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

[Mcnotloilersfan]

I still see the Val Nichuskin comparisons in this player. Just taking a while to get there. I love that we keep rewarding him with top 6 time because he;s getting the small details right. In the coming years, the offense should come along. Would honestly love to lock him up cheap this summer for a few years before he finds his stride.

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

I still see the Val Nichuskin comparisons in this player. Just taking a while to get there. I love that we keep rewarding him with top 6 time because he;s getting the small details right. In the coming years, the offense should come along. Would honestly love to lock him up cheap this summer for a few years before he finds his stride.

I think I see a player closer to Ethan Moreau here, maybe the offense won't come along as far as we would want, but an excellent defensive player who's hard to play against.

If Podkolzin becomes sort of modern Ethan Moreau, the Oilers won that trade by miles and miles.

 

[Duke74]

I think that Pod brings enough good things elsewhere that make up for his lack of finish/production even on a second line. However the winger on the other side needs to compliment that and be a plus finisher. Arvidsson is similarly struggling to produce which means the whole line as a whole suffers.

I keep hoping that the last switch will flip for Podkolzin offensively but even if it happens I’m not sure it’s this year. The rest of his game is excellent. Great forechecker and along the boards. Has made a number of great defensive plays in recent games that have saved goals.

Having Perry and Hyman here who are 2 of the better netfront guys around hopefully rub off on him. For a big guy who gets position he doesn’t seem to get his stick on many point shots or get to rebounds. That’s a skill he needs to develop.

I agree. Pods is a great third wheel, but the second line requires another skilled player to complement Draisaitl. As someone else mentioned, Kane would be a great complement if/when he recovers. For now, I'd like to see RNH tried on that line, but Knob seems obsessed with the RNH-McDavid duo.