Going into the season, it was pretty obvious who the most likely breakout candidate was. Vasily Podkolzin had shown flashes of brilliance with the Edmonton Oilers and was expected to make a big jump this year. Podkolzin really showed what he was made of in the playoffs last year. The 25-year-old forward was arguably the team’s best player in the series against Anaheim, making an impact in every game.
With the expectation of playing on the wing of Connor McDavid, all eyes were on Podkolzin to start the season. Boy, oh boy, has he been awesome.
Podkolzin’s offensive explosion
The most notable part of Podkolzin’s game to really improve is his scoring touch. In eight games this year, Podkolzin leads the team in goals with seven. This is a significant early-season achievement, as he is easily on pace to have a 30-goal campaign. Something of this nature was needed to begin the year. With how poorly last season went, this team needed a positive story right out of the gate.
Podkolzin has helped kickstart the entire Oilers offence. Between McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Evan Bouchard, and now Podkolzin, the top scorers on the team have been unstoppable up to this point. This has become extremely important as forwards Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zach Hyman have been dealing with early-season injuries.
Podkolzin is easily becoming the early breakout candidate of the year. Considering that he is in the first year of a three-year contact, just making $2.95M a season, his contract is becoming one of the best in the NHL.
Could Podkolzin be a replacement for Hyman?
An idea that some should consider is that Podkolzin could end up being the perfect Hyman replacement. Podkolzin has already shown that he can replace Hyman and has been lights-out on the first power play unit. It’s nothing against Hyman, but his best years are probably behind him.
Hyman is 34 years old. He will likely never come close to touching 50 goals again, and is only going to decline as he gets older. Luckily, Podkolzin is a very similar type of player who can step into that spot. I’m not saying that Podkolzin can score 50, but the Russian forward has been perfect in Hyman’s absence.
Hyman and Podkolzin both bring similar energy to the squad. They are both power forwards who can help swing momentum in a game. Whether it is scoring a goal, throwing a huge hit, or getting into a fight. These are the guys who do it all for the Oilers. Right now, they are lucky to have both of them.
An unreal trade for the Oilers
Looking back at when the Oilers acquired Podkolzin, one can definitely say they got exactly what they needed. Podkolzin was a young forward who still had a lot to prove. He never really found his footing in Vancouver, but maybe a change of scenery was all he needed.
In the summer of 2024, the Oilers acquired Podkolzin from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a fourth-round pick. This pick actually made its way back to the Oilers in the Evander Kane trade the following summer. That pick turned into David Lewandowski.
This trade was absolutely perfect. Podkolzin has become a mainstay in Edmonton, while Kane is currently without an NHL or hockey contract. Lewandowski has become a solid prospect in the Oilers system, having the potential for a depth forward.
Looking back at how Podkolzin went tenth overall in the 2019 draft, it’s not surprising to see his potential finally showing through. He was just a bit of a late bloomer who needed time to develop and improve.
What to expect next for the young forward?
Going forward, one can hope that Podkolzin turns into a consistent star who can play in the top-six. Considering that he is actually one of the younger guys on the team, he may become one of the most important pieces of the future. I do believe that he should have gotten an assistant captaincy going into this year, but that can wait for a later time.
Looking into next week, the team has a tough three-game stretch ahead of them. The squad already got a boost with Hyman returning to the lineup, which resulted in a bounce-back win against the Utah Mammoth. The Oilers match up against the Minnesota Wild, Carolina Hurricanes, and the Toronto Maple Leafs next week. All three of these games will take place at home, which can hopefully provide some momentum.
It will be interesting to see if Podkolzin’s hot start wears off over time. I am very confident in him to keep it up, as I was expecting a huge breakout season from him. It is awesome to see it from a player who works so hard and really deserves it.
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Up Next: Which Edmonton Oilers will be on the outside looking in when the full roster is healthy?
