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

[Hemty]

If anyone is interested, Podkolzin is playing today vs Dinamo Riga.
Hes playing on the 4th line.
Legal stream:
Прямая трансляция матча Олимпийская сборная России - "Динамо" (Рига), 8 августа, 15:00

 

[Lindgren]

If anyone is interested, Podkolzin is playing today vs Dinamo Riga.
Hes playing on the 4th line.
Legal stream:
Прямая трансляция матча Олимпийская сборная России - "Динамо" (Рига), 8 августа, 15:00

Anybody watch? Report?

 

[Pastor Of Muppetz]

Comes in at 15th in the best prospects from the Sporting News..

15. Vasily Podkolzin, RW, Vancouver Canucks

2019 draft: First round, 10th overall
"Russian Factor" or not, Vancouver made the proper decision by taking a top-10 talent within the first 10 picks of the 2019 draft. Podkolzin's intensity, abrasiveness and domination of the puck are his most talked-about attributes; however, his game-breaking abilities are not to be slept on. Several nagging injuries and a grueling pre-draft schedule that covered seven international tournaments and all three Russian leagues combined led to a dip in late-season production, but he remains an absolute menace to compete against - with star potential to boot.

 

[VanJack]

Automatically steps into the Canucks lineup when his KHL contract is up in two seasons.....with the KHL season starting early, we might even see him by March of the 2020-21 season.....really all you can expect from a top-10 pick in the draft.

 

[Grantham]

Anybody watch? Report?

Just finished watching it. For those interested, its available in its entirety on the link posted.

I would suggest forwarding to the Third period, as Vasili didn’t really get going for the first two periods. He didn’t do anything bad either, he was just understandably out of sync with his line mates.

I thought when the game mattered more, is when he gained confidence and started taking over in his shifts much more, which were still 4th line minutes (no PP or PK time).

Had a really nice chance from the right face off dot, I think midway or thereabouts in the third. Got a hard shot off that the goalie got a piece of to deflect it enough so it didn’t go in.

Then with about 3 minutes to go, he had a really nice power drive to the net. Took the puck from about center ice, and then went around a defender, and then powered right to the middle of the net. Net got knocked off by the opposing defender. This kid is fearless.

Hard to get a complete sense in this early game, so take my comments with a grain of salt. All the scouting reports seem accurate. Is a doggedly determined player, and doesn’t have a lot of subtlety and flash. But I think its just the kind of player we need to play the wing with some jam.

Needs to improve: Skating needs improvement in all aspects. Not the most agile. Needs to improve his first two strides so he can keep defensemen honest.

Also needs to make quicker decisions with the puck, but that could just be rust and lack of confidence.

 

[Lindgren]

Just finished watching it. For those interested, its available in its entirety on the link posted.

I would suggest forwarding to the Third period, as Vasili didn’t really get going for the first two periods. He didn’t do anything bad either, he was just understandably out of sync with his line mates.

I thought when the game mattered more, is when he gained confidence and started taking over in his shifts much more, which were still 4th line minutes (no PP or PK time).

Had a really nice chance from the right face off dot, I think midway or thereabouts in the third. Got a hard shot off that the goalie got a piece of to deflect it enough so it didn’t go in.

Then with about 3 minutes to go, he had a really nice power drive to the net. Took the puck from about center ice, and then went around a defender, and then powered right to the middle of the net. Net got knocked off by the opposing defender. This kid is fearless.

Hard to get a complete sense in this early game, so take my comments with a grain of salt. All the scouting reports seem accurate. Is a doggedly determined player, and doesn’t have a lot of subtlety and flash. But I think its just the kind of player we need to play the wing with some jam.

Needs to improve: Skating needs improvement in all aspects. Not the most agile. Needs to improve his first two strides so he can keep defensemen honest.

Also needs to make quicker decisions with the puck, but that could just be rust and lack of confidence.

What a great report. Thanks!

