Vasily Alexandrovich Podkolzin Bio
Vasily Alexandrovich Podkolzin is a Russian professional ice hockey winger who currently plays for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on 24 June 2001 in Moscow, Russia, he was selected tenth overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2019 NHL entry draft and made his NHL debut with that franchise in 2021. Before transitioning to North America, Podkolzin developed with SKA Saint Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing 190 pounds, he shoots left and is recognized as one of the top Russian forwards of his generation.
Early Life and Background
Podkolzin was born in Moscow and grew up in the Maryino District of the city, in a household with strong athletic and musical influences. His father, Alexander, worked as an entrepreneur, while his mother taught piano. He has one younger brother, Mikhail, born in 2011, who also plays hockey. Podkolzin first stepped onto the ice at the age of four and began playing organized hockey shortly afterward, joining the Belye Medvedi (White Bears) club when he was eight. The Belye Medvedi rink was located on the opposite side of Moscow from the Podkolzin home, meaning the young forward spent more than an hour on metro and bus rides to attend practices.
His grandfather played for Khimik Voskresensk, and his father competed in an amateur league, giving Vasily a clear hockey lineage. He remained with Belye Medvedi until he was twelve, at which point the club’s leadership changed and the organization had no professional affiliate, prompting the family to move him to Vityaz Podolsk. He spent four years in the Vityaz school system, although the club did not give him a chance to play for their Junior Hockey League (MHL) team.
Path to Hockey
Looking for a clearer path to top-level competition, Podkolzin transferred to powerhouse SKA Saint Petersburg in 2018. On 12 November 2018, he made his KHL debut with SKA, becoming the first player born in the 21st century to appear in the league. He split the 2018–19 season between three teams and leagues, skating in three games with SKA, fourteen games with SKA-Neva of the Supreme Hockey League (VHL), and twelve games with SKA-1946 of the MHL.
Rated by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau as the second-best international skater, Podkolzin entered the 2019 NHL entry draft as one of the most highly regarded prospects in his class. The Vancouver Canucks selected him tenth overall. Because he still had two seasons remaining on his SKA contract, he remained in Russia before eventually moving to North America.
Vasily Alexandrovich Podkolzin Career
Early Career (2018–2019)
Podkolzin’s first full season of senior hockey was a developmental tour across three SKA-affiliated programs, designed to give him experience at multiple competitive levels. The arrangement allowed him to adjust to the pace and physicality of professional hockey while continuing to refine his offensive game. He impressed scouts and coaches with his willingness to play a responsible two-way style at a young age.
That same season, Podkolzin represented Russia internationally for the first time. He captained the national junior team at the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where he won a bronze medal. In the bronze medal game against the United States, he scored a hat trick in a 5–4 victory and led the tournament in scoring with 8 goals, 3 assists, and 11 total points in just 5 games.
SKA Saint Petersburg and Draft Years (2019–2021)
After being drafted by Vancouver, Podkolzin remained with SKA Saint Petersburg, where he continued to log significant ice time against grown men in the KHL. He returned to international competition at the 2019 World Junior Championships in Vancouver, recording 3 assists in 7 games and helping Russia capture a bronze medal. He also represented his country at the 2019 Under-18 World Championships, scoring four points in seven games.
At the 2020 World Junior Championships in Ostrava, Podkolzin registered 5 points in 7 games, with 1 goal and 4 assists, as Russia fell to Canada in the final and earned a silver medal. In 2021, he was named captain of Team Russia at the World Juniors, leading the squad to a fourth-place finish with 4 points in 7 games. His leadership and production at the junior level cemented his reputation as a high-character, two-way winger.
Vancouver Canucks Era (2021–2024)
On 30 May 2021, Podkolzin signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Vancouver Canucks. He made his NHL debut early in the 2021–22 season and scored his first NHL goal on 15 October of that year, beating Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Carter Hart in just his second NHL game. The early highlight signaled the offensive potential that had made him a top-ten pick.
During the 2023–24 season, Podkolzin began the year with Vancouver’s American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Abbotsford Canucks. In a game against the Colorado Eagles, he was taken off the ice on a stretcher following a collision with Keaton Middleton, an alarming moment that underscored the physical demands of professional hockey. He recovered to appear in 44 games for Abbotsford, recording 28 points, and was recalled to Vancouver on multiple occasions, registering 2 assists in 19 NHL games that season.
