The Edmonton Oilers have traded for Vasily Podkolzin from the Vancouver Canucks.
They gave up a 2025 fourth-round pick from Ottawa, which they got earlier this summer. This trade is interesting because the St. Louis Blues recently tried to get Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg from Edmonton with offer sheets totaling $6.87M. The Oilers are already over the salary cap by $8.225M, so something had to give.
Podkolzin was a top prospect in the 2019 NHL Draft but has had a bumpy career since then. He stayed in Russia for two years before joining the Canucks in 2021, where he had a decent rookie season with 14 goals and 26 points in 79 games. However, his performance dipped afterward, managing only nine points in his last 58 NHL games .
What Fans Might Think:
Fans might wonder if Podkolzin can turn things around in Edmonton’s high-paced offense led by McDavid and Draisaitl. Some might be skeptical given his recent struggles, but others could see this as a fresh start for him.
Podkolzin showed skill during his KHL days but struggled to keep up the tempo needed for consistent NHL play. In Edmonton, he could fit well with their preference for physical players like Connor Brown or Klim Kostin who play alongside stars like McDavid.
Fans may think this trade is risky but also hopeful that Podkolzin can fill Holloway’s shoes if he leaves.
What do you think about this trade? Is it good or bad for the Oilers?
