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

[MS]

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.

He's very similar to Evander Kane.

Strong, powerful, north-south two-way guy with impressive physical tools and enough hockey sense to produce a bit with those tools but not enough to really project as an elite player.

 

[ginner classic]

He's very similar to Evander Kane.

Strong, powerful, north-south two-way guy with impressive physical tools and enough hockey sense to produce a bit with those tools but not enough to really project as an elite player.

Hopefully he is a better in the room (can't believe I am saying that). Kane's career was derailed because of a perceived lack of maturity. If that had not happened, he may have had a greater impact on the ice. Who knows.

 

[Bobby9]

How about a Flyers version of Mike Richards? Not the LA version.

 

[MS]

Hopefully he is a better in the room (can't believe I am saying that). Kane's career was derailed because of a perceived lack of maturity. If that had not happened, he may have had a greater impact on the ice. Who knows.

Yeah, strictly talking on-ice. Kane is just a terrible human being but a pretty decent hockey player.

 

[Derp Kassian]

How about a Flyers version of Mike Richards? Not the LA version.

Flyers Mike Richards was one of the perennial selke forwards of the generation with good playmaking skills and decent enough shot. I'm not sure how you get to that comparison when Podz is kind of a tunnel vision winger. I guess they both play the game hard?

 

[PuckMunchkin]

He's very similar to Evander Kane.

Strong, powerful, north-south two-way guy with impressive physical tools and enough hockey sense to produce a bit with those tools but not enough to really project as an elite player.

My view of Kane has always been huge set of tools and no tool box to speak of.

I dont think Podz fits that at all.

 

[MS]

My view of Kane has always been huge set of tools and no tool box to speak of.

I dont think Podz fits that at all.

You think Podkolzin has an above-average toolbox?

 

[Bleach Clean]

You think Podkolzin has an above-average toolbox?

To chime in: It looks to be average to me. E. Kane seems more tunnel visioned and one-trick by comparison.

Virtanen is who I would associate to E. Kane.

 

[Josepho]

Podkolzin has always sucked ass at using his linemates but I feel he has a better ability to know where to go (especially in the defensive and neutral zone) than Kane does.

Podkolzin also has lesser tools than Kane, so it's probably a trade-off.

 

[biturbo19]

Some players have a much higher positional defensive IQ than they do an offensive IQ/hockey sense with the puck on their stick. Brandon Sutter is the extreme example of this.

From my viewings which are limited to the U18s, he absolutely has a quality motor and understanding of defensive play that is miles beyond anything Virtanen had at the same age, and projects well in this regard moving up levels.

With the puck on his stick - not so much. To me he's a guy who tries to drive the play forward with his athleticism and doesn't have great vision of the ice or ability to use his linemates well. Again, I think a guy like Evander Kane has a very similar skillset/style offensively. That's still better than Virtanen, but I don't see huge offensive upside here at all.

Yeah. Sutter was exactly the example i would go to, in explaining that some players just have much better "defensive IQ" and positional awareness, than they do vision and offensive IQ and awareness. Podkolzin kinda strikes me as being a little bit in that mold. Obviously not as extreme as Sutter, but there are some similarities in that aspect.

When he's trying to make moves and beat guys with athleticism yeah, he struggles a bit there. I think that his offensive positioning is just as strong as his defensive though, he is shifting around the zone, getting open, creating new passing lanes, he is always looking for ways to create a new scoring opportunity through movement of the puck. You see it a few times in the video where he either shifts around the net to be open in front or shifts to create a lane to the guy in front and rips a pass off. The numbers on his low risk passing plays are strong apparently, and I think it shows in his cycle game. He cycles pretty efficiently.

I don't expect Podkolzin to be the gamebreaking forward on his line, if we can get a 20-30-50~ winger who is a physical force and creates space that's a very good piece for the team. I've been vocal about how he reminds me a lot of Landeskog, and that's a kind of player our forward core is sorely missing. Would be good value for a 10th pick (but not if Caufield becomes a 30+ goal scorer lol)

I do think Podkolzin has some potential in the cycle game. You put him with some really good play-driving linemates like Pettersson, and i think maybe you can alleviate some of the solo play Podz seems inclined to when his linemates aren't making it happen or he's not in sync with them. A 20-30-50pt winger does seem like a reasonable potential outcome if he can figure it all out. Maybe a little more, maybe a little less...but that's probably a reasonable projection. That'd be pretty decent.

