It’s a question that’s been plaguing hockey fans all year, what’s up with Vasili Podkolzin and his production? The Russian forward started the season as one of the top eligible 2019 NHL Draft prospects, alongside of Jack Hughes, Kaapo Kakko, Dylan Cozens, Kirby Dach, Philip Broberg, and Peyton Krebs, but going forward throughout the season, his MHL, KHL, and VHL production didn’t spell anything to rave home about. What’s this about? What’s the problem with Vasili Podkolzin and his production?
Scouching Report: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGBZjQj73gM
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Hi. I’m Gio Palermo, also known as legorocks99Gaming (“legorocks99”, “LR99Gaming”, or “LR99”). I post video game commentaries on YouTube revolving around hockey and Vancouver Canucks topics. I enjoy making these videos and I hope that you enjoy watching them!
I am also a student at the BCIT Radio Arts & Entertainment program, and this YouTube channel is an essential part of my 2019 BCIT radio portfolio.
24 Comments
Love your vids
love the channel thanks for making me more intrested in drafts and prospe ta
Im so excited for the video in a year where you say how wrong you are and he is a surefire top line NHL player. Cant wait!
He will end up being like Kravstov. Won't go in league unil 2-3 years but will destroy the league in his first years
The way that you described Pod’s game sounds like another version of Gallagher but with more offensive tools. Am I wrong?
Scouching is the most underrated hockey channel on Youtube
He will be a good player in the future
Big fan of pod since the gretsky cup and i would definitely draft him 3rd overall he has a enormous potential and i see tarasenko in him
Don’t you mean what is all around comes around, Ricky?
I don’t think there’s much there in terms of worrying about this guy’s lack of offensive production. He can skate, pass, shoot, and dangle. What the hell else do you need? Maybe he needs to get it together mentally, but he certainly has all the physical tool. So I think he’s worth at least a gamble, especially at a draft position like the Canucks have.
He’s staying in the K until the 21-22 season
Things like heart, intelligence, maturity, determination will not show up on the stat sheet but are essential to reaching the top levels of hockey. Russian hockey is a lot different than North American hockey and it's a completely different evaluation.
You already know
reminds me of jake virtanen
Ovechkin literally had 4 points in 21 games in his first year of playing in the VHL, people are seriously over looking Podkolzin, and saying he only dominates against 18 year olds should not be a knock against him when literally everyone in the top 10 is playing against their own age group and weaker competition. Russians get way too much hate when it comes to drafts I gurantee you Podkolzin is going to be a star there's no doubt in my mind
This analysis, and Scouching’s too, nails it. Add in the KHL contract and the Russian Factor, he’s not a top 10 player. I’d take Boldy, Newhook or Krebs first tbh
Gonna change your mind now ?
Feeling like a jake virtanen part 2
And now he’s a canuck
Let's revisit this analysis in 5 years, shall we? I've seen a lot more playmaking ability than what's being described here. Think more Doug Gilmour, less Jake Virtanen.
Lmao
So I think my only question is how was he ever considered to be top 3 material when his production is just….lacking? I mean, someone can pass the eye test for effort like Pod clearly does, but if the flaws are so obvious then why the status? From what I've seen and heard, his potential production is 20-20. Is that really top 3 material?
This kid was tailor made for the NHL game where he will be a dominant power forward on the smaller ice. At 17 years old he is unafraid to play against men already, so by the time he's 20 entering the NHL he will be stronger and faster after working with his skating and skills coaches in the KHL. His shot was already among the top in the draft, both his accurate wicked wrister and blistering slapshot. I'm stoked about this kid coming over after only 2 years. After all, crucial players in the last 2 cup championships, Evgeny Kuznetsov and Vladimir Tarasenko both took 4 years to join their NHL clubs. So just 2 years is a cakewalk.
8/12 is 0.75, not 0.66 PPG in the MHL
Also 6 of 8 points were goals. 0.5 GPG
Very small sample
On top of that, he's very young for his draft year. Players are 3/4 of a year older than him.
I get that people are looking at his style and numbers and wondering if he's a glorified Burrow, Hansen, JV, etc vs a future Bertuzzi, Meier, etc. I haven't seen enough to make a call either way but I do see scouts rating his shot highly and he does seem to see the ice just fine. I think people are seeing his grinding tenacious style and then underselling his skill. He handles the puck well and distributes it well also.
It would be a million times easier to rate Podkolzin if he just played in the CHL, but that's what makes this fun. Personally I think people are under rating the impact of his age here. He's not just young, he's very young for this draft class. He does display hockey IQ well beyond a player like JV ever has and that is also highlighted through his defensive responsibility. He gets it. Guys who have the physical tools to skate, win battles, and shoot the puck are full of potential.
Guys like Podkolzin also have the mental make up to be winners. To be that young and defensively aware both positionally and mentally shows the mentality of a winner. Guys with the tools and mentality to win are going to find a way to be effective. That doesn't mean he's a 30+ goal scorer but I think the floor is high here