Confirmed Trade: [EDM/VAN] Vasily Podkolzin for OTT '25 4th

[VanJack]

That's the thing about this Vancouver management group. They're always thinking two or three moves ahead on the chessboard. Clearly they were convinced that Podkolzin would never make their opening night lineup, and would probably even have been bypassed in training camp by young guys who simply played better in Abbotsford last season.

When they went out and signed four UFA wingers and then brought Blais on on a PTO, the writing was on the wall for Podz. You can debate whether or not the Canucks did right by him, in terms of his development. But going back to his rookie season he had a lot of looks from the Canucks even before the regime change in 2021.

So it was either get something for him, or lose him for nothing. Podz was a likeable young guy. And I'm pulling for him in Edmonton, even it it is the Oilers we're talking about. But he simply ran out of runway in Vancouver.

 

[archangel2]

That's the thing about this Vancouver management group. They're always thinking two or three moves ahead on the chessboard. Clearly they were convinced that Podkolzin would never make their opening night lineup, and would probably even have been bypassed in training camp by young guys who simply played better in Abbotsford last season.

When they went out and signed four UFA wingers and then brought Blais on on a PTO, the writing was on the wall for Podz. You can debate whether or not the Canucks did right by him, in terms of his development. But going back to his rookie season he had a lot of looks from the Canucks even before the regime change in 2021.

So it was either get something for him, or lose him for nothing. Podz was a likeable young guy. And I'm pulling for him in Edmonton, even it it is the Oilers we're talking about. But he simply ran out of runway in Vancouver.

They got a 4th for a player who was not making the team. I do not see him making the oilers as well and will get claimed when the oiler trying to sneak him down to the farm

 

[TS Quint]

Do you live in a hole? People absolutely ask how.

There is no how with this guy because there aren't many.

 

[Rowlet]

There is no how with this guy because there aren't many.

Sure, but they were talking about drafting, and Podkolzin was picked where he was expected to go.

 

[strattonius]

There is no how with this guy because there aren't many.

You have a shameful posting technique.

Try adding some quality to your posts.

 

[LTIR]

They got a 4th for a player who was not making the team. I do not see him making the oilers as well and will get claimed when the oiler trying to sneak him down to the farm

He is insurance for Kane and his health issues in the bottom 6 and will have Perry as his main competition for 4th line wing spot when Kane is back. AHLers like Lavoie, Savoie, Pederson being other's he will need to outperform.

If Nuge gets moved to 3C then it opens up another LW spot for him.

McD, Drai,Nuge,Henrique at C
Hyman,Arvidsson,Brown,Kane at RW
Skinner,Janmark,Podkolzin ,???? at LW.

Bottom line, a roster spot or two will be up for grabs in Edmonton.

 

[Siludin]

Still a bit miffed* the Canucks couldn't find a more convenient trading partner than Edmonton for Podkolzin. I think he will look good next year.

 

[RandV]

Guy was drafted as a scoring forward, who has never scored at any level he has played, it’s baffling.

Never understood the pre-draft hype, and it’s looking to be a pretty sage point of view.

I never followed Podkolzin too closely but outside the top few picks these kids will score a lot in junior but not against professional men. It makes it harder to project a guy like Podkolzin here as he doesn't have any lofty CHL numbers, but as a teen he was playing against men and while not scoring 'looked good' in the tougher competition.

So you have to project that as he matures his professional offensive game will catch up, but at this point it just never happened for Podkolzin. On the Canucks end Lekkerimaki is a good example of this as in his draft year he has both SHL and SHL Jr numbers so you can see the clear difference, and last year he progressed in the SHL as a legit scorer.

 

[Killswitch]

Probably ends up in the KHL within a season

 

[Dazed and Confused]

The critiques from Vancouver fans sound a lot like those we had with Holloway before the playoffs: All the tools, but struggled when he got a chance with McDavod or Drai because the head just wasn't up to the speed of being a ton 6er, let alone keeping up with elite talents.

It took getting time with Gagner and Perry for him to start looking comfortable at the NHL level. Guys with plenty of offensive IQ but weren't going to push the pace, letting him play at his speed; Things that didn't develop when he was with guys like Foegele, McLeod, Janmark, and Ryan. This seems similar to Podz' problem in Vancouver, where he wasn't keeping up with Pettersson and Miller, but also couldn't produce next to Blueger or Lafferty.


