Vasily Podkolzin was on his way to do some shopping at IKEA when he got word that he was now a member of the Edmonton Oilers.
That’s what Podkolzin revealed to RG.org’s Daria Tuboltseva when asked how he found out he had been traded by the team that selected him 10th overall in the 2019 NHL Draft.
“My wife and I were driving to IKEA to look at furniture for our new apartment when the Canucks general manager called and said I had been traded to Edmonton,” he said via translation. “We talked briefly and thanked each other. Then the Oilers general manager called and said they were waiting for me on the team.”
Podkolzin was acquired from the Canucks on Sunday in exchange for a 2025 fourth-round pick, which they originally got from the Senators in the Xavier Bourgault trade back in July. It was seen as a way to help mitigate the loss of Dylan Holloway to the Blues via an offer sheet, which became official on Tuesday morning, meaning the addition of Podkolzin is even more important.
As far as places to be when finding out you were traded, IKEA is certainly up there as one of the more unusual spots to get word on a life-changing moment. It’s no wonder he was surprised that it had occurred, especially given he had never gone through being traded before.
“Of course, I was shocked by the trade,” he said. “After all, this is the first such experience in my career. Now I’ve realized it. I want to continue preparing for the season and arrive at the new team in good shape. It’s important to fit in; Edmonton is assembling a good team. I hope I can help them win.”
It has not been a smooth development for the Russian winger who has bounced between the NHL and AHL over the past three years. He is coming off a disappointing season where he only registered two assists in 19 games played while spending the majority of the campaign with the Abbotsford Canucks. Podkolzin went on to appear in two playoff games with Vancouver this past spring where he went pointless.
While he is still coming to terms with the reality of being traded, he is eager to get a fresh start on his career by joining an Oilers team that was a win away from the Stanley Cup.
“I’ve been in Vancouver for two weeks now. I had a settled life here, but the NHL is a business, and a trade can happen anytime,” Podkolzin said. “This trade is a good opportunity for me as a player. I want to play and win as much as possible; that’s the main thing. I’ll be flying to Edmonton soon, I think in two weeks. Now, my wife and I will sort out all the daily issues in Vancouver, and then we’ll get ready for the new place.”
