On June 21, 2019, the Vancouver Canucks selected Vasily Podkolzin from Ska St. Petersburg with the 10th overall pick. Six years later, Podkolzin finally established himself with a Stanley Cup-contending team, though he had evolved significantly since being drafted. How did this former top-10 pick manage to compete for the Stanley Cup just six years after being selected?
According to the latest updates from The Hockey News’ Vancouver Canucks site, the team has been actively involved with players like Sara Nurse and Jennifer Gardiner for the upcoming 2025-26 PWHL Vancouver season. They’ve also addressed mailbag questions about players like Filip Chytil and the 2025 draft while debating potential offseason risks, such as losing Manny Malhotra to other teams.
Initially, Podkolzin’s signing was delayed as he had two more years remaining with Ska. His earliest possible season with Vancouver was 2021-22. Vancouver was focused on reinforcing their defense, targeting players like Quinn Hughes and others from different NHL teams. Despite other available forwards being drafted later, Vancouver prioritized Podkolzin for his relentless drive, a quality that ultimately aided his success during the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs.
Back in 2019, Canucks GM Judd Brackett described Podkolzin as a youthful player fueled by an impressive work ethic that drives ongoing development. Podkolzin stayed with SKA through the 2020 season, although the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted play. He also represented Russia in the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship as captain, showcasing his leadership and scoring two goals in seven games.
After completing his SKA contract, Podkolzin signed a rookie deal with Vancouver on May 30, 2021, after a strong playoff showing with six goals and five assists in 16 games. His initial NHL performance was modest, with five goals and two assists in the first two months, but improved under new coach Bruce Boudreau, finishing the season with nine goals and 10 assists over 52 games.
Podkolzin’s career path with the Canucks has been a mixed narrative. Although his point totals in 2021-22 were modest, fans admired his commitment. He split time between Vancouver and their AHL affiliate, the Abbotsford Canucks, through the 2022-23 seasons. Despite increased AHL playtime, he couldn’t consistently produce high-scoring outputs at the NHL level.
These struggles led to the Canucks trading Podkolzin to the Edmonton Oilers in August 2024, in exchange for a 2025 fourth-round pick. This trade surprised some, particularly since the Canucks had just signed him to a two-year contract worth $1 million annually.
The 2024-25 season marked a turning point for Podkolzin, who performed strongly in mid- to bottom-six roles for Edmonton. He played all 82 games, achieving career highs with eight goals and 16 assists, and averaging over 13 minutes per game. Though not projected as a top line player for the Oilers, he occasionally played alongside star Leon Draisaitl during the 2025 playoffs and contributed four points across six games against the LA Kings. While Canucks fans may hesitate to admit it, Podkolzin seems to have found new success in Edmonton.
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Fan Take: Vasily Podkolzin’s journey highlights how perseverance and adaptability are crucial in hockey, especially for young talents navigating the NHL. His resurgence with Edmonton adds an exciting narrative for fans and emphasizes the importance of player development and fit within team systems in shaping future Stanley Cup contenders.