 

[Hoglander]

Check out some of his shifts @

13:00 An Oilers-style defense with 4 in the corner leaving Podkolzin, who then tells the dman to take his man. Kind of comical
1:08:23 Turns over the puck, but hustles back
1:56:30 Gets a shot
2:13:00 Drives the net

Wasn't able to accomplish much, but looks pretty sound defensively. Has some work to do, but that's high level hockey and he held his own for the most part.

 

[Get North]

Podkolzin has much better hands than Evander Kane. I have seen passes from Podkolzin that I don't remember seeing from Kane. Podkolzin looks comfortable holding the puck especially since he can make Pettersson-like passes. I only see similarities to Kane when they drive the net or are battling for pucks. Pretty thick guys, but Kane brings much more physically, he's a dying breed.

 

[Raistlin]

Yeah that’s the only guy I could think of too

magnus arvedson? more recently, I can see Stone being in the conversation for a while.

 

[SirSamofHouseBennett]

His playing style and pedigree make me hopeful for a Landeskog profile.

 

[F A N]

Podkolzin has much better hands than Evander Kane. I have seen passes from Podkolzin that I don't remember seeing from Kane. Podkolzin looks comfortable holding the puck especially since he can make Pettersson-like passes. I only see similarities to Kane when they drive the net or are battling for pucks. Pretty thick guys, but Kane brings much more physically, he's a dying breed.

It's not that relevant. Kane has very good hands. Kane's ability to corall the puck and fire a shot off has led to many goals in his career. Being a better playmaker is not indicative of having better hands. I don't think Podkolzin is necessary a better playmaker than Kane. To me, both are capable of making great passes but that's not their strength. At the NHL level, Kane's game doesn't revolve around carrying the puck or playmaking. He gets the puck in a position to shoot and he unleashes a dangerous shot. Podkolzin does look to be the better puck carrier and has a better ability to dangle the puck. But that doesn't mean much. A healthy Kane is a 30 goal 55+ point player. I would be thrilled if Podkolzin is that productive.

I also don't think Kane is a dying breed. He just has a rare combination of size, speed, scoring ability, and physicality.

 

[Get North]

It's not that relevant. Kane has very good hands. Kane's ability to corall the puck and fire a shot off has led to many goals in his career. Being a better playmaker is not indicative of having better hands. I don't think Podkolzin is necessary a better playmaker than Kane. To me, both are capable of making great passes but that's not their strength. At the NHL level, Kane's game doesn't revolve around carrying the puck or playmaking. He gets the puck in a position to shoot and he unleashes a dangerous shot. Podkolzin does look to be the better puck carrier and has a better ability to dangle the puck. But that doesn't mean much. A healthy Kane is a 30 goal 55+ point player. I would be thrilled if Podkolzin is that productive.

I also don't think Kane is a dying breed. He just has a rare combination of size, speed, scoring ability, and physicality.

I should have continued my point to say that’s why Kane is not a good comparison to Podkolzin because Podkolzin doesn’t possess elite size, physicality and isn’t as fast as Kane. Being able to control the puck is significant, that is what line drivers do. They will have the puck on their stick most often or making passes, that is where Podkolzin is superior to Kane. He is the 3rd best player in the draft, Kane went #4, 10 years ago where enforcers were still relevant as ever. You should give him more credit.

 

[F A N]

I should have continued my point to say that’s why Kane is not a good comparison to Podkolzin because Podkolzin doesn’t possess elite size, physicality and isn’t as fast as Kane. Being able to control the puck is significant, that is what line drivers do. They will have the puck on their stick most often or making passes, that is where Podkolzin is superior to Kane. He is the 3rd best player in the draft, Kane went #4, 10 years ago where enforcers were still relevant as ever. You should give him more credit.

The bolded comment makes no sense. Podkolzin was drafted 10th. If we're trying to judge who is better based on draft position, then Kane wins that round. And what does enforcers being relevant had anything to do with it? Kane wasn't drafted to be an enforcer. He was drafted to be an elite goal scoring winger who played a power forward type game.

