RW/LW Vasili Podkolzin - SKA-Neva St.Petersburg, VHL (2019, 10th, VAN)
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CanuckCity
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Told ya he was the most polarizing top tier guy this draft 
But no-one answered my question. How does he use his teammates? Almost every single one of his highlights here are him either capitalizing on a turnover or him going on a solo drive to the net.
People just keep saying "lol stupid stat-watchers" but no-one's providing any evidence as to why his lack of production doesn't matter, video or anecdotal.
We can clearly see he has lots of talent and can make amazing individual plays, but will this translate to higher levels? Is it just a matter of needing to play with higher-skill guys?
But no-one answered my question. How does he use his teammates? Almost every single one of his highlights here are him either capitalizing on a turnover or him going on a solo drive to the net.
People just keep saying "lol stupid stat-watchers" but no-one's providing any evidence as to why his lack of production doesn't matter, video or anecdotal.
We can clearly see he has lots of talent and can make amazing individual plays, but will this translate to higher levels? Is it just a matter of needing to play with higher-skill guys?
Anaheim4ever
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Even though he'll fall a few spots cause of the Russian factor, he may fall another spot simply because Anaheim won't even bother to interview a Russian forward, Bob Murray will probably ignore him even if Podkolzin walks up to Murray saying he'd like to be interviewed. Heck he probably isn't even on their draft board in player rankings cause they will never pick him
Pavel Buchnevich
"Pavel Buchnevich The Fake"
Told ya he was the most polarizing top tier guy this draft
But no-one answered my question. How does he use his teammates? Almost every single one of his highlights here are him either capitalizing on a turnover or him going on a solo drive to the net.
People just keep saying "lol stupid stat-watchers" but no-one's providing any evidence as to why his lack of production doesn't matter, video or anecdotal.
We can clearly see he has lots of talent and can make amazing individual plays, but will this translate to higher levels? Is it just a matter of needing to play with higher-skill guys?
He's a good passer, and will get his share of assists. He's not incapable in that area of the game, but I don't think he uses his teammates that well. He's not a big possession player from what I've seen. A lot of his points come from quick strike offense, which limits the amount a player will use their teammates. I thought he struggled on the PP at the WJC in a situation where he had to play more of a cerebral game.
He's a solo player who doesn't really utilize his teammates well, that's the issue. He can go solo through a field at u18s, perhaps. But he can't do it even in his u20 league, which is shown by his lack of scoring there. If his dominant NHL future is reliant on him being able to become a player able to dangle through entire fields of players, good luck with that is what I'd say. And yes, I realize he'll make some good passes and get some assists but in the overall game his utilization of his teammates leaves a lot to be desired. I don't see him as someone who can drive the play, either.Told ya he was the most polarizing top tier guy this draft
But no-one answered my question. How does he use his teammates? Almost every single one of his highlights here are him either capitalizing on a turnover or him going on a solo drive to the net.
People just keep saying "lol stupid stat-watchers" but no-one's providing any evidence as to why his lack of production doesn't matter, video or anecdotal.
We can clearly see he has lots of talent and can make amazing individual plays, but will this translate to higher levels? Is it just a matter of needing to play with higher-skill guys?
But hey, let's just ignore allll his issues. Cool highlights, lots of goals against u18 kids. 3rd overall, whoohoo. ... Whoever drafts him that high will regret it.
In the interests of moving the conversation beyond what games people have watched to form their opinions, here are 3 games from the VHL, which are all freely available on Youtube this year.
In fact, every single game that Vasya has played outside of the KHL (and probably even those) is freely available somewhere. You can watch his 5 nations, Hlinka, WJAC, WJC, VHL, and MHL games. One can only hope that a sample can be drawn from these 46 and counting freely available games that would legitimize one's opinion of him.
In fact, every single game that Vasya has played outside of the KHL (and probably even those) is freely available somewhere. You can watch his 5 nations, Hlinka, WJAC, WJC, VHL, and MHL games. One can only hope that a sample can be drawn from these 46 and counting freely available games that would legitimize one's opinion of him.
You want a video? Watch his games. He is a most gifted playmaker I saw in a long time among russian prospects. Judging players by twitter-highlights is completely useless, becuse highlight vids are dictated by hypes around exactly those solo drives and goals.Told ya he was the most polarizing top tier guy this draft
But no-one answered my question. How does he use his teammates? Almost every single one of his highlights here are him either capitalizing on a turnover or him going on a solo drive to the net.
People just keep saying "lol stupid stat-watchers" but no-one's providing any evidence as to why his lack of production doesn't matter, video or anecdotal.
