The Edmonton Oilers have acquired forward Vasily Podkolzin from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a fourth-round pick from the Ottawa Senators in 2025. Edmonton obtained this pick along with Roby Jarventie earlier this summer when they traded forwards Xavier Bourgault and Jake Chiasson to Ottawa.
The timing of this move is significant. Recently, the Oilers faced two offer sheets from the St. Louis Blues attempting to lure away forward Dylan Holloway and defenseman Philip Broberg. The combined value of these offer sheets is $6.87 million, which is a considerable burden for an Oilers team already $8.225 million over the salary cap, excluding potential long-term injured reserve. Although a trade seemed imminent, this particular deal is surprising, as Edmonton acquires a former top prospect who might serve as a replacement for Holloway.
Whether Podkolzin can live up to that potential remains to be seen. He was a contentious pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, entering a strong top 10 after fighting for ice time in the KHL. He spent two seasons in Russia before joining the Canucks in 2021, where he initially performed well as a rookie with 14 goals and 26 points in 79 games. However, his production has waned since then, with only nine points in his last 58 NHL games. His struggles led to his first AHL stint, where he has managed 46 points in 72 minor-league games over the past two seasons, earning occasional NHL call-ups but not making a significant impact.
In Edmonton, Podkolzin might have a chance to turn things around. Despite showcasing skill in the KHL, he struggled to contribute offensively. However, the Oilers are known for their dynamic offense, driven by stars like Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. With limited ice time alongside these stars, Holloway had a tough time establishing himself. Edmonton has favored physical, shoot-first players alongside McDavid, such as Connor Brown and Klim Kostin. Podkolzin, who has a similar build to Holloway but a bit more physical edge from his AHL experience, may find this move to Edmonton an opportunity for a fresh start, potentially stepping into Holloway’s role.