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Oilers’ Vasily Podkolzin has emerged as a true top-six forward this season

3 20
13.12.2025
Through 31 games in the 2025-26 season, it hasn’t all been sunshine and rainbows for the Edmonton Oilers.

They occupy the top Wild Card spot with a 14-11-6 record and 34 points. It’s as if they turned a corner, but then they had a rough game on Tuesday against the Buffalo Sabres, needing a third-period comeback and last second goal to salvage a point.

In that game, Vasily Podkolzin scored his sixth goal of the season to bring the Oilers to within one, and was sandwiched between a pair of goals by captain Connor McDavid. There have been a few bright spots this season, but what stands out the brightest is that Podkolzin has emerged as a true top-six forward.

The potential was always there for the 24-year-old winger. Back in 2019, the Russian was drafted 10th overall by the Vancouver Canucks, and had a strong final season in the Kontinental Hockey League when he was allowed to play. That included six goals and 11 points in 16 playoff games.

Podkolzin began his National Hockey League career in 2021-22 and started slow under the guidance of head coach Travis Green, but once Bruce Boudreau replaced Green, Podkolzin took off. He scored 14 goals and 26 points in 79 games with the Canucks that year — five goals and six points in 23 games under Green, and under Boudreau, he scored nine goals and 20 points in 56 games.

Boudreau joined

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