Oilers forward Vasily Podkolzin on Edmonton: ‘This is city special for me’

The seven-day period of Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg’s offer sheet situation was chaotic for the Edmonton Oilers and their fans.

The hope was always to keep the two, or at least one, with the promise they showed during the team’s run to the Stanley Cup Final. After Cody Ceci was traded to the San Jose Sharks for Ty Emberson, it seemed like that objective could become a reality. However, Stan Bowman and his team decided that wouldn’t be the case, ultimately letting both players walk for draft pick compensation.

A couple of days before the offer sheet window expired, the Oilers acquired Vasily Podkolzin from the Vancouver Canucks. The compensation was a 4th round pick in 2025 for a player making $1 million for the next two seasons. Immediately, fans turned to him as the replacement for Holloway. The two have had similar storylines throughout their young NHL careers, even with Podkolzin getting drafted one year before Holloway. They couldn’t stay in the NHL consistently and played for a few different head coaches during their tenure.

Podkolzin’s career, while similar, was almost the inverse of what was happening with Holloway. In his first year, he hit the ground running with 14 goals in 79 games for the Canucks. However, he hasn’t hit those numbers since, scoring only four more goals over two years. On the other hand, Holloway hadn’t produced much offence in his first two years in Edmonton but, after a stint in Bakersfield, he came up to the NHL and had a strong postseason, scoring five even strength goals.

Earlier this week, Podkolzin began his first training camp with the Oilers after that summer move. During the skates, the coaching staff had him on the 4th line alongside Derek Ryan and Corey Perry, adding a younger presence alongside the two oldest players on the roster.

“This city is special for me,” said Podkolzin in his first media avail as an Oiler. “I was here for the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, World Junior games and for my first NHL game. It’s great to have a fresh start here. It’s a big club with big history and with big names on our team. It’s just great to be around.”

The Russian forward was dominant during his time with the national team. Podkolzin lead the tournament Hlinka Gretzky Cup in 2018 with eight goals, which was three more than anyone else that year. His ability to showcase his dangerous scoring touch at pivotal times helped him rise the draft board and go tenth overall.

In 2021, after his draft year, he returned to Edmonton for the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship where he captained Russia. He was a key player for Russia in all situations and had individual success with four points in seven games; however, his nation went home medalless, finishing fourth.

The hope is that Edmonton can give Podkolzin that boosted again.

“Sometimes the situation [in Vancouver] and maybe the timing was good for me.” continued Podkolzin. When I went to Vancouver they were in a rebuild. We had three different coaches and two general managers and sometimes it was tough to accept. At the same time, they gave me the first couple of steps to play in the NHL. I am thankful for that but now it is time to move on.”

Starting on the fourth line during the camp’s opening days isn’t unexpected. Podkolzin is going to take time to regain that confidence but, with Evander Kane sidelined with an unknown timeline, there’s a chance he can force himself up the lineup with good performance.

Podkolzin stated in his media avail that he wants to contribute in all situations. Bringing power and speed is going to be key to whatever success he has. The Oilers lost many players from last years plenty kill too with Warren Foegele and Ryan McLeod both departing leaving for the door open for him to claim a role. For now, he is focused on gaining chemistry with his current linemates Ryan and Perry.

While is a long distance away from home, the one constant between the two is those dark winter months. While many players get scared off by those cold December nights, that isn’t a worry for Podkolzin.

“I’m from Russia. I don’t really care about it.”