Vasily Podkolzin has been red-hot for the Edmonton Oilers to start the season.
The 25-year-old Russian forward has been on a steady incline since being traded to Edmonton from the Vancouver Canucks in the summer of 2024. Podkolzin notched just eight goals in his first full campaign with the Oilers, upped it to 19 last year, and he’s now at a staggering seven goals through the first six games of this season, two of which being game-winners.
He leads the Oilers in goals and is just one behind Minnesota Wild superstar Kirill Kaprizov for the NHL lead. With all the injuries that Edmonton has suffered early in the year, Podkolzin has risen to the occasion and has become one of the team’s most important offensive players.
And all it cost to get him was a 2025 fourth-round pick, which Edmonton ultimately reacquired from the Canucks in exchange for Evander Kane. So, essentially, they were able to acquire Podkolzin for Kane, who is no longer playing in the league.
VASILY PODKOLZIN STAYS HOT 🥵 pic.twitter.com/bG3C5uLT7n
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) October 14, 2026
There were hints that a breakout offensive season was in the works for Podkolzin. He was excellent during the Oilers’ first-round playoff series against the Anaheim Ducks last season, scoring three goals and six points in just six games.
It’s a mystery why the Canucks decided to give up on Podkolzin so soon. He was initially drafted 10th overall during the 2019 NHL draft and seemed to have a lot of momentum going his way. He had a decent rookie season in 2021-22, where he notched 14 goals and 26 points in 79 games, but never quite found a consistent NHL home in Vancouver.
He jumped between the Canucks and AHL for the next two seasons, struggling to gain much support or trust from then-head coach Rick Tocchet. Eventually, Vancouver management felt it was time to move on from Podkolzin, shipping him to the division rival Oilers for a bargain price.
VASILY PODKOLZIN!!!
ABSOLUTE CINEMA IN OIL COUNTRY 🤯 pic.twitter.com/DWwsLkiAzJ
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) September 30, 2026
In Edmonton, he immediately gained the trust of then-Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch and quickly moved up the lineup, finding a consistent home with Leon Draisaitl, who has praised Podkolzin’s work ethic and style of play on multiple occasions.
Podkolzin has been a perfect fit for Edmonton and seems to play the exact style that stars like Draisaitl and McDavid want from their linemates. So much so that head coach Mike Babcock has stuck him on the team’s top line with both McDavid and Draisaitl to help deal with injuries.
Podkolzin won’t hit the absurd 96 goals he’s pacing for, but can you really rule out a 30- or 40-goal season from the Russian forward?
LEON ➡️ PODKOLZIN
THE OILERS ARE BUZZING 🥵 pic.twitter.com/mN4ylGtQFQ
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) October 8, 2026
GM Stan Bowman has made a lot of questionable moves with the Oilers over the past couple of seasons, but nobody is doubting the work he did fleecing the Canucks in the Podkolzin deal.