Edmonton Oilers Era (2024–Present)
As a pending restricted free agent, Podkolzin was re-signed by the Canucks to a two-year contract worth $2 million on 19 April 2024. Before the new deal began, Vancouver traded him to the Edmonton Oilers on 18 August 2024 in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2025 NHL entry draft. The trade gave him a fresh start on a contending team, where he was expected to provide depth scoring and physical play in the bottom-six forward group.
Driving Style and Strengths
Podkolzin is widely regarded as a hardworking, two-way winger who brings energy, physicality, and forechecking pressure to every shift. He is comfortable along the boards, willing to engage in the dirty areas of the ice, and has shown a scoring touch around the net when given offensive opportunities. His skating and straight-line speed allow him to drive play through the neutral zone, while his hockey sense, inherited from a family with deep ties to the game, helps him make sound decisions in all three zones.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the defining moments of Podkolzin’s young career are becoming the first player born in the 21st century to play in the KHL, scoring a hat trick in the bronze medal game of the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, and notching his first NHL goal in just his second appearance with the Vancouver Canucks. His trade to the Edmonton Oilers in August 2024 marked another major chapter, placing him on a Stanley Cup contender and raising the profile of his next professional steps.
Vasily Alexandrovich Podkolzin Career Wins
Podkolzin’s career is still in its early stages, and his individual trophy case is still being built. His most prominent hardware to date comes from international junior competition, including a bronze medal at the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, a bronze at the 2019 World Junior Championships, and a silver at the 2020 World Juniors. As he continues his development with the Edmonton Oilers, additional team and individual accolades are expected to follow.
International Highlights
Podkolzin has represented Russia at nearly every major junior tournament available to him. He captained the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup squad and led that tournament in scoring, then helped Russia to bronze in Vancouver at the 2019 World Juniors. He added a silver medal in 2020 in Ostrava and was named captain again in 2021, when Russia finished fourth. These international showings played a significant role in building his draft stock and his standing within the Russian hockey community.
Other Performances
In addition to his international resume, Podkolzin gained valuable experience with SKA-Neva of the VHL and SKA-1946 of the MHL during the 2018–19 season. His time with the Abbotsford Canucks in 2023–24, where he posted 28 points in 44 games, demonstrated his ability to produce at the AHL level and prepared him for his new opportunity in Edmonton.
Vasily Alexandrovich Podkolzin Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Hockey runs deep in the Podkolzin family. His grandfather played for Khimik Voskresensk, one of the storied clubs of Soviet hockey, and his father, Alexander, competed at the amateur level. Younger brother Mikhail, born in 2011, has also taken up the sport, continuing the family’s connection to the game. The support of his parents, including his mother, a piano teacher, gave Vasily a balanced upbringing that combined athletic discipline with a strong cultural and educational foundation.
Personal Life
Podkolzin grew up in the Maryino District of Moscow, where he spent long hours commuting to and from the Belye Medvedi rink on the opposite side of the city. When he moved to Saint Petersburg to join SKA, he shared an apartment with teammate Ivan Manin, easing his transition to a new city. He continues to focus on his professional hockey career with the Edmonton Oilers, where he is under contract through 2026.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marks Vasily Alexandrovich Podkolzin’s first full campaign with the Edmonton Oilers after arriving in the August 2024 trade. Skating on a contending roster, he is expected to slot into a bottom-six forward role, bringing speed, physicality, and energy to the lineup. His opportunities will likely come on a checking line or as a complementary scorer alongside the Oilers’ top offensive talents, where his forechecking and net-front presence can be put to use.
Early in the season, the spotlight will be on whether Podkolzin can translate his strong AHL production into a steady NHL role in Edmonton. Coaches will look for him to provide a consistent physical presence, kill penalties when needed, and chip in offensively on the third or fourth line. A strong showing could cement him as a long-term piece of the Oilers’ forward group and reward the organization for the fourth-round pick they sent to Vancouver.
Looking ahead, Podkolzin’s two-year, $2 million contract runs through 2026, giving him a clear runway to establish himself in Edmonton. With the Oilers positioned as a Stanley Cup contender, his contributions to the team’s depth, special teams, and playoff push will be closely tracked throughout the 2025 calendar year and beyond.
