The Edmonton Oilers are looking for more scoring depth, and Vasily Podkolzin is one of the names they’re counting on to help supply it. Bob Stauffer said recently that fans shouldn’t be shocked if Podkolzin takes a major step in 2026-27, with a bigger role potentially on the way.
Stauffer expects Podkolzin to get looks in Edmonton’s top six, while also seeing time on the second power-play unit and the penalty kill. He described him as one of the hardest-working players on the roster, and said Mike Babcock could be drawn to that kind of game.
That makes Podkolzin a key watch item for the Oilers. The 24-year-old is in the second season of a three-year, $2.95 million deal, and if he can turn into a steady 20-goal scorer with more than 20 assists, that would go a long way toward giving Edmonton the kind of secondary offense it needs behind Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and the rest of the core.
In Columbus, the Blue Jackets got bad news in goal. Elvis Merzlikins underwent successful shoulder surgery Monday, and general manager Don Waddell said there is no timetable for his return. Waddell said Merzlikins first noticed discomfort during offseason workouts, and an MRI showed surgery was needed.
The timing is rough. Training camp opens September 16, and the regular season starts October 1. Merzlikins, 32, is in the final year of his contract after going 14-11-3 with a .883 save percentage and a 3.40 goals-against average last season.
Columbus does at least have some stability behind him. Jet Greaves emerged as the club’s clear No. 1 last season, and Pheonix Copley, who signed this summer to a one-year, $850,000 contract, is expected to step into the backup role while Merzlikins recovers.
Elsewhere, Darryl Sutter stirred up an old conversation about why some American stars don’t stay with Canadian teams. On the Cam and Strick podcast, the former Calgary Flames coach was blunt when talking about Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk leaving Calgary.
Sutter pointed to the difficulties American players faced during COVID-19 restrictions, along with the pull to return home. He also noted tax advantages in some U.S. markets, family proximity and players wanting more control over where they land as reasons behind the trend. His comments land in the middle of a broader question about whether Canadian teams face a tougher battle when trying to keep elite American talent.
And in Detroit, the Dylan Larkin situation still isn’t getting any cleaner. Ansar Khan of MLive reported that the Red Wings are still having trouble finding a trade partner, with Minnesota as Larkin’s preferred destination but without the assets to make it happen. Khan reported that the Wild would need to include a top-six NHL forward, preferably a center, while Detroit is not interested in futures.
Khan also wrote that Larkin’s other listed options - Florida, Vegas and Dallas - either don’t have much interest, lack cap space or don’t want to give up the necessary return. There have also been reports that even if Detroit had a general manager in place to make the move, the team appears to be waiting for a deal that actually fits.
In Other News...
Blue Jackets Outlook Just Got Tougher Than Columbus Fans Expected
The Blue Jackets have already had a busy offseason, with both roster and franchise changes reshaping the conversation around what comes next in Columbus. Even before the puck drops on the 2026-27 season, the early outlook from around the league has started to paint a harder road than many fans probably expected, especially for a team still trying to build steadier footing in a brutal division.
There is also a real question in goal, where Elvis Merzlikins is expected to miss time after shoulder surgery. That leaves Jet Greaves as the likely starter for now, adding another layer of uncertainty to a season preview that already feels heavy on doubt and light on easy answers. [Read more 🡒]
Sharks Suddenly Have A Playoff Case Fans Can Argue About
After a run of recent NHL seasons in which fresh faces kept sliding into the playoff field, Columbus is again part of the conversation as one of the teams expected to be in the mix next spring. The Blue Jackets have spent the offseason trying to turn promise into a more reliable 82-game profile, with roster changes and player development giving them a better argument than they had a year ago.
Adam Fantilli remains part of the larger optimism around the club, even as his contract situation lingers in the background, and the Blue Jackets still have some defensive questions to answer before anyone can pencil them in with confidence. Still, the path is clear enough to make them interesting: if the young core takes the next step and the group around it holds together, Columbus can make a real case for itself in a race that figures to stay crowded. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jackets Fans Will Remember The No. 41 Twist That Lingered Years
Jersey No. 41 has carried a strange little history in Columbus, one that stretches from early organizational names to players who came and went before ever truly making the number their own. Matt Davidson, Brad Moran, Simon, Adam Pineault and Allen York all had turns with it, each bringing a different path through the Blue Jackets system, whether via draft status, short stints, trades or later career moves elsewhere. The number became less a symbol of one player and more a marker of the teams shifting early years.
Alexander Wennberg eventually became the most memorable of the group, in part because his time in Columbus lasted long enough for the number to stick in fans minds. His chapter with the Blue Jackets included the kind of contract and roster turnover that can linger long after a player is gone, and the aftermath of that move has taken years to fully clear. Even now, the No. 41 thread still feels like one of those franchise details that invites a second look. [Read more 🡒]