Vasily Podkolzin is putting in real work this offseason, and Oilers fans got a look at it on Wednesday.
A video shared by @seanpangs showed the winger running through offseason drills with skills coach Ned Lukacevic.
Lukacevic didn't hold back on what he saw. "Pods' shot is looking extremely good. He looks lighter on his skates," he said.
That's a real jump for a winger who broke out last season. Podkolzin finished with 19 goals and 18 assists for 37 points over 82 games, adding a plus-16 rating and five game-winning goals.
His summer training and preparation for the upcoming season may be a turning point for Connor McDavid and the Oilers.
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The 25-year-old winger, who wears number 92, doesn't have unlimited runway to prove he belongs in a bigger role.
Podkolzin kept producing when the games mattered more too. He posted three goals and three assists for six points in six playoff games this past postseason.
Skating like that isn't built overnight. It's the hockey equivalent of a boxer drilling footwork for hours before ever throwing a real punch.
Oilers see a bigger role brewing for Podkolzin
Head coach Mike Babcock has a deep forward group to sort through, and camp battles start with moments exactly like this one.
Podkolzin closed the season hot. Over his last 10 games, he put up four goals and four assists for eight points, plus a plus-5 rating.
His final five games were even sharper. Three goals, one assist, four points, and a plus-4 rating to close things out.
Does a smoother stride and a cleaner shot actually translate into more ice time? Summer clips talk a good game, but October is when it counts.
Stan Bowman and Babcock will have real lineup decisions once camp opens, and Edmonton's forward depth chart is not short on bodies.
Offseason hype clips get overblown most years, and this one could go the same way. Then again, if Lukacevic is right about the footwork, training camp could look very different for Podkolzin.
Should the Oilers hand Vasily Podkolzin a bigger role next season based on this offseason buzz?
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