I still maintain, I see a lot of Dustin Brown's game in him. If he turns out with a similar career, that's great value at 10 OA

I'm not sure about this Dustin Brown comp. I've seen it a few times, but to me, Brown has been a much more pesty and overtly reckless physical player. In a lot of ways, i think Brown is probably closer to what you hope Virtanen could somehow turn into. More the same mentality.

I don’t see the high-end skill.

He’s big and powerful and has enough skill to project as a 25-30 goal, 50-60 point two-way PF along the lines of an Evander Kane or Erik Cole.

There isn’t some 90-point superstar hiding here waiting to break out.

Yeah. I think 50-60pt all 'rounder power forward is the real "upside" for Podkolzin, and that would be really solid if he hits that.

I also love the Erik Cole comp. It's not one that had occurred to me, since i generally try to stick with more current NHLer comps...but i think the Cole thing fits really really well actually. Worth diving a little bit into the past for. It's pretty darn near perfect stylistically and in terms of realistic hopeful "upside" expectations imo.

 

[Mathew Barzal]

I remain convinced that Landeskog is the best comparable for him. Physical, dogged puck pursuing nature with an above average but not elite skillset.

The perfect complement to open space for a truly elite player.

 

[David Bruce Banner]

He reminds me somewhat of Krutov, now that I think of it. Hopefully his transition to NA hockey is much smoother, though.

 

[F A N]

I don’t see the high-end skill.

He’s big and powerful and has enough skill to project as a 25-30 goal, 50-60 point two-way PF along the lines of an Evander Kane or Erik Cole.

There isn’t some 90-point superstar hiding here waiting to break out.

I like the Erik Cole comparison. Cole at his best without his injuries was fast and hard driving that probably would be a consistent 30 goal 65+ point guy. What Kane and Cole does have over Podkolzin is size.

 

[Lindgren]

It's exactly one month till opening day of the KHL. I'm looking forward to getting the news on Podkolzin -- something to care about during the interminable lead-up to NHL action.

 

[Diversification]

...

I'm not sure about this Dustin Brown comp. I've seen it a few times, but to me, Brown has been a much more pesty and overtly reckless physical player. In a lot of ways, i think Brown is probably closer to what you hope Virtanen could somehow turn into. More the same mentality.

I guess where I see the parallels is that Podkolzin, like Brown, is a natural lead-by-example player (Brown was for many years LA's captain). And he definitely has some sh*t disturber in his game, just like Brown. Also like Brown is that his points seem to come from effort and willingness to attack the crease. Finally, neither was a plus skater and both play as the defensive conscience on an offensive line.

 

[John Johnson]

I like the Erik Cole comparison. Cole at his best without his injuries was fast and hard driving that probably would be a consistent 30 goal 65+ point guy. What Kane and Cole does have over Podkolzin is size.

I mean you aren't wrong, Both Cole and Kane are 2 inches taller and about 20 lbs heavier, but Podkolzin just turned 18 and is 6ft 190 lbs. Thats a very similar muscle mass ratio to Kane and Cole, and once Pod gets older and more mature he'll probably play around 210 I'd say. If he gets to that weight at 6ft, he will be one heavy player to play against, just think of Bo.

 

[VanJack]

I'm wondering Podkolzin eventually makes Virtanen redundant on the right side? Same kind of players, but from all reports Podkolzin is more of a mean piece of business.

 

[F A N]

I mean you aren't wrong, Both Cole and Kane are 2 inches taller and about 20 lbs heavier, but Podkolzin just turned 18 and is 6ft 190 lbs. Thats a very similar muscle mass ratio to Kane and Cole, and once Pod gets older and more mature he'll probably play around 210 I'd say. If he gets to that weight at 6ft, he will be one heavy player to play against, just think of Bo.

Of course strength isn't just about weight, but at under 6'1", your ideal playing weight likely doesn't top 205.