We can clearly see he has lots of talent and can make amazing individual plays, but will this translate to higher levels? Is it just a matter of needing to play with higher-skill guys?
As a fan of russian hockey I tell everyone TO STAY THE F... AWAY anyway. That's the best case scenario for us.
Dumpster Flyers
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XXIV97
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If he was available around the Oilers pick (#6), I would draft him. He should stay in Russia next season to work on his game, then play in the AHL to adjust to North American ice.
He is very raw like Puljujarvi, who the Oilers should have let him play in Finland after his draft year.
He is very raw like Puljujarvi, who the Oilers should have let him play in Finland after his draft year.
IceManCat
#StanleyCupChampions2024🏆
The myth that hockey players develop better in Russia is just that a myth /- plenty of prospects who stay in Russia that do not develop well and vice versa I can’t wait for this “theory” to die out
cgf
FireBednarsSuccessor
Dumpster Flyers
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cgf
FireBednarsSuccessor
They were both still excellent draft picks straight from Russia
Last time I checked there was no meaningful difference between the success rate of russian prospects drafted out of russia, russian prospects drafted out of NA, or prospects in general as long as you control for where in the draft players are picked...as that is the only thing that significantly affects hit-rates.
But if you have newer #s that dispute that, I'd love to see them as I'm always happy to learn.
It's the modern version of "soviet dwarves are the tallest dwarves in the world". So if the folks who think that way do ever give up on this specific theory, they'll just come up with a new "explanation" for why the 3rd Rome has yet to conquer the entirety of the hockey world and ignore all counter-examples.
Caser
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Dumpster Flyers
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A draft pick is successful when it translates to NHL contribution (except arguably when a player severely falls short of expectations like Nichushkin). A few might pan out, like Kaprizov if he comes over, but nothing yet. There seems to be more promising goalies drafted from Russia relative to skaters, most likely because they can’t play in the CHL.
Off the top of my head, that only player I can think of who went from NA to Russia to develop is Tolvanen, which makes your ask tough. Am I missing anyone?
EDIT: I suppose Nichushkin counts too.
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Pavel Buchnevich
"Pavel Buchnevich The Fake"
Adjusting to NA ice is one of the most overrated tropes that is thrown around. It takes a couple of weeks, at most. And most good players can be successful, even if they aren't 100% adjusted to the different ice. Podkolzin has also played a lot of games in NA by now.
He should not play in the AHL, unless the preferred path doesn't work. The AHL path has proven mostly unsuccessful for Russian forwards. He should play in the KHL. Only if SKA won't give him top 9 ice time and won't trade him to another KHL team should be come to NA.
Pavel Buchnevich
"Pavel Buchnevich The Fake"
Who said all hockey players develop better in Russia? Who said some don't develop in Russia? How does that fact make any difference towards the discussion surrounding this topic?
IceManCat
#StanleyCupChampions2024🏆
Why don’t you try doing something called reading. As a matter of fact I’ll give you an idea you can read this very page. And MAYBE just maybe you can find the context of the conversation...
I am sure you can prove your bold statement. I eagerly wait for the list of names.
To be fair alot of the Russian prospects drafted that stayed in Russia haven't attempted to cross the pond yet. It's the CHLers who have came recently and haven't had the best result. Also not sure the AHL is a good spot for any Russian , from CHL or Russia, those who spend a decent amount of time there always seem to fail. We will see what becomes of the young Russian --> AHL group i.e Volkov, Guryanov , Kostin.
cgf
FireBednarsSuccessor
Sorry if that wasn't clear, I meant new #s about the success rate in the NHL of Russian draftees who came over to NA early vs those who stayed in russia until ready to step right into the NHL vs the general success rate of prospects in the NHL; scaled for where in the draft picks occur.
It's still a small sample size; as we're talking about a couple of dozen Russian draftees per year, at most, dispersed across all 7 rounds...but the last time I looked into it the success rate was basically the same as long as you compared 1st rounders to 1st rounders, 2nds to 2nds, and so on.
This is so true. Top talents who "need to adjust to NA ice" generally just need more time to develop before they are ready. Top talents who are ready take all of training camp & some preseason games to adjust to NA ice. It's a different story with more marginal talents, but not with kids like Podkolzin, Panarin or Tarasenko.
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tigervixxxen
Optimism=Delusional
I think this is a very reasoned and well-explained take on Podkolzin, should be required reading.
This is even a cautious take. I always look past those too early consensus rankings. Hughes and Kakko may end up as not the best two players in that draft.
