How Oilers winger Vasily Podkolzin emerged as a foundation piece for the future

AtlanticBruinsCanadiensLightningMaple LeafsPanthersRed WingsSabresSenatorsMetropolitanBlue JacketsCapitalsDevilsFlyersHurricanesIslandersPenguinsRangersCentralAvalancheBlackhawksBluesJetsMammothPredatorsStarsWildPacificCanucksDucksFlamesGolden KnightsKingsKrakenOilersSharksScores & ScheduleStandingsPodcastsFantasyNHL OddsNHL PicksPlayoff projectionsNHL Draft rankingRed Light NewsletterHow Oilers winger Vasily Podkolzin emerged as a foundation piece for the futureVasily Podkolzin has 19 goals and 39 points in 79 games this season for the Oilers. Ethan Miller / Getty Images Share full articleIn the almost 50 seasons the Edmonton Oilers have played in the NHL, the team has deployed dozens of left wingers with size (6-foot-1 or over) who scored 20 or more goals in a season. Mark Messier was the first, and best, scoring 50 in 1981-82 before moving to the middle and becoming one of the best centres of all time. He was followed quickly by Mike Krushelnyski, Esa Tikkanen and Craig Simpson over the next decade. In the past 15 years, the pace of 20-goal left-wingers with average or better size has decreased. That is due partly to lower scoring rates as well as rule changes that allowed smaller skill wingers to succeed at the highest level. Since 2010, men like Taylor Hall, Patrick Maroon, Milan Lucic, Zach Hyman, Evander Kane and Warren Foegele have all done it. The total is a major reduction compared to previous decades. Oilers left winger Vasily Podkolzin has 19 goals. If he scores No. 20, he’ll join that group of impressive names. His place as an established NHL player was far from certain when the Oilers acquired him from the Vancouver Canucks in the summer of 2024. He’s somewhat of an outlier to many in the group above, as Podkolzin (like Maroon and Foegele) didn’t cost big dollars in free agency or arrive by using a top draft pick. Podkolzin is now one of the key players on a team inside the window to win the Stanley Cup. Here’s what he does, and why it’s important. Podkolzin began the 2025-26 season on the fourth line, with centre Noah Philp and right winger Kasperi Kapanen. At that time, Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch was attempting to put rookie left winger Ike Howard in a position to succeed, and that meant he was placed with a veteran centre (Adam Henrique). The Connor McDavid line on opening night had Leon Draisaitl on the right wing and Trent Frederic playing the left side. Andrew Mangiapane rounded out the left wingers, playing with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and another rookie, Matt Savoie. As Oilers fans know well, the lines don’t stay together long in Edmonton. Over the season, Podkolzin’s role grew, as reflected in his ice time with Draisaitl and later McDavid: All numbers five-on-five, via Natural Stat Trick Podkolzin spent most of the season on the top two lines because he was helping deliver a strong goal share. His individual scoring rates (he’s 1.80 points per 60 overall) were just a little shy of ideal, but the goal share on the top two lines meant the young winger won a coveted role on Edmonton’s skill lines. His physical size and ability to play the style that becomes dominant in the playoffs (more physical, forcing players to play through opposition infractions that would have resulted in penalties earlier in the season) mean Podkolzin’s star should be rising as the regular season nears its end. Chances are Podkolzin will spend the entire postseason on one of the top two lines. His durability has been a blessing for the organization this season, especially when Hyman went down with an injury. Between October and March, Podkolzin spent just over five minutes in total on the power play. Since March 1, he has been getting small amounts of playing time with the man advantage (about 1:15 per game). It isn’t a massive amount; there are six forwards on the roster (including injured Draisaitl and Hyman) who are spending more time per game on the ice with Edmonton holding the man advantage. Podkolzin is being trusted in the role, and that’s a tell. He’s scoring 5.17 points per 60 on the power play since March 1, and that’s a quality number considering the Oilers have been uneven on the power play since the recent injuries. Podkolzin’s importance to the team runs beyond the on-ice numbers. He’s a bona fide NHL winger with a fairly complete range of skills, who can flourish in the vital moments of the season (playoffs, skill line). His cap hit on his new contract (kicks in next season) is just $2.95 million for the next three seasons, and the player is young enough to add value in the next couple of years. The Oilers at left wing are an aging group. Nugent-Hopkins doesn’t score well away from McDavid, and that is unlikely to improve as he reaches his mid-30s. As pointed out recently, the only real concern about Podkolzin from a hockey point of view is that he can’t be in two places at the same time: he thrives on lines with both McDavid and Draisaitl. Knoblauch and his coaching staff must make some big decisions as the playoffs approach. Just before the injury to Hyman, the veteran was running on a successful line with Nugent-Hopkins and Jack Roslovic. If the team wants to reunite that line, the decision about where to play Podkolzin becomes a major conversation. The current McDavid line with Podkolzin and Savoie is enjoying great success. Could Draisaitl elevate new linemates in the playoffs? The list of possibilities includes Frederic, Kapanen, Curtis Lazar and deadline pickup Colton Dach. It would seem unlikely, but there is a way to ice three scoring lines, and Draisaitl is the Edmonton centre who can elevate flawed wingers. Podkolzin is the Dylan Holloway replacement on a value deal. As checkdown compromises go, he was an astute choice. He occupies an important spot on the Oilers roster, and his role is increasing as time rolls along. Oilers general manager Stan Bowman got him to sign a solid contract, and there should be money for a handsome increase if things go well over the coming seasons. Management and player will need to observe the long-term deals for veterans with no-movement contracts to burn off, and then proceed with more caution. The Oilers solved a big problem by acquiring and then signing Podkolzin. The team badly needs another one. Perhaps that is why Bowman acquired Dach at the deadline. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Allan Mitchell is a contributor to The Athletic's Oilers coverage. Veteran radio broadcaster. His blog, Lowetide, has chronicled the team since 2005. Follow Allan on Twitter @Lowetide