Vasily Podkolzin’s path has taken a sharp turn since Edmonton rolled the dice on him, and the Oilers are now getting the kind of return that looked hard to imagine when they acquired him for a fourth-round pick at the 2025 NHL Draft on August 18th, 2024.
At that point, the story around Podkolzin was sliding in the wrong direction. His role with the Vancouver Canucks had shrunk for a second straight season, and the numbers reflected it: 19 NHL games, two assists, and 44 games spent with the Abbotsford Canucks in the American Hockey League. For a player taken 10th overall at the 2019 NHL Draft, the trajectory had the feel of a career that was drifting fast.
Stan Bowman decided to take the shot anyway, and it has paid off.
Podkolzin has turned himself into a legitimate NHL contributor in Edmonton. In his first season with the Oilers, he played all 82 games, put up eight goals and 16 assists for 24 points, and averaged 13:13 of ice time in mostly third-line minutes.
Last season was even better. He posted a career-high 19 goals and 18 assists for 37 points in 82 games, while his average ice time climbed to 15:23 and his usage moved into the top six.
The fit with Edmonton’s core has been obvious. Podkolzin has shown strong chemistry with Leon Draisaitl and the rest of the Oilers’ top players, and he is expected to open the season on the top line.
His speed, strength, and skill give him a useful blend for that kind of role. He can pressure on the forecheck, stay involved in the play, and still make the kind of passes and finishing plays that help drive offence.
Now there’s another layer to the opportunity. Mike Babcock has made it clear he values depth and wants everyone on the roster to have a purpose, which puts players like Zach Hyman and Podkolzin right in the middle of the plan. Hyman’s early NHL opportunity came with the Toronto Maple Leafs under Babcock, and the comparison makes sense because both players bring a power game, grit, intensity, and the awareness to work alongside stars.
If Babcock can keep pushing Podkolzin into that kind of role, especially as a possible answer for Hyman as he ages, it could matter a lot for Edmonton’s future.
The contract situation only adds to the appeal. Podkolzin is entering the first year of a three-year extension that pays him $2.95 million per season. He also got another important boost from Babcock, who said Podkolzin will get a chance on the top power-play unit to start the season.
Connor McDavid praised that addition, saying, "Our power play does the best work when we win pucks back & we get those second & third chances. Podzy does that better than most. He'll be a good net-front presence."
Even with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins now sidelined and the lineup shifting around him, Podkolzin is still slated for a top-six role. Once Edmonton is back at full strength, he is likely to see time on the top line again.
In Other News...
Oilers May Be Eyeing A Risky Bet They Cant Afford
The Oilers are again being linked to a name that comes with as much uncertainty as upside. NHL insider Frank Seravalli reported Edmonton has interest in Canadiens centre Kirby Dach, a player whose size and skill still make him intriguing if a team believes there is more to unlock. For a club always searching for help down the middle, that alone makes the fit easy to understand.
Dachs path in Montreal has been complicated by injuries, and his recent performance has not matched the promise he showed when he first arrived with the Canadiens. Martin St. Louis has also publicly stressed the need for Dach to stay alert and work hard during games, a reminder that any team betting on him is buying into potential as much as production. For the Oilers, the question is whether that kind of gamble is worth the risk. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Identity Under Babcock Is Already Showing In One Key Area
Mike Babcock did not wait long to put his stamp on the Oilers in preseason, and one of the clearest signs came in the simple but often overlooked matter of faceoff location. In Edmontons game against Vancouver, the focus was less on one flashy shift than on structure, with the coaching staff clearly paying attention to where different groups were starting their work and how those choices could shape the flow of the game. It was the kind of detail that can look minor in September and matter a lot more once the points count.
The setup also hinted at how Edmonton wants to build confidence throughout the lineup, giving certain units a chance to attack from favorable spots while others handle more defensive responsibility. Faceoffs after stoppages, especially following TV timeouts, became part of that larger rhythm, with the Oilers trying to turn those moments into momentum rather than just another restart. It is early, but the way those draws are being deployed suggests this teams identity under Babcock may already be taking shape in the margins. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Cap Crunch Could Create A Tough Roster Squeeze Soon
The opening of the season has already pushed Edmonton into a familiar kind of early-schedule bookkeeping, with the roster deadline now behind it and the club juggling a tight cap picture. The Oilers are carrying $2.85 million in dead money, including Jack Campbells buyout, and only a sliver of breathing room under the ceiling, which means every roster move carries extra weight for a team trying to stay competitive while managing injuries.
That pressure has only grown with a cluster of players on injured reserve, including Mattias Janmark, Alec Regula, Frederik Andersen, Jason Dickinson and Matt Savoie. How the Oilers navigate those placements and any related call-ups or transactions will matter not just now, but over the course of the season, with the cap situation likely to shape decisions well before the trade deadline. [Read more 🡒]