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The Canuck Way Mailbag: Podkolzin, Sutter’s deal, 2021 offseason, more

By Aidan Serra

EDMONTON, AB - JANUARY 04: Vasili Podkolzin #19 of Russia skates against Canada during the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship semifinals at Rogers Place on January 4, 2021 in Edmonton, Canada. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images)
EDMONTON, AB - JANUARY 04: Vasili Podkolzin #19 of Russia skates against Canada during the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship semifinals at Rogers Place on January 4, 2021 in Edmonton, Canada. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images) /
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Vasili Podkolzin of team Russia. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images)
Vasili Podkolzin of team Russia. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images) /

More mailbag Q&A

To me, there are two scenarios that would result in Lind, Rathbone, or Mikey DiPietro get into games.

The first is the factor of fatigue. From today onwards, Vancouver is scheduled to have 15 games in 26 days. Very simply, Rathbone and Lind would simply be less tired than the rest of the roster.

The second scenario would be what I like to call the “Screw it button.” Basically, if the Vancouver Canucks are eliminated from playoff contention before May 19, they will be playing relatively meaningless games. The best use of these games? Give time to the youngsters. Give Lind, Rathbone, and DiPietro game time, and give them ice time at that. Why not put Lind and Rathbone on the second powerplay unit? Why not play Lind with Bo Horvat? Why not give DiPietro his first few starts this year?

If the Canucks are still in playoff contention, and there aren’t more injuries to deal with, I don’t see them playing. As was proved all season long with Juolevi’s endless healthy scratches, the Canucks are not going to be playing the kids for the sake of playing the kids.

Admittedly, I have only watched Vasili Podkolzin play about a dozen games – mostly in the World Juniors, along with a couple of his games during this season’s KHL playoffs. In that time, I have grown to really, really like Podkolzin’s game. He is a complete winger, who plays good defence, good offence, is a great playmaker, and a more than capable goalscorer.

Podkolzin will probably have as good, if not a better rookie season than Nils Hoglander. As with Hoglander, Podkolzin will likely be given every opportunity to play in the top-six and on the second powerplay unit. With that ice time, and playing with players such as Horvat, Pettersson, J.T. Miller, or Brock Boeser, Podkolzin scoring 20 next year would not be out of the question.

Podkolzin is a different kind of player than Hoglander; you’ll probably see Podkolzin’s offensive numbers rival Hoglander’s from this season (about a 20-goal, 40-point pace), but Podkolzin brings more on both sides of the puck. He’ll be more effective in the defensive zone.

I might be getting ahead of myself, but you might hear Podkolzin’s name brought up in conversation for the Selke trophy within the next half-decade.

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