Vasily Podkolzin’s solid playoff performance is a promising sign for the Oilers

His second goal came in Game 3 against the Panthers, where he scored the tying tally after the Oilers fell behind 3-0 in the first period, snapping a backhander past Sergei Bobrovsky, and his third goal was the only Oilers goal in Game 6’s 5-1 loss. That said, despite being the only Oiler to find the back of the net in the final game of the season, he told reporter Sergey Demidov in an interview, “It was the first time in my life I didn’t feel any happiness after scoring.” He added, “I just wanted it all to be over. Sure, I ruined Sergei Bobrovsky’s shutout, but there was no joy in that.”

Moreover, if you’ve followed my writing throughout the season, you’ll know I’ve often praised Podkolzin’s subtle, yet smart plays. In the Oilers’ come-from-behind win in Game 1 in the Final, I felt he was an unsung hero, as his play helped spark the comeback with a major contribution on Viktor Arvidsson’s goal. Podkolzin carried the puck up ice, gained the zone, dropped it to his linemate, then drove to the net to set a perfect screen in front of Bobrovsky, taking away the goalie’s eyes and allowing Arvidsson’s slap shot to sneak in glove side. It was the kind of quiet play that rarely gets noticed but made a huge difference — just like he’s done all season.

That said, with the way Podkolzin — who has one year left on his deal at a $1 million cap hit — stepped up in the playoffs, he was a bright spot for the team and a promising sign for the road ahead, because the soon-to-be 24-year-old, in his first postseason, seemed to be perfectly built for playoff hockey.

Another thing that speaks volumes is the trust the coaches have in him — while other depth forwards and players with significantly more NHL experience, like Jeff Skinner, Kasperi Kapanen, and Viktor Arvidsson, rotated in and out of the playoff lineup, it was rarely a question whether Podkolzin would be taken out, as he played in all 22 playoff games.

Podkolzin’s Outlook Moving Forward

Another admirable trait about Podkolzin, who was acquired last offseason from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick, is his willingness to put in extra work — going out before practice or putting in extra minutes afterwards. However, if there’s one area he should focus on more this offseason, and it’s likely no surprise to anyone, it’s sharpening his finishing ability and working on his shot. That said, he likely realizes this himself, having said, “But I still believe — and the coaches agree — that I have offensive potential I haven’t fully shown yet.”

Perhaps as he gains more confidence in his shot, he’ll shoot more often moving forward — because if there was one critique I had of him in the playoffs, it’s that he needed to shoot more in prime scoring spots. He finished second last among forwards with only 4.45 shots per 60 minutes, while Mattias Janmark ranked last with 3.33 per 60.

In addition, he played just over 84 minutes alongside Leon Draisaitl in the playoffs and played over 500 minutes with him in the regular season. Podkolzin is built like a tank, he’s like a dog on the bone on the forecheck, he wins board battles and gets the puck back to his centerman. Yet, if he can develop a bit more finish, he could make the second line even more lethal in the future — if he ends up playing there again, which seems likely, since Draisaitl appears to have handpicked Podkolzin as his linemate, as he said:

“I love playing with Draisaitl — he’s a true master. It was easy for me because I always knew where he’d be. He’s usually on the right side, and you pass the puck there, knowing how the play will unfold. Honestly, not many players get to be on a line with Draisaitl — that’s something he decides. For a forward like me, that’s a huge advantage.”

Podkolzin will be a restricted free agent after next season, and the fellas recently discussed on ‘Oilersnation Everyday’ what an extension for the youngster from Russia might look like — perhaps a three-year deal with a cap hit around $1.6 million to $1.75 million.

Overall, that would be solid value for a solid young player who plays a hard game the right way, is a physical force, with his scoring ability still potentially to be fully realized. Podkolzin said, “I want to reach my full potential here in Edmonton.” He also added, “Maybe this will sound bold to some, but if I get the chance to stay with the Oilers, I’d be happy to keep playing here and developing.”