Projecting what Vasily Podkolzin’s extension will look like with the Oilers

Originally posted on Oilersnation | By Zach Laing | Last updated Aug 17, 2025 12:00 PM ET

Vasily Podkolzin earned his keep in his first season with the Edmonton Oilers.

There was likely less offence than the Oilers hoped, with him scoring eight goals and 24 points in 82 regular-season games and three goals and 10 points in 22 playoff games, but there’s no denying how effective he was.

He made his keep as a strong play driver in both ends of the rink, according to Hockey Viz, driving offence at a three percent rate above league average and defence at an eight percent rate above league average. He played much of his time alongside Leon Draisaitl in the top-six, helping snuff out opposing teams’ offence and their ability to generate high-quality chances.

Podkolzin enters this season in the final year of a two-year extension he signed with the Vancouver Canucks, and is set to earn $1-million.

He’s earned a raise on his next deal based on his play in his first year, and Bob Stauffer reported in late July that he could see the Oilers having an extension in place for the winger by the end of August. But what would that deal look like?

First, it’s important to note there’s a chance Podkolzin gets bumped out of the Oilers’ top-six this season, similar to how he did in the playoffs last year. With the likes of Ike Howard, Matt Savoie, and Andrew Mangiapane set to make the NHL roster, all three have higher offensive upside than Podkolzin does, and Edmonton needs that alongside Draisaitl.

In the same breath, Podkolzin does so many of the little things right on the ice and his strength on the boards and retrieving pucks could keep him there.

Evolving Hockey‘s contract projections indicate that the most likely contract extension, if signed before the season, would be a two-year deal carrying a $1.983-million cap hit, with a 39 percent chance of occurring. There’s also a 19 percent chance at a five-year deal, which is projected to carry a $3.249-million cap hit, and a 15 percent chance at a one-year deal with a $1.212-million cap hit.

The two-year projection feels like a nice middle ground for the winger, getting him a bump in pay and keeping his contract value commensurate with depth players.