Oilers News
Edmonton Oilers forward Vasily Podkolzin signed a three-year contract extension Tuesday worth $8.85 million with an average annual value of $2.95 million starting in the 2026-27 season.
The 24-year-old forward recorded eight goals and 16 assists for 24 points in 82 regular season games during his first campaign with Edmonton after being acquired from Vancouver for a fourth-round pick in August 2024. He added three goals and seven assists for 10 points in 22 Stanley Cup Playoff games as the Oilers reached their second consecutive Cup Final. Podkolzin led Edmonton with 211 hits and was second among forwards with 53 blocked shots while averaging a career-high 13:13 of ice time per game.
The extension keeps Podkolzin in Edmonton through the 2028-29 season. He developed strong chemistry playing alongside Leon Draisaitl on the second line throughout much of last season. “It’s awesome, I’m really happy to be here for the next few years,” Podkolzin said. “It’s a great group of guys here, and we need to get the job done. When I have the opportunity to play with the best players in the world, it’s awesome.”
Podkolzin is entering the final year of a two-year contract he signed with Vancouver in April 2024 and could have become a restricted free agent after this season. Selected 10th overall by the Canucks in the 2019 NHL Draft, he has 59 points in 219 career regular season games between Vancouver and Edmonton, plus 10 points in 24 playoff contests. Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch praised Podkolzin’s versatility and development potential. “He’s young and we feel he’s just going to get better,” Knoblauch said. “We feel there’s more offense in him and we feel very fortunate to have him with us.”
The Oilers, who have reached the Stanley Cup Final in each of the past two seasons, open their 2025-26 campaignon October 8 against the Calgary Flames at Rogers Place in the first Battle of Alberta season opener since 2017-18.
