Is Vasily Podkolzin the Oilers’ Best Trade Return in Seasons?
Vasily Podkolzin has become a huge piece of the Edmonton Oilers roster. For those who have watched his progress since he came to the NHL, his value to the Oilers may seem surprising. But he turned out to be one of their most important pieces. He can score, but he also helps the Oilers set the tone physically with his relentless hits. That mix of early offence and constant pressure has basically become his identity.
During the regular season and the playoffs, Podkolzin has put together strong performances.
Across the first-round series, Podkolzin has put together a strong all-around performance. Through five games, he’s chipped in two goals and three assists, while also throwing 27 hits and maintaining a plus-six rating. Even when he’s not scoring, he’s affecting shifts, finishing checks, and forcing the opposition to deal with his pace and energy. For a second-line winger, that kind of impact is exactly what teams need in the postseason.
What makes Podkolzin especially valuable for the Oilers is how well he fits alongside elite talent. Playing in a system driven by superstars like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, Podkolzin doesn’t try to outskill everyone. He complements the team’s elite stars. He gets to the dirty areas, wins puck battles, and creates space by simply being relentless on the forecheck. That allows the skilled guys to operate while he quietly builds up secondary offence and momentum plays.
Podkolzin has overcome a huge amount of adversity to land where he is.
It’s also worth remembering how far his career has come. Drafted 10th overall back in 2019, Podkolzin went through real adversity early on. He was inconsistent at the NHL level and spent time in the AHL. He had stretches when his NHL future looked uncertain. But the Oilers took a chance on him, and that move is starting to look like one of the smarter under-the-radar trades they’ve made in recent years. He’s grown from a struggling young winger into a dependable middle-six playoff contributor.
This season, he finished with 19 goals and 37 points over 82 games, plus over 240 hits. That stat line tells exactly the kind of player he has become. He provides steady offence, heavy physical game, and a willingness to do the work that doesn’t show up on highlight reels. Even more encouraging for the Oilers is his playoff production. Last year’s postseason showed flashes, but this year he looks more confident, more engaged, and more comfortable playing inside high-pressure moments.
Podkolzin is only 25, so there’s more coming the Oilers way.
At just 25, there’s still room for growth, which is what makes this story even more interesting. If Podkolzin keeps trending upward like this, the Oilers won’t just have a solid second-line winger — they’ll have one of the most valuable “found money” type players in the league. And in a cap era where every win matters, that kind of trade development is gold.