Vasily Podkolzin’s Emergence Gives Oilers a Third-Line Blueprint Worth Building On
The Edmonton Oilers have spent the bulk of the 2025-26 season leaning heavily on their top-tier talent - and when you’ve got Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, that’s a pretty good bet. But if this team’s going to make a real run at the Stanley Cup, it’s going to take more than just the stars.
It’s going to take depth. And right now, Vasily Podkolzin is quietly becoming the answer to a problem that’s haunted Edmonton for years: building a third line that can actually outscore.
Podkolzin’s Breakout Year
Let’s start with the obvious - Podkolzin is having his best offensive season to date. Whether he’s flanking Draisaitl or getting shifts with McDavid, the numbers speak for themselves.
His five-on-five points per 60 sits at a strong 1.91, and his goal share in that game state is a robust 62 percent. That’s elite company.
But what sets him apart isn’t just what he does with the stars - it’s what he’s doing without them.
In about 180 five-on-five minutes away from both McDavid and Draisaitl - a respectable sample size - Podkolzin still holds his own. His goal share drops to 44 percent, but that’s still well above the team’s collective 32 percent when all three are off the ice.
That’s not just solid - that’s rare on this roster. It makes him a prime candidate to drive a third line that can do more than just survive.
It can tilt the ice.
The Third-Line Puzzle
Edmonton’s long-standing issue has been depth scoring. Too often, players who look good next to 97 or 29 disappear when they’re asked to carry their own line. That’s where Podkolzin becomes so valuable - he’s one of the few who hasn’t needed a superstar to stay productive.
Now, the question becomes: who joins him?
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is the most logical choice to center a third line. He’s played over 200 five-on-five minutes away from McDavid and Draisaitl this season, mostly while filling in as the No. 2 center.
That stint didn’t go particularly well - the line was outscored 9-3 - but context matters. Those were tougher matchups, and Nugent-Hopkins was often playing with complementary wingers, not drivers.
In a true third-line role, against weaker competition, the numbers should bounce back. His individual production (0.92 points per 60) is modest, but again, it’s likely to rise in a more sheltered role.
Who Else Can Contribute?
There are other names in the mix, and some are more intriguing than others:
- Zach Hyman has barely seen any time away from the top six - just 47 minutes on a secondary line - so there’s not much to go on there.
- Andrew Mangiapane has been effective next to McDavid, scoring 1.28 goals per 60 in 187 minutes, but his play away from the captain hasn’t popped.
- Ike Howard is putting up video game numbers - 5.87 goals and 11.75 points per 60 - but that’s in just 11 minutes with Draisaitl. It’s a comically small sample size, but maybe worth exploring before the trade deadline.
- Kasperi Kapanen has quietly solved the second-line right wing issue, posting 2.98 points per 60 with Draisaitl. That’s a win off the waiver wire.
- Matt Savoie, meanwhile, has struggled to find traction. He’s been held pointless in 135 minutes with Adam Henrique, and even when paired with McDavid or Draisaitl, his production (1.35 and 1.19 points per 60, respectively) has been underwhelming.
That leaves Jack Roslovic and Curtis Lazar as the most effective options outside the top six. Both have played over 200 minutes away from McDavid and Draisaitl and held their own. For a team that’s desperate to find value in the bottom six, that’s significant.
The Ice-Time Myth
Some fans argue that the bottom six simply doesn’t get enough ice time to make an impact. But that doesn’t hold up under the numbers.
The top two lines - any combination of McDavid and Draisaitl - play about 28 of the 60 five-on-five minutes per game. That leaves 22 minutes for the third and fourth lines.
That’s not scraps - that’s a real opportunity. The issue isn’t minutes.
It’s who’s getting them.
The Veteran Dilemma
Here’s where things get tricky. Edmonton’s roster is clogged with veterans on no-movement or no-trade clauses - players who are no longer producing at an NHL level but can’t be sent down or moved without consent.
The result? Younger, more effective players like Josh Samanski could be forced back to the AHL despite outperforming their more expensive teammates.
Samanski, currently representing Germany at the Olympics, looked sharp in a brief five-game stint before the break. But with Adam Henrique set to return after the Olympics, someone has to go. And right now, Samanski doesn’t have the contract protection that many underperforming veterans do.
It’s a frustrating situation - one that’s been years in the making. The Oilers handed out term and control to players well past their prime, and now they’re paying the price. The team is boxed in, not by a lack of talent, but by contracts that prevent the best players from being on the ice.
What Comes Next?
The most logical move is for coach Kris Knoblauch to lean into a third line centered by Nugent-Hopkins, with Podkolzin on the wing and perhaps Roslovic or Lazar rounding it out. According to Puck IQ, Nugent-Hopkins’ line has been fed elite competition when playing No. 2 center, but when matched against mid-tier or depth lines, the underlying numbers (like Dangerous Fenwick, a proxy for expected goals) suggest they’re more than capable of holding their own.
Give that line softer minutes, and they might just flip the script. A third line that can outscore - not just tread water - would be a game-changer come playoff time.
Final Thoughts
The Oilers are built to win now, but they can’t do it with just McDavid and Draisaitl carrying the load. Vasily Podkolzin’s ability to drive play without them is a rare and valuable asset - one that should be the foundation of a true third line. If Edmonton wants to go deep this spring, it’s time to stop playing around with depth and start building it properly.
That means tough decisions. It means prioritizing performance over pedigree.
And it might mean sending down a veteran with a big contract so a rookie can stay in the lineup. But if the goal is winning - and it should be - then the Oilers owe it to themselves, and their fans, to ice the best possible roster.
No matter what the contract says.