is a hard one to find comparable. He is a peculiar bundle of impressive physical attributes, drive, mean streak and skill; But combined it last year with incredibly lackluster production.

From limited viewing what I've come up with is a Radulov with less offense and far more snark.

 

[passive voice]

Hmmm. Gabe Landeskog? Mark McNeill? Zemgus Girgensons? Sam Bennett? Matt Tkachuk?

 

[F A N]

Podkolzin has been called a unique player.

 

[Szechwan]

Jake Debrusk?

 

[nowhereman]

Tkachuk is essentially a ppg player at 21, and only getting better. Horvat is 24 and has only hit 60 points once. Tkachuk is clearly a better offensive player and game breaker imo.

As I said, I don't see Horvat ever reaching 70 points in his career. I would bet good money on that as well. I also wouldn't consider him a 1B. He's more a top end 2C. He won't be a 1B until his defensive game improves.

He just scored 60 points playing with absolute garbage wingers for most of the year and you would be willing to bet good money that he won't break 70 in a career year? Quite the risk taker, I see.

Personally, I wouldn't be surprised to see him do it as soon as next year or at least come close.

 

[VanJack]

I'd settle for the winger version of Vladimir Tarasenko. Now that would be something!

 

[Bleach Clean]

What he does next year in terms of production is going to vary his projection wildly:

- If he goes over a PPG in the VHL or is 0.5PPG in the KHL, then production concerns will be alleviated.

- If he's a sub-PPG player in the VHL and does not get a strong look in the KHL, then production concerns will dog him throughout the year.

- If he's a high end KHL producer, well, then he's done something Tarasenko didn't even do in his draft + 1 year.

Big year for him upcoming.

 

[settinguptheplay]

What he does next year in terms of production is going to vary his projection wildly:

- If he goes over a PPG in the VHL or is 0.5PPG in the KHL, then production concerns will be alleviated.

- If he's a sub-PPG player in the VHL and does not get a strong look in the KHL, then production concerns will dog him throughout the year.

- If he's a high end KHL producer, well, then he's done something Tarasenko didn't even do in his draft + 1 year.

Big year for him upcoming.

There was about 2 players in the entire league that scored a PPG in the VHL. Both in their mid to late 20's. You might be setting expectations a bit high. Even .5 PPG in the KHL is going to be a tall order considering he will be on a top team that generally does not over utilize 18 year olds. If those are the requirements for people to feel good about him we should all prepare ourselves now for disappointment.

 

[lawrence]

Eeli Tolvanen Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com

Tovanen put up an unthinkable 36 point system in the k, in draft year + 1 (khl record for rookies)

Vitali Kravtsov Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com

Kravstov had 21 in 51 in draft year+ 1 although he’s a older prospect with a 99 birthday.

Podkolzin is also on a supossively powerhouse khl team, which means he needs to take over a top 4 winger spot from at least one of the other khl vets. Might be harder for a 18 year old to do that. Hope he does.

 

[F A N]

I'd settle for the winger version of Vladimir Tarasenko. Now that would be something!

So you would settle for Tarasenko? 5 straight 33+ goal seasons... I guess you dream pretty big VanJack.

 

[VanJack]

So you would settle for Tarasenko? 5 straight 33+ goal seasons... I guess you dream pretty big VanJack.

Tarasenko slid to 16th overall in the 2010 draft because of the "Russian factor'. and after a couple of fairly pedestrian seasons in St. Louis (19 points in 38 games as a rookie) and a sophomore season of (43 points in 64 games); he exploded for 37 goals in his third season.

Tarasenko listed at 6', 225, which is not far off Podkolzin (6', 190, who'll probably play at around 215). I get the fact it might be a 'stretch', but you can always dream. I mean, other than Pavel Bure, surely another Russian has to work for the Canucks eventually.

 

[lawrence]

Vasily Podkolzin: A Star in the Making

an Russian written article in english about him. explains why he chose to stay in the KHL.

 

[Bleach Clean]

There was about 2 players in the entire league that scored a PPG in the VHL. Both in their mid to late 20's. You might be setting expectations a bit high. Even .5 PPG in the KHL is going to be a tall order considering he will be on a top team that generally does not over utilize 18 year olds. If those are the requirements for people to feel good about him we should all prepare ourselves now for disappointment.

Or maybe just expect more from top end prospects?

