“I Want to Stay”: Podkolzin Eyes Long-Term Future With Oilers

Sergei Bobrovsky #72 of the Florida Panthers defends his net as Vasily Podkolzin #92 of the Edmonton Oilers (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)

Vasily Podkolzin scored the final goal of the 2024–25 NHL season. But the moment brought little satisfaction for the Oilers forward or the Edmonton team as it came late in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final with the Florida Panthers already leading 5–0.

“It was the first time in my life I didn’t feel any happiness after scoring,” Podkolzin told RG in an interview. “I just wanted it all to be over. Sure, I ruined Sergei Bobrovsky’s shutout, but there was no joy in that. I just wanted the game to end, to shake their hands, and leave the ice. Because by then, I’d already seen the worst thing this season had to offer — their celebration, the whole atmosphere of happiness. And it wasn’t our party.”

The Edmonton Oilers lost to the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final for the second straight year. But for Podkolzin, who wasn’t with the team last year, this was his first experience playing in the Final.

“We just sat in the locker room in silence. No one even looked at each other,” he said. “Later, we had a team dinner at the hotel. We sat there for an hour, eating and drinking beer, and no one said anything. The mood was terrible. What was there to say?”

Edmonton started the series on a high note. The Oilers won Game 1 in overtime on home ice and took an early lead.

“I really thought things would go differently,” Podkolzin admitted. “Winning that first game in OT gave us energy. We felt fired up, full of belief. I had a good feeling. But it turned out I was wrong.”

Looking back, Podkolzin sees Game 5 — with the series tied 2–2 — as the turning point. The Panthers won 5–2 in Edmonton, powered by a Brad Marchand two-goal performance and 19 saves from Bobrovsky.

“That was the key game. Whoever won that one was going to lift the Cup,” Podkolzin said.

“Why did we lose? Bobrovsky. You can’t do much when their goalie plays like that. Of course, we could have done more in Game 5. But Bobrovsky did everything for Florida. Without him, it could have been a different story. We might’ve won Game 2 as well (we lost 5–4 in double OT), and then things would’ve been much easier.”

Panthers Outlast Oilers With Gritty Style

“The Panthers definitely forced us to play their style of hockey – slow, gritty, and frustrating. You need to be patient to get through it,” said the Russian forward. “And they outlasted us – that’s it. Florida’s defensemen aren’t the most agile or mobile and are not very offensive-minded. But they trust Bobrovsky, which gives them confidence to play more freely. Even when we forced them into mistakes, they knew Bobrovsky had their back and would make the save. I truly believe Sergei was the one who won this final series for them. Sam Bennett played great, especially in the Final, but I would give the MVP to Bobrovsky.”

According to Podkolzin, his teammates need the most right now is proper rest and time to process this experience—something he believes will make the team stronger next season.

“It’s important to take this experience in and reflect on it,” he said. “I just hope the team can rest well now – that’s the most important thing. We need to recover and recharge. If that means taking a full month off, go for it. Some guys like Leon Draisaitl and Kasperi Kapanen have weddings planned – that’s a great way to reset. We need to come into next season feeling as fresh as possible. Everyone else is already training and getting ready – and we just finished the playoffs.”

A Career Year and Chemistry With Draisaitl

This season was undoubtedly the best of Podkolzin’s career so far. He played all 82 games in the regular season, recording 24 points (8 goals, 16 assists), and added 10 points (3 goals, 7 assists) in 22 playoff games. He also led the Oilers with 211 hits during the regular season and 100 more in the playoffs. Does that mean Podkolzin has become a power forward in Edmonton – a role that hadn’t been so prominent in his game before?

“I wouldn’t say that,” he explained. “It’s just how things played out – I had to adapt. Maybe I brought something the team was missing. But I still believe – and the coaches agree – that I have offensive potential I haven’t fully shown yet. And if you’re playing alongside Leon, you can’t just be a physical guy.”

Playing alongside Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid has been a priceless experience, and Podkolzin says he appreciates every moment spent with two of the best players in today’s game.

And having Connor McDavid on your team means you don’t have to play against him.

“I really feel for the defensemen on other teams. When Connor picks up speed, all you can do is pray. And if he scores, your coach probably won’t even say anything — it’s just expected. But when you’re playing on his line, it’s a bit easier. You just give him the puck and do whatever you want.”

Podkolzin has one year left on his $1 million contract with the Oilers. What comes next?

“I want to reach my full potential here in Edmonton,” said the forward, who turns 24 on June 24. “Maybe this will sound bold to some, but if I get the chance to stay with the Oilers, I’d be happy to keep playing here and developing.”

“The Only Team I Was Worried About Was Los Angeles”

On their path to the Stanley Cup Final, Edmonton beat the Los Angeles Kings (4–2), the Vegas Golden Knights (4–1), and the Dallas Stars (4–1). Podkolzin believes the toughest series of the playoffs was the first-round matchup against the Kings.

“They were the only team I was truly worried about,” he admitted. “I would’ve preferred to play any other team. We struggled against them during the season. They have a really strong defense — solid structure in the neutral zone. I think Vladislav Gavrikov and Joel Edmundson are the best shutdown pair in the NHL. They’re not the fastest, but they’re tough, really good with their sticks, and very hard to play against.”

Those concerns were validated when the Oilers dropped the first two games of the series. But according to Podkolzin, there was no panic in the locker room.

“Honestly, I was surprised by how calmly the team handled it.

Maybe it’s because we’ve faced the Kings in the playoffs four years in a row. But I didn’t hear a single shout, not one angry word. Everything was very calm. We have Mattias Janmark in the room — he’s seen it all. And he just said, ‘We only need to win one game, and then we’ll take off.’”

Podkolzin believes the turning point of the series against Los Angeles came in Game 3. With just seven minutes left in the third period, the Kings were up 4–3 and close to taking a 3–0 series lead. But then Evander Kane scored a controversial goal — the officials decided to review it themselves and ended up allowing it.

“The Kings challenged the goal after that, but it didn’t work out. They got a penalty for delay of the game, and we scored on the power play just 10 seconds later. We ended up winning 7–4,” Podkolzin said. “After the game, I was joking with Gavrikov, like, ‘You guys should fire your video coach for that.’ And from that moment on, we really took off — we won every remaining game.”

Both series against the Golden Knights and Stars were far less dramatic. The Oilers handled both teams without too much trouble.

Podkolzin also reflected on the trade that sent him from the Vancouver Canucks to the Oilers a year ago in exchange for a 2025 fourth-round pick.

“That trade worked out well for everyone — especially for me,” he said. “I got to play a full NHL season and reach the Stanley Cup Final. If someone had told me that a year ago, I’d have thought they were crazy. I’m thankful to Vancouver for not keeping me in limbo and letting me go. Everyone got what they wanted. And for me, the transition to Edmonton was smooth and enjoyable. It’s much easier to fit in when you’re part of a team chasing big goals and playing to win every game — and the Stanley Cup. I hope we’ll reach that goal soon. But for now… it’s time to rest.”