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3 Reasons Oilers’ Podkolzin Has Had Early Season Success

The Edmonton Oilers may be battling the injury bug in the early stages of the season, but it hasn’t looked that way through seven games as the team has lost…

By Jackson Scherger · The Hockey Writers

Published: Friday, 16 October 2026 at 2:05 PM

Key Things to Know

The Hockey Writers highlights three key reasons behind Vasily Podkolzin's strong early-season start with the Edmonton Oilers.
Podkolzin has recorded seven goals and nine points across his first seven games of the 2026-27 season.
The writer notes Podkolzin effectively complements top-line linemates Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl with physical, two-way play.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Jackson Scherger analyzes the strong early-season performance of Edmonton Oilers forward Vasily Podkolzin, highlighting his role alongside Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Through seven games of the 2026-27 campaign, Podkolzin has produced a team-leading seven goals and nine total points while providing a strong power-forward presence.

Scherger points to Podkolzin's physical defensive play, including leading the team in hits, as a critical factor in his success. Furthermore, head coach Mike Babcock has shown significant trust in Podkolzin by awarding him over 18 minutes of ice time per game and placing him on the top power-play unit.

Read the full article on The Hockey Writers

3 Reasons Oilers’ Podkolzin Has Had Early Season Success

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