The Edmonton Oilers have acquired ahead Vasily Podkolzin from the Vancouver Canucks in alternate for the Ottawa Senators’ 2025 fourth-round choose. Edmonton acquired the choose alongside Roby Jarventie earlier this summer season, in alternate for sending Ottawa forwards Xavier Bourgault and Jake Chiasson.
The timing of this deal can’t be ignored. Edmonton lately acquired two supply sheets from the St. Louis Blues, who wish to steal away ahead Dylan Holloway and defender Philip Broberg. The pair of supply sheets totals $6.87M — a really tough tablet to swallow for an Oilers group already $8.225M over the cap ceiling, not together with potential long-term injured reserve. Whereas an Oilers commerce appeared imminent, this swap is much from what many have been anticipating — as Edmonton reels in a former prime prospect and potential Holloway alternative.
If Podkolzin really donns that title is but to be seen. He proved a controversial choose within the 2019 NHL Draft, rounding out what was a loaded prime 10 after combating his manner 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 instantly 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 could possibly be set to vary in Edmonton. Podkozlin flaunted loads of talent throughout his transient KHL profession however struggled to instill a lot tempo into the offense. That’s maybe the factor the Oilers do finest, largely thanks to simply how proficient Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins carry to the desk. Holloway wasn’t getting a lot ice time with these superstars as he regarded to determine his footing within the NHL, however Edmonton has proven a desire for icing shoot-first bruisers, like Connor Brown or Klim Kostin, with McDavid. Podkolzin stands at an analogous body to Holloway however has constructed a bit extra of a knack for physicality as he’s lower his tooth within the minor leagues. A transfer to the Oilers offense will signify an opportunity to begin over – doubtlessly filling the sneakers of a departing Dylan Holloway.