Edmonton Oilers sign Vasily Podkolzin to three-year contract
The Edmonton Oilers are keeping Vasily Podkolzin around for the next four seasons.
On Tuesday morning, the team announced that they signed Podkolzin to a three-year contract extension that carries a cap hit of $2.95 million. The 24-year-old Russian forward is entering the final season of a two-year, $2-million deal.
Podkolzin was set to become an RFA next summer. This new contract will keep him in the Alberta capital through the 2028-29 NHL season,
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The #Oilers have signed forward Vasily Podkolzin to a three-year contract extension with an AAV of $2.95 million. pic.twitter.com/ignYoUR9VO
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) September 23, 2025
Podkolzin notched eight goals and 24 points in his first season with the Oilers last year. His best season came in his rookie year in 2021-22 with the Vancouver Canucks, where he managed to score 14 goals and 26 points.
The former first-round pick of the Canucks has been able to revive his career in Edmonton. Podkolzin was traded to the Oilers in the summer of 2024 after failing to stick in Vancouver.
Initially drafted as a skilled offensive player, the Russian native has reworked his game to become a more effective forechecking threat. His work ethic has garnered him numerous fans in Edmonton, and he carved out a role on Leon Draisaitl’s left wing in his first season with the Oilers.
Draisaitl, in particular, has been a huge fan of Podkolzin, praising him at every chance he’s gotten. Just earlier this month, the German superstar went on a long ramble on how much he enjoys playing with Podkolzin and all the things that he likes about his game.
“Podzy does a lot of things that a lot of people that don’t really understand hockey, they don’t see it,” Draisaitl said at the Oilers captain’s skates. “He does a lot of work for me, and it lets me have a lot of time with the puck and sets me up in great situations where I lack that in my game.
“I really, really love playing with him. He’s a great player.”
If there is a criticism to be had about Podkolzin, it’s that he doesn’t score nearly enough for someone stapled next to Draisaitl. He had eight goals last season and only managed to add three more in 22 playoff games.
Despite this, he will likely get another chance to show his worth on Draisaitl’s wing at some point this season.