I am not trying to slight Podkolzin here. But Kane had a terrific draft-eligible season as a 17 year old. 48 goals 96 points in the WHL, playoff performance, and he made the WJC team and put up a point per game, albeit on a Gold Medal winning team and as an injury replacement. As a draft eligible prospect I'm picking Kane over Podkolzin.

Kane has now averaged 28-30 goals over 70+ games in the past 3 seasons. Like I said, if Podkolzin puts up that type of production for the Canucks, then the Canucks hit a home run with his selection.

 

[lush]

Happy there is a solid situation in place for him over the next couple seasons. Not ready for the NHL yet and his style of play will work much better in the NHL with a slightly older body.

 

[Get North]

The bolded comment makes no sense. Podkolzin was drafted 10th. If we're trying to judge who is better based on draft position, then Kane wins that round. And what does enforcers being relevant had anything to do with it? Kane wasn't drafted to be an enforcer. He was drafted to be an elite goal scoring winger who played a power forward type game.

I am not trying to slight Podkolzin here. But Kane had a terrific draft-eligible season as a 17 year old. 48 goals 96 points in the WHL, playoff performance, and he made the WJC team and put up a point per game, albeit on a Gold Medal winning team and as an injury replacement. As a draft eligible prospect I'm picking Kane over Podkolzin.

Kane has now averaged 28-30 goals over 70+ games in the past 3 seasons. Like I said, if Podkolzin puts up that type of production for the Canucks, then the Canucks hit a home run with his selection.

And? Podkolzin also played above his age group at the 2018 U18s and 2019 U20s. He made the Russian team who has a reputation of not allowing 17 year olds unless they are exceptional. He was the best player at the Hlinka Gretzky which included Dach, Lafreniere, and Raymond. He's been a top 3 player of his age group.

My general point is that Podkolzin and Kane are not similar at all, but I still think Podkolzin is a better prospect because he has a higher ability to create plays for teammates, make elite skill plays. Kane can't, he brings more physically which is what most of his game is based around. Podkolzin's game is based around skill, and skill is at a higher value in the NHL today.

 

[flying v 604]

You think Podkolzin has an above-average toolbox?

According to a ton a bunch of scouts and other professionals, he has a very good hockey iq. He has just a rare skillset to go with good size. Hes also much better on the smaller ice, and i think playing on 7 different teams last year tired him, mentally and physically.

 

[F A N]

And? Podkolzin also played above his age group at the 2018 U18s and 2019 U20s. He made the Russian team who has a reputation of not allowing 17 year olds unless they are exceptional. He was the best player at the Hlinka Gretzky which included Dach, Lafreniere, and Raymond. He's been a top 3 player of his age group.

My general point is that Podkolzin and Kane are not similar at all, but I still think Podkolzin is a better prospect because he has a higher ability to create plays for teammates, make elite skill plays. Kane can't, he brings more physically which is what most of his game is based around. Podkolzin's game is based around skill, and skill is at a higher value in the NHL today.

Podkolzin is definitely treated as a star among his age group in Russia. So I do have high hopes that he gets plenty of opportunities this coming season in the KHL. I don't have Podkolzin ranked as a top 3 prospect or even forward in this draft, but I hope he's top 3.

I don't disagree with your general point. All I'm saying is that at the end of the day Kane was an excellent draft eligible prospect who, injury troubles aside, is a proven 30 goal scorer. That's the value.

 

[VanJack]

It's always surprising to me how many 'draft experts' place overwhelming emphasis on a couple of U-18 tournaments--the Ivan Hlinka tournament in the summer; and the U-18's at the end of the hockey season. And of course every 18-year old draft eligible player who makes their nation's WJC team at Xmas is dissected, despite playing against older players.

From all reports, Podkolzin was just OK in a couple of those tournaments, and might have actually been playing through an injury in one of them. But on that basis he dropped from third overall--where he spent most of the season--to 10th. Fortunately the European scouts undoubtedly watch these players all season long in every league they play in--so clearly the Canucks cashed in on a player who probably unjustifiably almost dropped out of the top-10 altogether.

