The Vancouver Canucks stated goodbye (probably too quickly) to 23-year-old Vasily Podkolzin final week, sending him to their division rival Edmonton Oilers for under a 2025 fourth-round decide. He leaves Vancouver having performed 137 video games with solely 18 targets and 35 factors – 26 of which have been scored in his rookie season again in 2021-22. Since he was drafted tenth general in 2019, he has had a tumultuous profession, first having success within the NHL with 14 targets in 79 video games after which spending 72 video games within the American Hockey League (AHL) over the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons.
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Podkolzin had a strong displaying with the Abbotsford Canucks final season, scoring 15 targets and 28 factors in 44 video games. He additionally was creating a deadly one-timer and getting higher defensively. When he was referred to as as much as Vancouver later within the season, he didn’t look misplaced within the bottom-six showcasing elevated physicality and two-way play. He completed with 70 hits in 19 video games and parlayed that efficiency right into a two-year contract extension, solely to be traded a number of months later.
I stated in a latest article that Podkolzin was able to take the subsequent step and comply with in Nils Hoglander’s footsteps this season. However now that may seemingly occur in Edmonton, which might make him yet one more younger participant the Canucks have given up on too quickly. Let’s check out 4 others of their historical past.
Michael Grabner
Drafted 14th general by the Canucks in 2006, Michael Grabner was lauded for his lightning pace and pure offensive recreation. He was a pure purpose scorer who used his skating and shot to ignite the offence and put himself on spotlight reels. He came visiting to North America at a really younger age, becoming a member of the Spokane Chiefs within the Western Hockey League in 2004-05 and rapidly established himself as a menace within the league. He had an okay rookie season with 13 targets and 24 factors, however broke out in his draft yr with 36 targets and 50 factors. He performed yet one more season with the Chiefs in 2006-07, scoring a career-high 39 targets and 55 factors and made his debut with the Manitoba Moose as soon as the Chiefs have been eradicated from the WHL Playoffs.
The Canucks saved Grabner within the AHL for 2 seasons earlier than calling him as much as the NHL for the primary time. Throughout that point, he had two 20-goal seasons, together with a career-high 30 targets in 2008-09, and have become one of many AHL’s high scoring threats. He made his NHL debut on Oct. 16, 2009, towards the Calgary Flames and recorded an help in 12:06 of ice time. He was despatched down after 9 video games however returned to the lineup in March and completed the season within the NHL. His first purpose got here towards the Chicago Blackhawks on Oct. 21, 2009, however the largest spotlight was a hat trick on April 2, 2010 towards the Anaheim Geese.
Grabner’s stint within the NHL acquired followers enthusiastic about what he might convey to the lineup in 2010-11, as he was projected to begin on a line with fellow speedsters Ryan Kesler and Mason Raymond. Sadly, then-general supervisor Mike Gillis thought they wanted an improve on defence and dealt him in a bundle with Steve Bernier to the Florida Panthers for Keith Ballard and Viktor Oreskovich. He didn’t swimsuit up for the Panthers, although, as he was claimed off waivers by the New York Islanders after he didn’t make the roster in coaching camp.
The remainder, as they are saying, is historical past. Grabner went on to attain 34 targets in his rookie season, ending third in Calder Trophy voting and even acquired votes for the Girl Byng and Selke. He grew to become a menace on the penalty kill too, scoring six shorthanded targets utilizing his pace and acceleration to blow previous unsuspecting defenders on the level. And to assume, he was criticized for being all-offence and no defence. He by no means acquired to 34 targets once more in his profession however completed with 175 targets and 276 factors in 640 video games, which included three extra 20-goal seasons and 22 shorthanded targets cut up between the Canucks, Islanders, New York Rangers, Arizona Coyotes, Toronto Maple Leafs and New Jersey Devils.
Regrettably, Grabner solely performed 20 video games in Vancouver as a result of administration didn’t give him an opportunity to play a full season within the NHL. I nonetheless keep in mind the frustration I felt in 2010 after they traded him to the Panthers, understanding that we’d by no means get to expertise the joy that seemingly would have been a potent second line of Raymond, Kesler and Grabner. The Canucks had a dominant season in 2010-11 and made it to the Stanley Cup Ultimate, however nonetheless, that trio would have been enjoyable to look at and doubtless would have contributed to that success too.
Jared McCann
When Jim Benning took over because the Canucks GM in 2014, he was put right into a pickle proper off the bat. He needed to cope with Kesler’s commerce request and attempt to get the perfect return when each GM knew Kesler wished out of Vancouver. Whereas there are blended opinions on whether or not he did that, he acquired a first-round decide, Luca Sbisa, and Nick Bonino from the Anaheim Geese for the previous 40-goal scorer. Consequently, Benning had two first-round picks going into the 2014 NHL Draft and determined to make use of them on Jake Virtanen (sixth general) and Jared McCann (twenty fourth general). Now ten years later, that draft is considered as one of many worst in franchise historical past, as Virtanen was solely ever a borderline top-nine ahead and is now in Europe and McCann was traded for a bruising defenceman they by no means actually wanted.
If the Canucks had saved McCann, the 2014 Draft can be regarded again on much more fondly proper now. Whereas it took a bit for him to search out his footing within the NHL as a top-six ahead, he’s now a three-time 20-goal scorer and lately had a career-high 40 targets in 2022-23. He’s additionally one of many Seattle Kraken’s core gamers and is in the midst of his prime years. Hindsight is in fact 20/20, however would he of matured faster if he had been with the Canucks longer than 69 video games in 2015-16? He did admit he was rushed into the NHL as a 19-year-old, and that could be additional inditement on the Benning regime which most likely shouldn’t have allowed each Virtanen and McCann to play full seasons within the NHL at such a younger age.
