Vasily Podkolzin | #92 | RW

[Captain Canuck #12]

3 hours ago, TGokou said:

Someone obviously doesn't understand reading comprehension. Noone is panicking. Read my post again.

Who's Noone?? Why's he panicking??  Now I'm really worried!! 

[Outsiders]

Its not like he looks lost out there, much like Jake does. Pod is doing all the right things to set himself up for success! Driving to the net, being strong on the puck, getting quality chances (shots, although in a slump rn). The points WILL COME. He looks great and is developing even though some games he might not play much. But in the most recent highlights I watched, he was out there with 6 mins and 2 mins left in the game. Thats a sign the coach is coming around. Much like we saw with Virtanen, didn't play huge minutes but worked his way up to where he was out there late in games, no matter the score. He reminds me of Hansen right now, he's a honey badger out there right now but seems to have stone hands. Not worried tho he's to gifted not to score, Pod will find his way!

[Noble 6]

 

Podkolzin with his first point of the season in the VHL as his KHL team had the day off.

 

[higgyfan]

9 hours ago, Outsiders said:

Its not like he looks lost out there, much like Jake does. Pod is doing all the right things to set himself up for success! Driving to the net, being strong on the puck, getting quality chances (shots, although in a slump rn). The points WILL COME. He looks great and is developing even though some games he might not play much. But in the most recent highlights I watched, he was out there with 6 mins and 2 mins left in the game. Thats a sign the coach is coming around. Much like we saw with Virtanen, didn't play huge minutes but worked his way up to where he was out there late in games, no matter the score. He reminds me of Hansen right now, he's a honey badger out there right now but seems to have stone hands. Not worried tho he's to gifted not to score, Pod will find his way!

It's funny you should mention this, as I was just thinking about how good he would have looked alongside the Sedins.  I don't see his game being much like Jake's as (like Hansen), Podz' an aggressive puck hound with a never ending motor.  He will be terrific playing on a line with teammates that can put the puck in the net.  He is so good at getting the puck into the o-zone and keeping it there.  He already has a solid defensive game and at just 18yrs I think he will develop into a very complete player.  His work ethic and competitive nature is very encouraging.

 

In time, I can see him being a good match on either Bo's or Pete's line.  Very exciting player.

[cyoung]

1 hour ago, Horvat is a Boss said:

 

Podkolzin with his first point of the season in the VHL as his KHL team had the day off.

 

So much power and no fear. Need that on our line up.

[Derp...]

Podkolzin is definitely a playmaker in my opinion more than a shooter. His highest danger moments on the ice are off the rush or great passes in cycle game. Honestly think he will be a force on the top line, and transition into a similar role and style that JT Miller plays. 

[HomeBrew]

29 minutes ago, Derp... said:

Podkolzin is definitely a playmaker in my opinion more than a shooter. His highest danger moments on the ice are off the rush or great passes in cycle game. Honestly think he will be a force on the top line, and transition into a similar role and style that JT Miller plays. 

Yeah I'm looking forward to the day that Miller, Horvat and Podkolzin are creating havoc for the opposition! That would be one tough line to contain physically! Podkolzin seems to be getting better and better every game we see from the highlights. Feels like he is going to make huge gains this year. Once he realizes he has a little more time in front of the net and finds a little finesse in his finish, he'll start converting at better rate. 

 

Right now he kind of looks like Gaudette out there. His awareness, timing and read of the game is still a bit off, so he gets nailed once in a while - just like how Gaudette still gets pushed around when he gets caught watching the play. I think both these players just need to shake off the "rookie in the headlights" presence on the ice with some more experience and they'll be making a bigger difference out there. 

[Pure961089]

Now SKA just needs to keep him there in Neva so he can get some confidence back and stop using him like a yo-yo.  

[higgyfan]

1 hour ago, HomeBrew said:

Yeah I'm looking forward to the day that Miller, Horvat and Podkolzin are creating havoc for the opposition! That would be one tough line to contain physically! Podkolzin seems to be getting better and better every game we see from the highlights. Feels like he is going to make huge gains this year. Once he realizes he has a little more time in front of the net and finds a little finesse in his finish, he'll start converting at better rate. 

 

Right now he kind of looks like Gaudette out there. His awareness, timing and read of the game is still a bit off, so he gets nailed once in a while - just like how Gaudette still gets pushed around when he gets caught watching the play. I think both these players just need to shake off the "rookie in the headlights" presence on the ice with some more experience and they'll be making a bigger difference out there. 

Podz got +++ time on his side as he just turned 18yrs, while Gaud will be 23 in a couple of weeks.

[Smashian Kassian]

Great awareness on that play. Hopefully this'll boost his confidence. 

[Stierlitz]

Hello everyone. Was on vacation in Cyprus, did not post for awhile. There were several interviews recently in the Russian media about the Podkolzin's ice time as follow:

 

Sep 17, SKA coach Alexey Kudashov:

Podkolzin does not play much? There are many players in our team who deserve more ice time. He is young player. We are slowly adapting him to the men's hockey. We can not say that everything with Podkolzin goes according to plan but his ice time is gradually increasing. I think this is normal situation.