And I keep thinking that in 2016 the Canucks became enamored with Juolevi, basically on the basis of one outstanding European tournament. So I'm not convinced that these tournaments are the best barometer to how a drafted player will eventually turn out.

 

[F A N]

It's always surprising to me how many 'draft experts' place overwhelming emphasis on a couple of U-18 tournaments--the Ivan Hlinka tournament in the summer; and the U-18's at the end of the hockey season. And of course every 18-year old draft eligible player who makes their nation's WJC team at Xmas is dissected, despite playing against older players.

From all reports, Podkolzin was just OK in a couple of those tournaments, and might have actually been playing through an injury in one of them. But on that basis he dropped from third overall--where he spent most of the season--to 10th. Fortunately the European scouts undoubtedly watch these players all season long in every league they play in--so clearly the Canucks cashed in on a player who probably unjustifiably almost dropped out of the top-10 altogether.

And I keep thinking that in 2016 the Canucks became enamored with Juolevi, basically on the basis of one outstanding European tournament. So I'm not convinced that these tournaments are the best barometer to how a drafted player will eventually turn out.

I think you should look at a player's entire body of work. But the thing with these international tournaments is that it allows you to watch prospects play against his peers and in the case of WJC and WC against older players. That's valuable when you're trying to compare a guy like Podkolzin who played in multiple leagues in Russia and didn't produce a great numbers and a prospect racking up points in the USNTDP.

Is it really not a concern if a supposedly top prospect is invisible in the international tournaments? Top players tend to rise to the occasion and there's a lot at stake at these international tournaments.

Personally, I don't think Podkolzin dropped due to some bad international tournaments. He's not a C, he is saying in Russia for 2 more years, and I think come draft time many scouts didn't think he was top 3 in terms of skill level and hockey IQ.

 

[Bankerguy]

Has anyone watched him play any recent games? how has he looked?

 

[Grantham]

Has anyone watched him play any recent games? how has he looked?

I didn’t really see any other games than the one posted on this page.

KHL season starts September 1st, so we’ll have some real games to watch him in soon.

Next week (I think Aug 23 and 24) is the 4 nations cup in Russia, and Hoglander is already on the Sweden roster. Hopefully Vasili is on the Russian team (not announced yet).

I’m quite excited to have the possibility to watch both Nils and Vasili in the same game! They are both not shy to dish out hits either so hopefully they take it easy on each other

 

[The Iron Goalie]

Russian roster announced.

 

[Grantham]

Russian roster announced.

Cool, Vasili will play!

 

[forty47seven]

Automatically steps into the Canucks lineup when his KHL contract is up in two seasons.....with the KHL season starting early, we might even see him by March of the 2020-21 season.....really all you can expect from a top-10 pick in the draft.

With Benning getting extended, this is more or less guaranteed to happen now. If the opportunity is there to sign him in March, I'm sure Jim will jump all over it like he did with Boeser and Hughes.

The Russian factor scares me a bit here. I could see a scenario where Podkolzin has great underlying numbers in his first two years but isn't overly productive offensively. If the team digs in on the extension, the flight risk to KHL could become very real. I'd rather have three full years for Vasili to get acclimated to the NHL and so we have a better idea of what he is before his ELC expires.

 

[VanJack]

Not sure why anybody would be too concerned about Podkolzin spending two seasons in the KHL. If the was a college player in the NCAA, he'd be spending at least two years in college anyway, unless he was an exceptional talent. And of course if the didn't sign out of college, then he could eventually become a UFA after his senior year.

So Podkolzin will have two seasons playing in a far superior league, and the Canucks retain his NHL rights indefinitely. And it's not like the contract discussions will be any barrier. The best the Canucks can do under the CBA is sign him to the standard entry level contract with a few bonuses.

So it's virtually a lock that he'll be here two seasons from now.