One day, you’re drafted at 10th overall, and the next, you're traded for a fourth-round pick. Such is the life of an NHL prospect. 

Vasili Podkolzin’s value crumbled in his time with the Vancouver Canucks. He clearly put in the effort on the ice and into his development but stagnated as he bounced from Abbotsford to Vancouver, never really establishing himself in the main lineup. Deep on the wings and losing faith in his development, the team couldn’t give him any more opportunity, especially because he’s eligible for waivers. 

It was time for a move. And so the Canucks dealt their first-round pick from the 2019 draft to the Edmonton Oilers for a fourth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.

A mid-round pick feels like a meagre return for a player who once held so much promise, but the rest of the