Confirmed with Link: [EDM/VAN] Oilers acquire Vasily Podkolzin for OTT 4th '25

[Soundwave]

As I've been saying, be patient with this player.

 

[TheNumber4]

Let’s go Podz. Keep it rolling. The confidence could snowball now. Didn’t dissipate after a week off.

 

[Trafalgar Sadge Law]

I've talked about the need to just grab as many of these high pedigree low cost reclamation projects as possible because eventually some of them are going to hit, and I think podkolzin is gonna be a hit. He just does so many things in terms of forecheck, pick battles, physicality, positioning etc that even if the offense never explodes he'd still be an excellent bottom 6 forward. Something else I've noticed is that he's one of the rare players who hit everything that moves but is very disciplined about getting clean hits and not committing any stick infractions/hitting when he's not supposed to (plays away from the puck)/hitting opponents in dangerous areas. This allows him to inflict pain while barely taking any penalties, and looking at his history with the Canucks his minor penalty count there was also lower than you'd expect for someone who plays this physical. Usually you'd think they have penalty minutes that look lie that of an Evander Kane or a tkachuk.

If he can start finishing goals he'd be an absolute terror of a top 6 forward in the Zach hyman/valeri nichushkin do it all variety. Players who maybe not so coincidentally also struggled to finish scoring chances in their early 20s but did everything else right.

 

[TheNumber4]

I take it back.

Holloway is no Podkolzin

 

[Oilhawks]

 

[JordanGalhanth]

What a beauty pickup. Got his confidence up and feels like a good character add.

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

I cheer for guys like this...he's all about the team and works his bag off to get better
we've replaced Kostin with a better player (IMO)

 

[Drivesaitl]

I ate the crow sandwich here. Podz if he keeps this up is the energy player we could use on the Drai line. Still think there needs to be a stonger second, and not Brown on the line. Drai with Kapanen and Podkolzin could be interesting. We'll see what happens but hard not to like the work rate Podz is bringing. I thought it fell off a couple weeks ago but he's sure been good last number of games and now scoring some.

Team likes him and Drai likes him so I'm an idiot.

In my defense I have a congenital dislike for any Nucks players. Took me awhile on this one. Had to wash off all the Nuck smell.

 

[Captain Controversy]

I agree with your assessment.

Podkolzin has come as advertised by Canuck fans in my opinion. He looks very good out there most of the time, but he doesn't produce much offense. It's like he does absolutely everything, except that one thing that is the hardest to do, and we need him to do in order to keep deploying him where we are. I hope he figures out how to read the play in the offensive zone a bit better, and that his shot improves a bit. Physically, he is an absolute unit, and he has the potential to be a very good power forward for us, if it all comes together.

The good news is...
Podz has a lot of talent to learn from.
Different players and veterans that can teach different facets of the game.
Corey perry and hyman net front presence.
Draisaitls ability to protect the puck.

I cheer for guys like this...he's all about the team and works his bag off to get better
we've replaced Kostin with a better player (IMO)

I still want kostin back. Lol