Oilers Face Decisions After Podkolzin Trade

In a surprising move, the Edmonton Oilers have traded for Russian winger Vasily Podkolzin, previously a first-round draft pick. This decision has sparked speculation about whether the team will match the offer sheet from St. Louis for their restricted free agent, Dylan Holloway.

Trading a fourth-round pick for Podkolzin, who was a standout at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup and was previously drafted 10th overall in 2019, seems like a steal. Plus, his new contract with the Canucks comes in at a very affordable $1 million AAV for two years.

Podkolzin’s salary is comparable to what the Oilers were previously offering Holloway, who is now facing a $2.29 million AAV offer from the Blues, along with Philip Broberg‘s $4.58 million. The Oilers have until Tuesday morning to decide their next steps regarding both players.

Bringing in Podkolzin might hint that the Oilers are preparing to let Holloway go while still holding onto Broberg, whose cost is double due to the tight salary cap. There’s talk that the Oilers might look to trade a veteran defenseman, like Brett Kulak or Cody Ceci, to create space in the budget.

Podkolzin has had a rocky start in the NHL. Although he was touted as a promising player in junior leagues, his time spent mostly in the AHL this past season raises questions about his potential. Last season, he played just 19 games in the NHL and had limited impact, recording only 14 goals and 26 points over a full season.

The Oilers are hoping that a change of scenery will benefit Podkolzin, similar to the success they’ve had with other players like Klim Kostin, who found new life after being traded. Fans are certainly eager to see how these moves play out as the team prepares for the upcoming season.