The Vancouver Canucks have made a strategic move by re-assigning forward Vasily Podkolzin to the American Hockey League’s Abbotsford Canucks, as announced on Wednesday morning. The decision comes after Podkolzin’s two-game stint with the Canucks during his recent NHL recall, where he remained off the scoreboard, averaging 10:58 of ice time.
At 22 years old, Podkolzin was initially chosen as the No. 10 overall pick by the Canucks in the 2019 NHL Draft. With his return to Abbotsford, the Canucks now have an available NHL roster spot just two days ahead of the trade deadline. Podkolzin boasts an impressive record of 15 goals and 28 points in 44 American Hockey League games with the Abbotsford Canucks this season, adding to his experience of 118 NHL games throughout his young career.
Under the previous management led by Jim Banning, Podkolzin was first selected in the 2019 NHL Draft. The 6’1″ winger spent the two seasons following his draft year with SKA St. Petersburg in the Kontinental Hockey League, showcasing his skills with 11 points in 35 games during the 2020-21 season and an impressive performance of six goals and 11 points in 16 contests in the 2021 playoffs.
Podkolzin’s North American journey began in the 2021-22 season, where he swiftly established himself as an NHL regular, accumulating 14 goals and 26 points in 79 games. However, his standing with the team declined in the 2022-23 season, managing only seven points in 39 NHL games and ultimately being demoted to the AHL.
With a career spanning 118 NHL games and 72 AHL contests with Abbotsford, Podkolzin has compiled 18 goals and 33 points in the NHL and 22 goals and 46 points in the AHL. The Canucks are currently associated with trade rumors involving Jake Guentzel as the NHL trade deadline approaches on Friday. Notably, Phil Kessel has also been rumored to potentially join the Canucks this week. Despite the speculation, the Canucks have successfully freed up a roster spot with Podkolzin’s reassignment.
In an update, Jim Rutherford clarified that the demotion is primarily paperwork-related, ensuring Podkolzin’s eligibility to play for Abbotsford during the Calder Cup playoffs. The move appears to be a strategic maneuver by the Canucks as they navigate potential trade opportunities and playoff considerations.
Be the first to comment