Podkolzin trade has worked out nicely for Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are getting everything and more than they could have possibly hoped for in Vasily Podkolzin.
The Oilers made a trade with the Vancouver Canucks ahead of the 2024-25 season to acquire the Russian forward, a move which seemingly indicated they would not be matching the St. Louis Blues offer sheet given to Dylan Holloway. While Podkolzin may not be the same calibre of player, he’s been very effective and gives this group an element they lack.
Though his offensive production was rather disappointing with eight goals and 24 points in 82 games, Podkolzin provided some much-needed physicality for the Oilers, throwing a team-leading 211 hits. That ranked just outside the top 20 of all NHL players, and was significantly more than Darnell Nurse’s 161, which ranked second amongst Oilers skaters.
Playing such a physical style throughout the course of an 82-game season can be taxing, but it hasn’t appeared to affect Podkolzin. The 23-year-old has continued to throw his weight around in the playoffs, with his 34 hits tied for seventh in the league.
The 10th overall selection from the 2019 draft hasn’t played a ton in the postseason, averaging less than 10 minutes per game in ice time. That makes it difficult for offensive production, though he’s still chipped in with four assists through seven games. It may not be the role he had envisioned for himself after entering the league with so much promise, but he’s reformed his game and found a way to be an impactful player.
Suddenly, a player who was viewed as somewhat of a castoff from the Canucks has turned into a valuable piece for a Stanley Cup contender. It’s been quite a find by Oilers management, who only gave up a fourth-round pick to acquire him.
Though the Oilers still have ways to go to get back to the Stanley Cup Final for the second straight season, they appear to have as good of a shot as any, and Podkolzin’s play in a bottom-six role is playing a big part in that.
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