Podkolzin was a polarizing player prior to the draft even as he was ranked second overall among international skaters by central scouting, behind only Kaapo Kakko. Concerns about his commitment to the KHL and his production swirled as his status as a presumptive top ten pick was debated. None of that seemed to be a concern for Jim Benning, who happily stepped up to make the somewhat unexpected selection. The Canucks landing Podkolzin was quite the surprise- and I mean the good kind of surprise. Most plugged-in members of the Vancouver hockey community didn’t expect the team to pick the 6’1″ Russian workhorse, but were pleased when they did.

Earlier this year, Podkolzin stated that his dream has always been to play in the NHL, but that he intends to honour the remaining two years on his KHL contract with SKA St. Petersburg.  Elliotte Friedman reported in a pre-draft edition of 31 Thoughts that this was a concern for some teams:

It’s likely that Podkolzin will be NHL-ready before those two years are up, but it won’t be a bad thing to spend two more seasons developing in the second-best league in the world.

Podkolzin played 3 games in the KHL last season, an impressive feat considering his age and the stacked St. Petersburg roster who finished with the second most points in the regular season. That games played mark has already been met this year as Podkolzin looks to gain the trust of coach Alexei Kudashov.

Some fans have expressed concerns over Podkolzin’s deployment, viewing it as a bad omen, but Dobber Prospects’ Cam Robinson offered some valuable context to his limited KHL action:

If Podkozlin is going to spend two more years with St. Petersburg, expect him to earn more minutes and take on bigger roles as an 18 and 19 year old.

In keeping with past lists, we’re considering a prospect to be any player who is 25 years of age or younger and who has played less than 25 regular season games at the NHL level. This is a slightly modified and simplified version of the qualifications for the Calder Trophy.

As of the 2018/19 season, both Elias Pettersson and Adam Gaudette have graduated from prospect status.

Much has been made of him bouncing between leagues in his draft year.

Switching from league to league can take it’s toll on a player, but it didn’t seem to bother Podkolzin, who played 3 games in the KHL, 14 in the VHL, and 12 in the MHL. His ability to adapt to play with different teams and linemates throughout the year did not go unnoticed. He was described by scouts as a team-first player with great leadership qualities and an attitude that keeps him from getting down on himself about his unique situation. While the scenario Podkolzin has found himself in is less than ideal, he should be praised for his adaptability.

Podkolzin played a good chunk of his league games in the MHL, the Russian junior league consisting of players 20 and under. We can see that with players around his age, he put up a very good 5 on 5 goal share (5v5 GF%) and a great 5 on 5 eP60.

The other large chunk of league games were played in the VHL, a minor pro league, for St. Petersburg’s affiliate SKA-Neva.

With better players against tougher competition in the VHL, he was able to post a very impressive 5v5 GF%. In the 388 minutes tracked, his 5 on 5 eP60 doesn’t stand out, but when you consider he was 17 playing against men, it’s still quite impressive.

Production had been mentioned as a concern regarding Podkolzin before the draft, but those who aren’t worried about it say his point totals don’t completely reflect his quality of play.

Internationally, Podkozlin shined in U18 competition posting 33 points, 18 of which were goals, in 26 games. The next highest U18 Russian tallied 22 points in those contests. He also played well in U20 competition, including the World Juniors where Russia typically leans heavily on older players. Not only did he force them to buck that trend over the course of the tournament, but he also averaged 13:58 per game.

There isn’t much to knock Podkolzin for in terms of his skill set, hockey IQ, and effort. Offensively, his passing is good and he’s able to couple that with his creativity, finding passing lanes and open teammates that other players his age wouldn’t. That creativity also makes him a threat one-on-one, where he’s shown the ability to beat defenders and goaltenders.

When he finds the space to unleash his shot he isn’t shy to do so. Whether it be creating enough room himself to get a wrist shot off or finding a soft spot to receive a one-timer, he’s able to get it off his stick quickly. Coming into the draft, his shot was regarded as one of the best in his class.

Above all, he is known for his sheer power and determination with and without the puck. When he has the puck, he is able to protect it until he finds an open teammate or a shot. If neither presents itself, he can also be counted on to make the safe play, limiting turnovers and reflecting a maturity in his game that’s allowed him to play in the KHL as a 17 year old.

Much is made of his offensive game, but he has expressed the importance he places on the defensive side of the game as well. It’s something he prides himself on and it shows. Here you can see him on the penalty kill against the Americans showcasing the power he’s known for. He hunts down the puck and fights off checks while never losing possession until he gets a shot off in a power move to the net. His defensive IQ, balance and puck control allows him to make these types of plays.

In this clip, you can see his effort, strength and great positioning on the backcheck, which results in a takeaway for his team. He shows good closing speed even though skating isn’t considered one of his strengths. Although it’s not that bad, the Canucks will look at skating as one of the areas for Podkolzin to improve on. His balance is great, but his top end speed isn’t why he was drafted. This fits the profile of a typical power forward, but it will still be an area where he can be more efficient.

If you’re like me and can’t get enough of the many outstanding highlights from Podkolzin there is certainly no shortage of footage.

The Canucks don’t have another prospect like Podkolzin in this and have arguably never had one with his combination of high-end skill, tenacity and on-ice awareness. It’s more than reasonable to expect Podkolzin to be an NHL first-line winger if everything shakes out. At this point, the Canucks appear to have found a steal at #10 and a player who could be the perfect addition to an already dynamic emerging core in Vancouver.