The past six months have been a whirlwind for Edmonton Oilers forward Vasily Podkolzin.
Following a difficult tenure with the Vancouver Canucks where he struggled to be an everyday NHLer and could not gain the trust of his coaches, Podkolzin now finds himself as a mainstay within the Oilers top-six, right beside Leon Draisaitl.
For a team that likes to shake up its forward lines, Podkolzin has been a constant, rarely moving off Draisaitl’s line. It’s the type of trust that he could not get on the West Coast.
It’s an adjustment, but one Podkolzin seems to be relishing since being traded to the Oilers last summer.
He may not be scoring at the clip he wants, with just six goals and 19 points through 47 games, but it’s the other things Podkolzin does on the ice that are gaining traction with his coach and teammates.
It wasn’t long ago that an NHL career seemed unlikely for Podkolzin, but he now has a new lease on life with the Oilers.
“Sometimes you just need a fresh start,” Podkolzin told Daily Hive after Tuesday’s pre-game skate in Edmonton. “When I got traded to Edmonton, just hanging out with the guys for the first few days and I started understanding I am on the right team and I am in the right spot.”
Of course, it helps that Podkolzin is playing with a Hart Trophy candidate on a nightly basis. The two have developed quite a bit of chemistry so far this season and Draisaitl has even gone out of his way to praise the young Russian’s ability at times.
“He’s a really, really good hockey player,” Draisaitl said earlier this season. “He’s really smart, and he passes the puck extremely well. He makes the right plays almost every single time… He gets in on the forecheck; he’s hard to play against.”
When asked by The Athletic’s Daniel Nugent-Bowman if he has learnt the secret of playing next to a player like Draisaitl, Podkolzin cracked a smile.
“It’s a good question, ask Leo probably,” Podkolzin laughed. “It’s a great opportunity for me and of course, he turned my career [around] in a good way.
“It’s a privilege to play with players with that and I don’t know how we’re still playing together, to be honest… It’s good, you learn something every day.”
Podkolzin has suited up for two games against the Canucks this season. The most recent was a physical affair that ended with a few suspensions being doled out. It hasn’t been long, but Podkolzin has already developed an on-ice rivalry with the team that drafted him 10th overall in 2019.
“It’s a different mood when I’m playing against the Canucks,” Podkolzin admitted. “It’s tough to play against each other and we hate each other on the ice.”
The 23-year-old has also become something of a fan-favourite in Edmonton, with many praising him for forechecking skills and work ethic. It’s a position that almost seemed impossible for him to be in during his seasons in Vancouver.
Podkolzin has previously said that, as a Canuck, he hated playing in Edmonton because the fanbase was intense and loud. Now that he is on the other side of things, he couldn’t be happier to play in front of Oilers fans.
“The fans are tough to play against, especially when the Oilers play at home,” Podkolzin said. “Right now I can feel why it was always tough to play here. With the fans, we’re confident when we play at home.”