The Edmonton Oilers have acquired ahead Vasily Podkolzin from the Vancouver Canucks in trade for the Ottawa Senators’ 2025 fourth-round decide. Edmonton acquired the decide alongside Roby Jarventie earlier this summer season, in trade for sending Ottawa forwards Xavier Bourgault and Jake Chiasson.
The timing of this deal can’t be ignored. Edmonton just lately acquired two provide sheets from the St. Louis Blues, who wish to steal away ahead Dylan Holloway and defender Philip Broberg. The pair of provide sheets totals $6.87M — a really tough capsule to swallow for an Oilers staff already $8.225M over the cap ceiling, not together with potential long-term injured reserve. Whereas an Oilers commerce appeared imminent, this swap is way from what many had been anticipating — as Edmonton reels in a former high prospect and potential Holloway alternative.
If Podkolzin really donns that title is but to be seen. He proved a controversial decide within the 2019 NHL Draft, rounding out what was a loaded high 10 after combating his approach into KHL ice time. Podkolzin stayed in Russia for 2 seasons after his draft choice, persevering with to develop in a KHL position earlier than transferring immediately right into a middle-six position with the Canucks in 2021. He was productive as a rookie, showing in 79 video games and managing 14 targets and 26 factors. However he’s struggled to carry onto that scoring within the years since, totaling simply 9 factors throughout his final 58 NHL video games. That belabored manufacturing has earned Podkolzin the primary AHL video games of his profession, to some success. He’s scored 46 factors in 72 minor-league video games over the past two seasons – sufficient to earn routine call-ups again to the NHL, however not sufficient to encourage a lot pleasure.
However that might be set to vary in Edmonton. Podkozlin flaunted loads of ability throughout his transient KHL profession however struggled to instill a lot tempo into the offense. That’s maybe the factor the Oilers do greatest, largely thanks to only how proficient Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins convey to the desk. Holloway wasn’t getting a lot ice time with these superstars as he regarded to ascertain his footing within the NHL, however Edmonton has proven a choice for icing shoot-first bruisers, like Connor Brown or Klim Kostin, with McDavid. Podkolzin stands at an identical body to Holloway however has constructed a bit extra of a knack for physicality as he’s reduce his tooth within the minor leagues. A transfer to the Oilers offense will signify an opportunity to start out over – probably filling the footwear of a departing Dylan Holloway.
