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Edmonton picked up Vasily Podkolzin for next to nothing last August, trading away a fourth-round draft pick Vancouver Canucks for the front.

The trade represented a big fall for Podkolzin, drafted 10th overall in 2019 by Vancouver after a stellar junior career in Russia, then scoring 14 goals by the age of 20 in the NHL. But over the next few years, he failed to secure a permanent role with the Canucks. He managed to leave the city.

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Not skilled enough for the first two lines, nor savvy and tough enough for the last two lines, such was the story of Podkolzin’s demise in Vancouver.

But during his first month with the Edmonton OilersPodkolzin moved from the fourth to the first line on Thursday against the Nashville Predators, a game that saw No. 92 instantly become an overnight hero in Edmonton. He did so in part for playing a solid two-way game on the top line with Leon Draisaitl and Viktor Arvidsson, but mostly for landing one of the hardest shots of the season. Edmonton Oilers historic against tough Nashville defender Jeremy Lauzon.

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On HockeyFights.com, the fight is now over rated by more than 40 viewerseach of them granting victory to Podkolzin.

Spittin’ Chiclets is full of praise for the fight on social media: “Podkolzin just busted Jeremy Lauzon with a BOMB “

On the 32 Thoughts podcast, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman was also impressed by Podkolzin’s pugilism. “Boy, did he send a message,” Friedman said. “He didn’t pick the sweetest guy in the NHL, that’s for sure… He picked the record holder for hits, he picked The Guy, Lauzon. And that makes it doubly impressive that the guy he fought and the guy he knocked down wasn’t a shrinking violet.

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And Zach Laing of Oilers Nation: “Was it Vasily Podkolzin or Dave Semenko? My God.”

And NHL commentator Jeff Marek: “The secret is now out about Podkolzin.

And Oilers fan Paul Almeida: “Podkolzin crushed Lauzon with some thunderous punches.
I liked the way he played and I love his competition. The combat skills were a surprise. The Oilers aren’t taking any crap since Backlund hit Skinner and no one responded. There has clearly been a change in attitude since then.

Pod-Killz him, but he also has game

If it were just about the fight, the buzz around Podkolzin wouldn’t be as positive, but it’s hard to imagine he had a better stretch of hockey than his first month in Edmonton. He didn’t put up any points, but his back and forechecks, hitting and skating were good.

As a two-way player, he so far surpasses Dylan Holloway in Podkolzin’s contributions to Grade A plus-minus shots at even strength, Pod’s play this year compared to Holloway’s last season.

Podkolzin is +1.7 Grade A shots, same strength per game this year, while Holloway was +0.9 per game in the 2023-24 regular season, and plus +0.7 per game in the playoffs .

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Of course, Holloway has room to grow as a player, which is why St. Louis offered him the biggest price, but maybe so did Podkolzin, who received good reviews after the Nashville game.

Solid reviews

On the Ray & Dregs podcast, hockey commentator Ray Ferraro said Podkolzin showed he knew what he was doing. “He put one right on the eject button and Lauzon fell. And it’s like there aren’t many fights like that anymore, fortunately. But oh my goodness, this was not put before the judges to make a decision. It was a victory.

Podkolzin was in a tough situation in Vancouver after being drafted so high, Ferraro said. He was physically stronger than other major junior players, but he’s not huge and that made up for him in the physical battles in the NHL. “I think he can be a bottom six guy,” Ferraro said. “His feet are a little heavy and they’ve, you know, they’ve elevated him right now in the lineup.”

Podkolzin has taken Jeff Skinner’s place on the Leon Draisaitl line for now, Ferraro said.

“It must have felt 10 feet high last night. And when you’re looking for something to stay in the lineup, it’s (fighting) one more thing he can put in his toolbox… He can take care of himself. He could play in a tough building. And if it keeps you in the lineup longer, maybe all of a sudden you make a few more plays and then your game expands. As you never know what will be the catalyst for a player.

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On the Got Yer Back podcast, astute Edmonton commentator Jason Strudwick also loved the two fights fought by Edmonton players Ty Emberson and Podkolzin.

“Podkolzin tonight, I saw what I think he can be. I believe it was his best game as an Edmonton Oiler…. Several reasons. Yeah, the fight is nice… He put a pretty tough guy on the ice. But what I loved is that he understands his role alongside Léon. And I think Léon will really enjoy playing with him because in the first shift, they stayed in the zone for a long time, then the puck goes into the wall. He (Pod) goes there, wins the battle for the puck. Is he trying to skate himself? No. “Where is 29?” Where is the best player on the ice? I’ll pass it on to him. Then Léon walks through the back door.

Strudwick continued: “In the first half it was automatic. Podkoilzin understands, he says: “Where is the 29th? Oh, there it is, there it is. »…To be fair, Skinner doesn’t always do this. Skinner either wants to skate or try to make a more difficult pass. When you have the best player on the ice six feet away from you, you give him the puck. Honestly, I think this was a game where Leon was going to look around and say, “Hey, I like playing with this guy.” »

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My opinion

1. This is the hardest punch I’ve seen in Edmonton since Sheldon Souray was an Oiler.

2. After the spectacle of contract negotiations between Holloway and Philip Broberg, the Oilers need to work some magic. The early feedback on Podkolzin is solid, but it’s still early. Podkolzin may fade. He could be injured. He risks losing courage. It’s not easy playing the role of a hard-hitting, fighting forechecker in the NHL. But the Oilers desperately need such a player right now with Evander Kane injured and Holloway gone. Podkolzin has a great opportunity here.

3. In Pod’s favor, he has the look of a player who realizes that if he wants to succeed in the NHL, he needs to understand his own game (hitting, checking, making odd plays, defending well) and execute at a fast pace. high level night after night. He will not succeed as a great scorer, an excellent power play player. But if he fights, skates hard and defends smart, he could have the makings of a 10-year NHL career that could earn him $20 or $30 million.

Podkolzin has the appearance of a player who decided he was going to do what it took to have this career and make this money.

I like what I see.

You?

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