I expect a similar plan out of the Oil, where they'll staple him to Perry and eventually Henrique to grow his game.

 

[VeteranPresence]

30-game update: Podkolzin has grown into a regular presence in Edmonton’s top six, namely on Leon Draisaitl’s line. His work ethic is second to none and it shows in the way he is always on or around the puck. He’s finally started to produce which was the missing piece, and now has more points in Edmonton than his last 60 games in Vancouver.

All in all well worth the pick and Pod is a big reason why Drai is having the year he is. Just such a relentless forechecker and phenomenal teammate.

 

[Nucker42]

Always liked Podz. Think the Canucks would probably take a do over. When he was traded guys like Bains and Aman were pushing for jobs.

 

[Soundwave]

Starting to come for him, 6 points in his last 9 games. He's a smart player, he makes simple, smart plays and heads up passes that are surprising. It's refreshing on a team that sometimes tries too hard to make perfect plays. Is a handful on the forecheck, gives Leon more space to work with.

 

[Three On Zero]

Always liked Podz. Think the Canucks would probably take a do over. When he was traded guys like Bains and Aman were pushing for jobs.

Trading him never really made sense, he has a really good skill set that was clearly going to develop as he progressed.

 

[eviohh26]

I didn't like the trade. But he was in the coaches dog house. He will never live up to his draft pedigree but there were some positives about his game and he was very responsible getting back and was smart with the puck . He lacked a scoring touch and may always lack it but I'm glad he is doing well. f*** the Oilers though.

 

[Sergei Shirokov]

Always liked Podz, I understand they felt he might be lost on waivers but they should've kept him. Having a better year than Hogs so far.

 

[Talonted]

Bonus you get to hear Jack Micheals calling it, guys a legend.

 

[Mr Positive]

30-game update: Podkolzin has grown into a regular presence in Edmonton’s top six, namely on Leon Draisaitl’s line. His work ethic is second to none and it shows in the way he is always on or around the puck. He’s finally started to produce which was the missing piece, and now has more points in Edmonton than his last 60 games in Vancouver.

All in all well worth the pick and Pod is a big reason why Drai is having the year he is. Just such a relentless forechecker and phenomenal teammate.

He's been really smart too. He recognizes when possession is changing very quickly and hustles back on defense

 

[Cloned]

Trading him never really made sense, he has a really good skill set that was clearly going to develop as he progressed.

He seems like the perfect Tocchet type of player too.

 

[archangel2]

They got a 4th for a player who was not making the team. I do not see him making the oilers as well and will get claimed when the oiler trying to sneak him down to the farm

Well I am eating my words

 

[Captain Controversy]

Big fan of Podz. This year's Klim Kostin. He can play on a line with Drai and Kaps. Pretty sick.

 

[The Nuge]

I didn't like the trade. But he was in the coaches dog house

That’s the baffling part. How does a guy who’s decent defensively, plays hard, and always stays out longer at the end of practice end up in a coaches dog house? That should be the last guy on a team that coaches don’t like

 

[WTG]

That’s the baffling part. How does a guy who’s decent defensively, plays hard, and always stays out longer at the end of practice end up in a coaches dog house? That should be the last guy on a team that coaches don’t like

His agent probably said that he didn't want to play in the minors anymore and if he can find a soft landing somewhere else. Canucks didn't think he would make the team so they gave him an opportunity somewhere else.

I do not think the Canucks would want him out the system but they also don't wanna burn bridges with players. It's the same reason why they are trying to find Desharnais a soft landing. But this is just my speculation.

 

[LemonSauceD]

Miss him. Glad he’s doing well.

 

[McFlyingV]

Big fan of Podz. This year's Klim Kostin. He can play on a line with Drai and Kaps. Pretty sick.

Feels more like a young Zach Hyman to me. Has the same endless motor and work ethic, defensively responsible, and a slowly developing offensive touch.

Best thing about this trade is he's fitting in well in the top 6 and he has another year at 1M cap hit. That's the exact value contract the Oilers needed in the top 6, and what Holloway was supposed to provide before he was making more than double that. Not that Holloway isn't worth it, and I'd obviously still like to have him on the team, but Oilers needed some value contracts like this really bad.