Canucks: Trading Vasily Podkolzin wasn’t bad. Not drafting Matt Boldy wasn’t good…
The Vancouver Canucks’ decision to trade Vasily Podkolzin wasn’t necessarily a misstep. Despite flashes of promise, Podkolzin never fully secured a consistent NHL role. His physical tools were apparent, but offensive production lagged. Trading him could bring in more immediate or better-fitting assets for a team in a win-now window.
What stings more is the missed opportunity in the 2019 draft. Picking Podkolzin 10th overall, the Canucks passed on Matt Boldy, taken 12th by Minnesota. Boldy has since emerged as a legitimate top-six winger with strong offensive instincts and a complete game—precisely the kind of player Vancouver could use now. That’s a harder miss to ignore.
