Next up in our One Year Later series, we’re taking a look at the newest top prospects title-holder for the Vancouver Canucks, it’s Vasili Podkolzin from SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL. One year ago Podkolzin was drafted 10th overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, which was coincidentally held in Vancouver as well. Since then, it was a strange year for Podkolzin, bouncing around different leagues and different lines. However, it only took a small sample size in the year 2020 to really establish what made Podkolzin a valuable pickup at #10.
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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 2020 BCIT radio portfolio.
36 Comments
I'm soooooo happy we got pod at 10th!!
Just something to say, how about Arseni Gritsyuk of the MHL? He’s been killing it this season.
jim benning is a great drafter
He's going to be a prime Lucic with speed.
I heard rumours that Barrie trade was on the table for Virtanen and No.10. Benning saw Podkolzin was on the board, he scrapped the deal. Now we could see Podkolzin and Virtanen together. We need more toughness in the team. Rousell has worn out his use, rid of either Beagle or Sutter(too many 4th line centremens). And as much as it pains me, Boeser to get traded only because he’ll be the sacrificial lamb for Loui Erikksons sins. We can get a lot for Boeser, I’d say 1st and a prospect. Clear out $3 m, $3 or $4.3 m, and $5 mil. Talk to the NHL and request penalty relief for Loungo, even $1 mil would be better than zippo. Then resign Markstrom, Tanev and give Virtanen a bump show me contract. Then in another year, you have enough to resign Petterson and Hughes. With a couple of other dropping off maybe Baertechi.
Reminds me alot more of Bo than roussel.
I’ll be honest right when we drafted him I was pissed….. but the guys growing on me
I was so happy when I heard Vancouver Drafted Podz!! I love how tenacious he is on the puck! I could see Podz working his way to to the1st or 2nd line in a few years!
Do Byram
I wanted a dman but was happily suprised with pod
How’s his two way game
2 goals in 30 games isn't all that impressive but Canucks have a good one with Podkolzin. reminds me a bit of a young Zach Parise.
Sounds A LOT like Kravtsov. NYR said they woulda taken Kravtsov 3rd overall after Dahlin and Svech. Also like Kravtsov, we will see how it translates to the smaller rink. Kravtsov was also a beautiful playmaker in Russia, but when he had less time to think and react with the puck, he suddenly didn’t seem to have the playmaking touch anymore. Not to say he is a bust, but just hold your horses, like Kravtsov, he might need some time learning the smaller rinks.
we got a steal with Pettersson and Podkolzin
2 goals in 30 games is a beast?
Hopefully Podkolzin will be what Virtanen should have been.
He'll be a great winger to play with horvat
I feel like Podkolzin could be the mikko Rantanan of the 2015 draft. Highly ranked but dropped. Both have size, similar play style, defensive and offensive upside. There a bit different cause podkolzin I would say is much more of a bulldog on the ice and work ethic is off the charts. It’s all about his overall game and offensive upside that need to show to be that 1 line elite winger that could even play kinda like a Center. Mikko has I would say I bit more offensive upside but we can’t predict what Vasili is going to be so we’ll see. Podkolzin has such a high ceiling that he could be the steal of the draft if he pans out to his potential.
Still should've selected Cole Caulfield
hope he works on his english.
More like brad Marchand
Mike Peca. he's like Mike Peca
Don't overhype him. Look at Kravtsov: he had one of the best seasons ever by a KHL player all time, and still hasn't made his NHL debut. There is no certainty of how long it will take for him to fully adjust to North American Hockey
Imo he'll get around 40 points year 1 in the NHL. Almost at ppg pace in 10 minutes a game in arguably the second best league in the world, and he still has another year of development time in Russia. He is pretty "raw," I agree with you, but I think he'll be ready to be a middle 6 NHL forward in a year's time. However, it will be interesting to see how he adapts to both the north american game and how the Canucks manage him. I don't think he would be happy to spend a year or half a year in Utica, which I assume he won't, as his development situation is pretty drastically different to someone like Dahlén, for example. Hopefully he takes the next step offensively over the next year!
I'm really starting to enjoy your channel. Jusy clicked the subscribe button
Sounds like a combo of Alex Burrows and a Jake Virtanen
I think Podkolzin's availability was a bit of an issue as well. He still had 2 years to go on his KHL contract, which I'm sure deterred a few NHL teams at the draft, and was probably one of the big reasons why he was available at #10 at the draft.
Pod is a good player, but assumed VAN would have chosen either Newhook or Krebs.
The 2 years in the KHL hurt his ranking. There was enough scouts watching him play to still deem him worthy of the high draft ranking. He does need to play more than 3-5 mins per game and the stats are not reflective of his abilities. A boom or bust pick, you're looking at possibly waiting 3-4 years before being ready.
I believe the most comparable player is fellow Russian Tarasenko (drafted 2010-16th). He stayed in Russia for 3 years before joining STL. He's the 5th highest Scorer in his draft year, but played the fewest games. A redraft would likely be ranked in the Top 3.
Your title is misleading af calling him a beast.. don't overhype him because KHL numbers don't mean crap. Just wish the guy a better fate than Juolevi, Virtanen or Demko
I think Roussell x Tarasenko is a good comparison
Podkolzin was a man -child playing in the Jr IHF tourneys and pretty much was Russia's go to man. Vancouver is becoming a very talented team.
If you're picking in the Top 10, you're at least 3 years away from being a contender barring a miracle. Podkolzin or any player spending 2 years in Russia wouldn't bother me at all if I thought the overall talent and top 6 potential were there, and I believe they are. We're not talking about a cup contender picking in the 20s and looking for a steal to complete the team in a very narrow window. This guy is still considered by many a top 3 talent in last year's draft. By the time he's ready to come over, the Canucks WILL need him if they want to take that next step. The Canucks can well afford to still be patient with him, even as I'm writing this in July 2020. The Canucks won't be ready to make a run until he's ready to make an impact with them, anyway. He's exactly the type of player the team needs if he becomes that top 6 power forward with skill who never takes a shift off and has leadership qualities. After dropping the ball on Matt Tkachuk perhaps, Podkolzin gives them that element they missed out on and he'll be ready to make an impact at just the right time.
With covid-19 and if KHL season canceled in 20-21, could he be eligible play for Canucks year earlier then anticipated. My potential on him little higher than most is Peter Forsberg, plays with that kinda edge Podz loves initiate contact and has offensive touch that Forsberg displayed in his HOF career…
6”3 205lbs at 19 years old… kids a unit.
In Jim we trust!
Roussell? What a burn 😂