“I personally assume that I might have used a yr within the AHL. I actually do. Mentally, I feel it might have helped me. Bodily, it might have helped me. I used to be 172 kilos taking part in within the NHL as a 19-year-old. You get tossed round.”
Regardless, the Canucks traded McCann far too quickly and rumours of his “dangerous angle” on the time however, he confirmed promise in his rookie season. His largest asset was clearly his shot as he showcased it a number of occasions, scoring 9 targets and 18 factors. He might have been despatched right down to the AHL in 2016-17 for additional improvement and sure would have was an amazing participant for the Canucks. As an alternative, he was dealt to the Panthers for 6-foot-5 Erik Gudbranson as a result of Benning felt his blue line lacked dimension and toughness. Ultimately, he was mistaken as Gudbranson struggled and was ultimately traded to the Penguins in 2019 for Tanner Pearson after an underwhelming 139 video games in Vancouver. McCann, in the meantime, may need was one of many core items of the group alongside Bo Horvat and Brock Boeser if the preliminary commerce wasn’t made.
Rick Vaive
What would Canucks historical past seem like if each Rick Vaive and Cam Neely performed greater than 248 video games in Vancouver? It’s troublesome to say for certain, however the possibilities of a Stanley Cup would have been a lot increased as they may have been teammates in the event that they didn’t commerce them away so quickly.
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Beginning with Vaive, he was drafted fifth general by the Canucks in 1979 and solely suited up for 47 video games earlier than getting traded in a bundle with Invoice Derlago to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Jerry Butler and Tiger Williams. Whereas Williams grew to become a fan favorite and had one memorable 35-goal season in 1980-81, Vaive was a prolific goalscorer with the Maple Leafs. In reality, he is likely one of the franchise’s leaders in targets and factors sitting sixth and twelfth respectively. It didn’t take lengthy for him to hit his peak both, scoring 50 or extra targets three seasons in a row from 1981 to 1984 and 30 or extra in each season after he arrived in Toronto. Earlier than he was dealt in 1987 to the Chicago Blackhawks for Eddie Olczyk and Al Secord, he had 299 targets and 537 factors in 534 video games.
Vaive by no means hit 50 targets once more in his profession, however he nonetheless completed with 441 targets and 788 factors in 876 video games and held the Maple Leafs single-season report for targets with 54 till Auston Matthews broke it in 2021-22 when he hit 60. Suffice it to say, the Canucks missed out on a really particular participant that seemingly would have reached comparable summits had he not been traded at solely 20 years outdated.
Cam Neely
When you have been a Canucks fan for any size of time, you realize about Cam Neely. He was a Canuck for 201 video games, however the future Corridor of Famer didn’t have any of his particular moments in Vancouver. He broke into the league instantly after being drafted ninth general in 1983, scoring 16 targets and 31 factors in 56 video games and had his first 20-goal season in 1984-85. However the Canucks determined that he was progressing too slowly and traded him in 1986 to the Boston Bruins for 24-year-old Barry Pederson who had two 40-goal seasons beneath his belt and had cracked the century mark twice (107 factors in 1982-83; 116 factors in 1983-84).
On the time, the commerce regarded prefer it was going to be a win for the Canucks, or at the least a fair swap. Sadly, as historical past tells us, it was something however. Whereas Pederson had a good 60 targets and 197 factors in 233 video games in Vancouver, he by no means touched the heights that Neely did with the Bruins. Not solely did Neely turn out to be an elite participant, however a famous person and icon in Boston sports activities. He completed with 344 targets and 590 factors in 525 video games, eclipsed the 50-goal mark 3 times, and by no means ended a full season with lower than 25 targets. The one occasions he completed with lower than that was throughout his injury-riddled seasons in 1991-92 and 1992-93.
Neely was additionally a beast within the playoffs. In 86 video games, he scored a whopping 55 targets and 87 factors, main the Bruins to the Stanley Cup Ultimate in 1988 and 1990. He by no means acquired to hoist the trophy although as they went up towards the dynastic Edmonton Oilers each occasions. Regardless, he ended his profession as one of many high energy forwards in NHL historical past, however far too quickly on the age of 31. If his physique would have held up, he seemingly would have received the Cup at the least as soon as. Nonetheless, what he completed was worthy of the Corridor of Fame as he was inducted in 2005 after getting his No. 8 retired by the Bruins in 2004.
What might the Canucks have regarded like with him main the cost within the 90s with (doubtlessly) Pavel Bure and Trevor Linden? In an alternate universe, they may have received the Stanley Cup. We are going to by no means know, as a result of they gave up on him method too quickly for a supposed confirmed commodity in Pederson.
Will Podkolzin Be part of This Record within the Future?
Hopefully, I received’t be including Podkolzin to this checklist in a number of years. He’s nonetheless solely 23 years outdated and has not hit his prime but. With the chance to affix Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl this season, he would possibly escape and make the Canucks remorse buying and selling him. He confirmed strides in his recreation final season within the AHL and whereas many individuals assume it was taking too lengthy for him to ascertain himself as a top-six expertise, I argue they didn’t give him sufficient of an opportunity to take action. He’ll most likely get that probability in Edmonton, and it’s as much as him to snag it. If he does, we might see him turn out to be one of many largest “what ifs” in franchise historical past.
