Vasily Alexandrovich Podkolzin Bio
Vasily Alexandrovich Podkolzin is a Russian professional ice hockey winger currently playing for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on 24 June 2001 in Moscow, Russia, he first skated at the age of four and began playing organized hockey shortly afterward. Podkolzin rose through the Russian youth system with the Belye Medvedi club and Vityaz Podolsk before joining SKA Saint Petersburg, where he became the first player born in the 21st century to appear in a Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) game.
Selected tenth overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, Podkolzin made his NHL debut in 2021 after fulfilling his contract in Russia. He has since represented the Russian national junior team at multiple international tournaments, including the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and several World Junior Championships.
Early Life and Background
Podkolzin was born in Moscow and grew up in the Maryino District of the city. His father, Alexander, was an entrepreneur, while his mother teaches piano. He has one younger brother, Mikhail, born in 2011, who also plays hockey. Podkolzin’s grandfather played for Khimik Voskresensk, and his father continues to play in an amateur league, giving the young winger a clear family connection to the sport.
He first skated at age four and began playing hockey shortly after that. When he was eight, Podkolzin joined the Belye Medvedi, or White Bears, youth club. Because the team’s facilities were located on the opposite side of Moscow from the Podkolzin home, the commute took more than an hour by metro and bus, demonstrating the dedication he showed to the game from a young age.
Path to Professional Hockey
Podkolzin played for the Belye Medvedi club until he was 12 years old, at which point he transferred to Vityaz Podolsk. The move was made partly because Belye Medvedi had no professional affiliate and the club’s leadership had changed. He spent four years with Vityaz at their school, but was not given a chance to play for their club in the MHL, the top junior league in Russia.
In 2018, Podkolzin decided to transfer to powerhouse SKA Saint Petersburg. On 12 November 2018, he made his KHL debut with SKA, becoming the first player born in the 21st century to play in the league. He split the 2018-19 season between three teams and leagues: three games with SKA, fourteen with SKA-Neva of the VHL, and twelve with SKA-1946 of the MHL, gaining valuable experience at multiple levels of professional hockey.
Vasily Alexandrovich Podkolzin Career
Early Career (2018-2019)
Rated by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau as the second-best international skater, Podkolzin entered the 2019 NHL Entry Draft as a highly regarded prospect. He was selected tenth overall by the Vancouver Canucks. Because he still had a contract with SKA for two more seasons, Podkolzin remained in Russia to continue his development before moving to North America.
Internationally, Podkolzin captained Russia 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 across 5 games.
Vancouver Canucks Debut (2021-2024)
On 30 May 2021, Podkolzin signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Vancouver Canucks. He scored his first NHL goal against the Philadelphia Flyers’ goaltender Carter Hart on 15 October 2021 in just his second NHL game, marking an impressive start to his North American career.
During the 2023-24 season, Podkolzin began the year with Vancouver’s AHL affiliate, the Abbotsford Canucks. He was taken off the ice on a stretcher during a game against the Colorado Eagles following a collision with Keaton Middleton. He made 44 appearances with Abbotsford, registering 28 points, and was recalled to Vancouver on multiple occasions, recording 2 assists through 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, $2 million contract on 19 April 2024. However, before commencing that contract, he was traded by Vancouver to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft on 18 August 2024. The move gave Podkolzin a fresh opportunity with a contending team in the Western Conference.
Driving Style and Strengths
Podkolzin is recognized for his strong two-way play, physicality along the boards, and willingness to engage in all three zones of the ice. His blend of size and skating ability allows him to drive play through the neutral zone, while his competitive edge and work ethic have made him a reliable depth contributor at the NHL level.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining early moments of Podkolzin’s career came on 15 October 2021, when he scored his first NHL goal in only his second game. He also made history on 12 November 2018, becoming the first player born in the 21st century to play in the KHL. At the international level, his hat trick in the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup bronze medal game remains a signature performance.
Vasily Alexandrovich Podkolzin Career Highlights
Across his time with SKA Saint Petersburg, the Vancouver Canucks, the Abbotsford Canucks, and the Edmonton Oilers, Podkolzin has accumulated experience at the KHL, VHL, MHL, AHL, and NHL levels. He has also represented Russia at multiple junior international tournaments, earning medals at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and the World Junior Championships.
International Play
Podkolzin next played internationally at the 2019 World Junior Championships in Vancouver, where he recorded 3 assists in 7 games and helped Russia win bronze. He also competed at the 2019 Under-18 World Championships, scoring four points in seven games. At the 2020 World Junior Championships in Ostrava, he registered five points in seven games as Russia fell to Canada in the final, earning a silver medal. In 2021, he was named captain of Team Russia and led the team to a fourth-place finish with four points in seven games.
Vasily Alexandrovich Podkolzin Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Hockey runs deep in the Podkolzin family. His grandfather played for Khimik Voskresensk, and his father, Alexander, continues to play in an amateur league. His younger brother, Mikhail, born in 2011, also plays the sport, ensuring the family’s hockey tradition continues into a new generation.
Personal Life
When he moved to Saint Petersburg to join SKA, Podkolzin shared an apartment with a teammate, Ivan Manin. Standing 185 centimeters tall and weighing 86 kilograms, he has built his professional career around discipline and steady progression through the Russian and North American hockey systems.
2025 Season Outlook
Following his August 2024 trade to the Edmonton Oilers, Podkolzin enters the 2025 season with an opportunity to carve out a meaningful role on a competitive roster. The two-year, $2 million contract he signed with the Canucks carries over to his time in Edmonton, providing stability as he adapts to a new organization and system.
Podkolzin’s mix of physicality, forechecking, and penalty killing should fit well within Edmonton’s style of play, and the franchise’s contending window offers him a chance to contribute in high-pressure situations. Continued production at even strength and on the power play would help solidify his standing within the team.
For Podkolzin, the 2025 campaign represents a chance to reset his trajectory after an injury-marred 2023-24 AHL season and establish himself as a reliable NHL contributor. With Edmonton’s core still in pursuit of a championship, his development remains an important storyline to watch throughout the year.