Bo is naturally an ox. He weighed 211 lbs at the combine and can naturally carry that weight. A slimmed down Bo likely isn't going to be better and faster. Boeser is about the same height as Horvat but he's not naturally as big. He can lift and get bigger but he is of the opinion that he was too big to start the year and should be playing closer to 200.

I suspect Podkolzin will play around 200lbs. He's probably a guy whose speed, quickness, and skating power would be more important than his weight.

 

[nowhereman]

I mean you aren't wrong, Both Cole and Kane are 2 inches taller and about 20 lbs heavier, but Podkolzin just turned 18 and is 6ft 190 lbs. Thats a very similar muscle mass ratio to Kane and Cole, and once Pod gets older and more mature he'll probably play around 210 I'd say. If he gets to that weight at 6ft, he will be one heavy player to play against, just think of Bo.

Podkolzin is 6ft 1, 196lbs.

 

[John Johnson]

Podkolzin is 6ft 1, 196lbs.

Oh HockeyDB told me 6ft 190lbs but I know they aren't the most accurate.

 

[Grantham]

He's very similar to Evander Kane.

Strong, powerful, north-south two-way guy with impressive physical tools and enough hockey sense to produce a bit with those tools but not enough to really project as an elite player.

I like the comparison to Kane. Also the Burrows and Landeskog comparisons could have aspects that fit Pod as well. Kane is really a horse, and was derailed by some devastating injuries, which were cause because of his reckless style. He is not dumb or low IQ (although I don’t like his personality). Hockey wise he is smart, in that he uses the tools he has to the best. He is not a no-toolbox player. He just knows his strengths.

Not having seen anything but highlights, I’m also very intrigued at the upcoming KHL season. I think quite a few of us will be watching the Russian league games for the first time this year!

 

[F A N]

Podkolzin is 6ft 1, 196lbs.

Oh HockeyDB told me 6ft 190lbs but I know they aren't the most accurate.

He measured 6'0.75" 196lbs at the combine.

 

[VanJack]

Canucks could have gone the 'safer route' in the draft with somebody like Boldy or Caufield, but rolled the dice on one of the most talented wingers in the top-10. I have a gut feeling they'll come up aces for taking the risk.

Two more years in the KHL, and he's a lock to step right into the Canucks lineup.

 

[Intangibos]

He sounds like if he develops offensively and reaches potential he'll be a perennial Selke candidate

Canucks could have gone the 'safer route' in the draft with somebody like Boldy or Caufield, but rolled the dice on one of the most talented wingers in the top-10. I have a gut feeling they'll come up aces for taking the risk.

Two more years in the KHL, and he's a lock to step right into the Canucks lineup.

Actually I feel like this is actually a relatively safe pick, though I haven't really dove into his stuff. To be the high risk picks are the guys who either become offensive powerhouses or they don't make the NHL while safer picks are more two-way guys who can at least contribute in the bottom-6 if they don't make it. I always saw Virtanen as the safer pick than Nylander/Ehlers because he could always carve out a bottom-6 career.

This is an interesting safe-pick though because he also has amazing potential. If you can take a "safe pick" that also has the potential to be an elite player you have a home run. With Virtanen vs Nylander/Ehlers the issue was those two have elite potential while I saw Virtanen's upside (obviously some players can blow past their suspected ceiling but lets be real) as a David Booth type top-6 player. Podkolzin's ceiling is not a 25g north-south low-IQ winger.

Just for future reference if this pick fails spectacularly I put no fault on the team for making it, not even as a "I supported it but alleged superscout Jim should do better than internet-GMs", but full on 100% support A+ pick.

 

[Gaunce4gm]

I mean you aren't wrong, Both Cole and Kane are 2 inches taller and about 20 lbs heavier, but Podkolzin just turned 18 and is 6ft 190 lbs. Thats a very similar muscle mass ratio to Kane and Cole, and once Pod gets older and more mature he'll probably play around 210 I'd say. If he gets to that weight at 6ft, he will be one heavy player to play against, just think of Bo.

If I remember Podkolzin had his height taken at the combine and was a hair over 6'1 so we're talking 1 inch shorter than Kane. I believe Kane was also about 190lbs in his draft year as well so I expect size will be a bit of a wash.