Edmonton’s Smart Move: Locking Up Vasily Podkolzin In 3 Year New Deal

Look who decided to open their wallet and actually make a sensible decision for once. The Edmonton Oilers, fresh off another heartbreaking Stanley Cup Final loss, have signed Vasily Podkolzin to a three-year, $8.85 million contract extension. And honestly? It’s about time they did something that didn’t leave us scratching our heads.

Let’s be real here. After watching this organization fumble more contract negotiations than a rookie goalie in Game 7, seeing them lock up a guy who actually showed up when it mattered most feels like witnessing a unicorn. But that’s exactly what happened when they secured the 24-year-old Russian forward through the 2026-27 season at an annual value of $2.95 million.

Why This Deal Actually Makes Sense

Here’s the thing about Vasily Podkolzin that apparently took the hockey world way too long to figure out: the guy is a legitimate difference-maker who doesn’t need 30 goals to impact winning. Sure, his 24 points in 82 games last season won’t wow anyone at the fantasy hockey draft table, but anyone who watched Edmonton’s playoff run knows that statistics can be as misleading.

The former 10th overall pick from the 2019 draft led the Oilers with 211 hits last season. Think about that for a second. In a league where everyone’s obsessed with skill and speed, here’s a guy who still believes in good old-fashioned physical hockey. He was second among Edmonton forwards with 53 blocked shots, proving he’s willing to sacrifice his body for the team – something that apparently resonates in playoff hockey.

Coach Kris Knoblauch gets it, even if some fans don’t. “We’re very fortunate to get ‘Pods’ the way we did,” Knoblauch said, probably still pinching himself that Vancouver actually traded this guy for practically nothing. “He started for us last year on the fourth line and played well, we moved him up and he spent most of the season with (Leon) Draisaitl.” Thats why the Oilers made it a must to sign to sign Kasperi Kapanen to a 1 year deal in June.

The Vancouver Trade That Keeps on Giving

Remember when the Canucks basically gave away Vasily Podkolzin on August 28, 2024? Yeah, that trade is looking worse by the day for Vancouver. Edmonton acquired a physical, versatile forward who can play up and down the lineup, and all it cost them was essentially spare change from the couch cushions.

The beauty of this signing isn’t just in the player they’re keeping – it’s in the value they’re getting. At $2.95 million per year, Edmonton is paying market rate for a guy who brings elements that don’t show up on highlight reels but absolutely show up when games matter most. His 10 points in 22 playoff games last spring included some clutch moments that helped propel the Oilers to their second consecutive Cup Final.

The Bottom Line on This Podkolzin Extension

 Signing Vasily Podkolzin to a three-year extension represents exactly the kind of smart, value-driven move that championship teams make.

He’s not going to be the guy lighting the lamp 40 times a season, but he’s going to be the guy who makes life miserable for opposing forwards, kills penalties when needed, and shows up in May when lesser players disappear. In a sport where intangibles matter as much as talent, that’s worth every penny of this contract. Podkolzin will help the Oliers both in the short term and long term and that’s important.

With the regular season opening October 8 against Calgary, Edmonton has their depth piece locked up and ready to contribute. Now they just need to figure out how to actually win the whole damn thing.