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

 

[Mcnotloilersfan]

Please for the love of god, hang on to this player and be patient through rough patches. Kid does everything right. Keep helping him with his confidence and development and I really think we have a Nichushkin on our hands.

 

[MoontoScott]

Kapanen and Podz are proof positive that you can acquire effective players at a relatively low cost with little or no fanfare.

Kapanen is a penalty killer too so perhaps he takes Brown's salary next season on the cap hit chart.

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

He's looking comfortable and even more confident, I have to believe all the praise from the group and McDrai about his play and work ethic really helped him stay the course when he was snake bit, and now the Oilers are reaping the results

 

[JordanGalhanth]

I still want kostin back. Lol

After wearing an Oilers jersey in the stands when he was under contract to the Sharks? No thanks. Not a good look.

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

Kapanen and Podz are proof positive that you can acquire effective players at a relatively low cost with little or no fanfare.

Kapanen is a penalty killer too so perhaps he takes Brown's salary next season on the cap hit chart.

Good second chance bets on past first round pedigree talent. Both have excellent speed which adds to this organization's historic strength. Kapanen's had multiple runs to reset and will need to unlock the consistent high motor and engaged playing style. Getting a perfect test run with McDavid through Hyman's injury. Hopefully he locks it in.

Podkolzin's been putting in the extra work before and after practices, his game revs consistently high with a strong, engaged motor, and makes smart, simple decisions with a very good two-way game. Complete game and attitude that's appreciated by this team's super elites. Hockey Night did a good iso that showed some of his real smart two-way plays in all areas of the ice. Now getting rewarded for his work and two way game with goals (and finishing in a variety of ways as well).

Both at good ages and stages of their hockey careers.

 

[joestevens29]

Kapanen and Podz are proof positive that you can acquire effective players at a relatively low cost with little or no fanfare.

Kapanen is a penalty killer too so perhaps he takes Brown's salary next season on the cap hit chart.

Biggest issue is actually identifying what type of player we need. Not every type is a fit with our top 6

 

[MoontoScott]

Biggest issue is actually identifying what type of player we need. Not every type is a fit with our top 6

I wouldn't want to be the D-man whose job it is to move Podz from the front of the net. He's built like a pit bull.

And everybody in the league saw that fight with those Ali-like shots. It sent a message.

 

[MoontoScott]

Good second chance bets on past first round pedigree talent. Both have excellent speed which adds to this organization's historic strength. Kapanen's had multiple runs to reset and will need to unlock the consistent high motor and engaged playing style. Getting a perfect test run with McDavid through Hyman's injury. Hopefully he locks it in.

Podkolzin's been putting in the extra work before and after practices, his game revs consistently high with a strong, engaged motor, and makes smart, simple decisions with a very good two-way game. Complete game and attitude that's appreciated by this team's super elites. Hockey Night did a good iso that showed some of his real smart two-way plays in all areas of the ice. Now getting rewarded for his work and two way game with goals (and finishing in a variety of ways as well).

Both at good ages and stages of their hockey careers.

There are a number of older players who will be exiting over the next few years so even in a "win now" scenario you start looking ahead to next season and beyond. Good managers make cost effective moves that pay dividends over the longer term.

I love it when teams can make dollar smart moves to acquire difference makers even if you know that they will never be high end goal scorers.

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

There are a number of older players who will be exiting over the next few years so even in a "win now" scenario you start looking ahead to next season and beyond. Good managers make cost effective moves that pay dividends over the longer term.

I love it when teams can make dollar smart moves to acquire difference makers even if you know that they will never be high end goal scorers.

Agree, they need to build up the sustainability window to replace the old win now pick-ups. These are two good bets on pedigree whose games are reset to solid support depth roles not necessarily the aspirational level projected as draft picks. Still more unrealized growth though in Podkolzen's game. Similar to Oiler draft guys like Cogliano and Pulijarvi among others who needed a fresh start to ultimately accept their place in life as quality support vs top six players.

Oilers have done pretty well historically with second chance, reclamation guys. Really enjoying watching Podkolzen's hard ice game and the work he's putting into this second chance.

I liked the draft move to get O'Reilly who looks likely three seasons from prospective bottom six centre. Seems like a solid pro-active succession planning move for Henrique.

 

[TheNumber4]

After wearing an Oilers jersey in the stands when he was under contract to the Sharks? No thanks. Not a good look.

I enjoyed that….

But I’m not a sharks fan lol.

 

[guymez]

After wearing an Oilers jersey in the stands when he was under contract to the Sharks? No thanks. Not a good look.

There is no place for a $2M player like Kostin that cant PK and at 5x5 cant even average more than 6 minutes on one of the worst teams in the NHL.