I don't expect him to stick around in the VHL next year. He should be in the KHL. However, if he does get bumped to the VHL, I expect him to dominate. Period. This league has a rough equivalence to the Allsvenskan. Pettersson was PPG in that league in his draft year. This would be Podkolzin's draft + 1 season we're talking about...?

If he's in the KHL, then it will be usage dependent. They are a more talented squad. That said, I expect him to move up the ranks quickly. Podkolzin's game is mature away from the puck, and that usually is the hurdle for coaches.

Overall, I think if he is expected to become a 1st line NHL talent eventually, we should see the signs next year.

 

[Askel]

I'd settle for the winger version of Vladimir Tarasenko. Now that would be something!

Tarasenko is a winger, with an elite wrist shot,Tarasenkos biggest weakness is that he can be uninterestd defensevly. They are not similar at all, just from the same country

 

[CloutierForVezina]

Tarasenko slid to 16th overall in the 2010 draft because of the "Russian factor'. and after a couple of fairly pedestrian seasons in St. Louis (19 points in 38 games as a rookie) and a sophomore season of (43 points in 64 games); he exploded for 37 goals in his third season.

Tarasenko listed at 6', 225, which is not far off Podkolzin (6', 190, who'll probably play at around 215). I get the fact it might be a 'stretch', but you can always dream. I mean, other than Pavel Bure, surely another Russian has to work for the Canucks eventually.

Small nitpick - Tarasenko's sophomore season was anything but pedestrian. Dropping 43p in 64 games (pace for 55p/82games) while only playing 15 minutes a night and limited PP time is absolutely fantastic production and already places him as a low end 1st line player or a high end 2nd line player. He followed that up immediately with 4 goals in 6 playoff games and his ascent into stardom looked more inevitable than anything else.

 

[Bankerguy]

i watched a YT video of an "arm-chair analyst" who after watching 10 or so games of Podkolzin described him as a Lion.
On the defensive side of the game & forecheck, he's like a hunter out there. Stalking his prey, waiting for the right time to launch him self at an opponent with the puck, either hitting or stripping them.

I think he'll bring a different element to the Canucks. We dont need him to be a PPG player (although he might just as well develop into one!).
He doesnt need to be "the guy". I think that if he's becomes a two-way beast and someone who can drive a line through puck possession and puck retrieval while chipping in 30g, 30a, 60pts, he'll be considered a wicked pick at #10.

 

[RobertKron]

i watched a YT video of an "arm-chair analyst" who after watching 10 or so games of Podkolzin described him as a Lion.
On the defensive side of the game & forecheck, he's like a hunter out there. Stalking his prey, waiting for the right time to launch him self at an opponent with the puck, either hitting or stripping them.

I think he'll bring a different element to the Canucks. We dont need him to be a PPG player (although he might just as well develop into one!).
He doesnt need to be "the guy". I think that if he's becomes a two-way beast and someone who can drive a line through puck possession and puck retrieval while chipping in 30g, 30a, 60pts, he'll be considered a wicked pick at #10.

Oh, that's all you want?

 

[Bougieman]

After watching some of his games, I would echo the sentiment that he's a unique player. In terms of a comparison, the player that he reminds me of the most is Alex Burrows.

Think about the way Alex played when he broke into the league -- the type of player that made him an *instant* fan favorite: Total tenacity. Giving his all every shift. A tremendous defensive forward (Burr was the best at this on the Canucks for years) that forces opposing players into mistakes by giving them very little time to make a play, and stripping them of the puck. Physicality, and a player that seems very comfortable playing up against the boards where he can retrieve pucks and grind it out. Offensively, lots of skill there too, with a total snipe of a shot.

Vasili is also fond of driving to the net and barrelling in -- a power forward style that you rarely saw from Burr, and see more in, say, Virtanen's game, so the Burrows comparison isn't entirely apt, but it's the closest I can come up with.

Definitely an NHL player, and it's now pretty clear to me why he was ranked at #3 overall for much of the year, even though I don't think he actually was the #3 best player in the draft. More like #5th or #6th or so. Stick him on a line with a really skilled passer like Pettersson who needs someone to open up some ice for him, and it'll be Burrows/Sedins all over again. Can't wait to see what he does in the Russian league this season.

 

[DL44]

I'd settle for the russian version of Vladimir Tarasenko. Now that would be something!