 

Sep 18, hockey expert Leonid Weisfeld:

Podkolzin is a top-6 hockey player, he is considered to be elite player for his age group. Not all players can play on the 3rd-4th lines after promotion to the men's league. I am not sure how the SKA coaches are planning to use Vasily - he might not be ready for the 1st-2nd lines of SKA club and there are more suitable players for the bottom two lines. To play regularly in the KHL at such young age, one needs to be either super talented like Mogilny or play in a weak KHL club.

 

Sep 20, Vasily Podkolzin:

Am I happy with my ice time? I always try to stay positive no matter how much ice time I get. I am glad that coaches trust me more but I am not happy with my goal scoring.

What do I think about small ice field? We have adapted to this, hockey is pretty fast in those rinks.

My goal for the season? Well, I am not able to score even first goal. I am going to get more practices and gain playing experience.

 

[GoldenAlien]

Full highlights of Podkolzin’s VHL game:

SKA’s VHL and KHL teams are both in Saint Petersburg; their home arenas are just over 10 miles apart. This makes jumping back and forth pretty easy and Podz can practice and earn his ice time with one of KHL’s best teams, but still get big minutes once in a while in the VHL. 

[Podzilla]

3 hours ago, GoldenAlien said:

Full highlights of Podkolzin’s VHL game:

SKA’s VHL and KHL teams are both in Saint Petersburg; their home arenas are just over 10 miles apart. This makes jumping back and forth pretty easy and Podz can practice and earn his ice time with one of KHL’s best teams, but still get big minutes once in a while in the VHL. 

Yup, he could end up getting a ton of games in this season between the 2 leagues. IMO it’s a great development plan as they slowly bring him along in the KHL. 

[Stierlitz]

On 9/18/2019 at 2:50 PM, theo5789 said:

Is his VHL team close to his KHL team?

Both SKA (KHL) and SKA-Neva (VHL) clubs play in the same city Saint Petersburg with population of 5.5 mln people.

[Phat Fingers]

15 hours ago, GoldenAlien said:

Full highlights of Podkolzin’s VHL game:

SKA’s VHL and KHL teams are both in Saint Petersburg; their home arenas are just over 10 miles apart. This makes jumping back and forth pretty easy and Podz can practice and earn his ice time with one of KHL’s best teams, but still get big minutes once in a while in the VHL. 

Kinda unique for a prospect development path.  Looking at it from that POV vs stats, Podz is getting superior coaching access, learning from good pro players and coaches.  The KHL is the second best league in the world, most would agree.  

 

Then he gets to go down and see his efforts working against his own age group.  As the season progresses, Podz will get a shot or two at taking a spot away from someone.  Injuries etc... will happen.  

 

By then I hope he makes the most of it.  Good odds he does.  The kid is a beast who plays right on the edge.  

 

Similar to Bo,  just way more likely to get angry and hit back.  

 

I like that.  His play is aggressive in contact, he goes to the right areas with determination, but has the patient to make a play vs shoot blindly.  

 

Virtannen will really have to elevate his game to stay above Podz on the depth chart the moment he hits the NHL. 

 

 

 

 

[IBatch]

28 minutes ago, Phat Fingers said:

Kinda unique for a prospect development path.  Looking at it from that POV vs stats, Podz is getting superior coaching access, learning from good pro players and coaches.  The KHL is the second best league in the world, most would agree.  

 

Then he gets to go down and see his efforts working against his own age group.  As the season progresses, Podz will get a shot or two at taking a spot away from someone.  Injuries etc... will happen.  

 

By then I hope he makes the most of it.  Good odds he does.  The kid is a beast who plays right on the edge.  

 

Similar to Bo,  just way more likely to get angry and hit back.  

 

I like that.  His play is aggressive in contact, he goes to the right areas with determination, but has the patient to make a play vs shoot blindly.  

 

Virtannen will really have to elevate his game to stay above Podz on the depth chart the moment he hits the NHL. 

 

 

 

 

Well said.  It’s a better developmental path then a year of juniors and then AHL...he’d eat  the juniors alive as he’s already proven in the international stage.      

 

KHL, SHL, AHL in that order for best leagues outside of the NHL.   AHL used to be the second best but not for some time, too many guys going the college route now and it’s thinned out the talent. Point calculators have the KHL - NHL conversion rates to .75....anyone sleeping on Gusev in their fantasy pools take notice - he looks to be the real deal so far this off-season despite his size.  

 

Podz will be fine - his floor is very high (Hansen comps as his floor are good ones), and his ceiling is also high - if he works on his shot and skills with the puck (which are already great) - Forsbergs his ceiling.  Probably somewhere in between - the J.T. Miller comps are also good ones.

[WeneedLumme]

17 hours ago, GoldenAlien said:

SKA’s VHL and KHL teams are both in Saint Petersburg; their home arenas are just over 10 miles apart. This makes jumping back and forth pretty easy and Podz can practice and earn his ice time with one of KHL’s best teams, but still get big minutes once in a while in the VHL. 

Sounds like a very sensible development plan to me. Best of both worlds - better than either tons of icetime playing against kids who he dominates, or tiny ice time playing with and against top adult players. Wish we could do that here.

[BertaNuck]

Victory putsgoalsin

[5Fivehole0]

1 hour ago, Filthy McNasty said:

Victory putsgoalsin

Vaseliney Putzgolzin

[Noble 6]

The biggest concern I have if Podkolzin ends up bouncing around leagues consistently and playing a high number of games is his conditioning. I recall reading somewhere that he said he felt a little fatigued after the WJC last year, and that was without the extra games.