Podkolzin Trade Looking Pretty Smart for the Oilers

The Vasily Podkolzin deal the Edmonton Oilers pulled off last summer is turning out to be golden. They gave up a fourth-round pick to the Vancouver Canucks for the 24-year-old Russian winger, and it’s shaping up as one of those moves that ends up paying off more than anyone expected.

Podkolzin Had a Slow Start, Then Things Started to Click.

He came out of the gate quietly with just one assist in his first couple of games and wasn’t very noticeable at first. But from mid-October, things started to click. In late November, he picked up a goal and an assist against Montreal.

December turned into his real breakout: five goals and an assist over eight games, including a couple of game-winners against Florida and Pittsburgh. He was on the second line with Draisaitl and Roslovic, and he looked right at home. The physical side showed up too — hits piling up, blocked shots, just being a pain to play against.

Podkolzin Kept It Going Through January.

January was more of the same. He snapped a nine-game goal drought with one against Winnipeg, then had a two-point night against Nashville. By late January, he was sitting at 12 goals and 19 points in 50 games, plus a plus-14 rating. He even jumped up to the top line when Draisaitl was out, and he held his own. Shots were steady — 73 through 50 games — and that plus-14 was legit.

Podkolzin’s February Kept the Momentum.

February’s been good, too. He had a goal and two assists in his last four games, including the game-winner against the Kings. Through 60 games, he’s at 27 points — a career-high pace — with 96 shots, 170 hits, 30 blocked shots and a plus-15 rating. That’s not just depth — that’s a guy who’s become valuable.

Podkolzin’s Time in Edmonton Compared to Vancouver.

In Vancouver, he had one really good rookie season (26 points in 79 games), then plateaued — solid but not standout. In Edmonton, he’s taken a step. He’s getting more minutes, better linemates, a role that fits his game — physical, fast, reliable, and consistent. The Oilers needed secondary scoring and a winger who could play up and down the lineup. Podkolzin’s given them that.

Not Connor McDavid-level impact, but for a fourth-round pick, that’s a home run — a steady, reliable piece on a team still in the hunt. Edmonton got what they needed — and maybe a little more.