After a loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, the Oilers once again shuffled their lines. Jack Michaels tweeted that Podkolizn practiced on a line with Draisaitl and Arvidsson, while Connor McDavid accompanied Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zach Hyman. Meanwhile, the Oilers make a somewhat questionable move, returning Jeff Skinner to the third line despite his impressive start to the season.

Kris Knoblauch quickly put down all the concerns regarding Podkolzin’s promotion, stating: “I think another thing he adds to that line is a little bit more physicality but also a guy who can go to the net.”.

The young forward plays a desperate style of hockey, leading the Oilers in hits with 19 in just seven games, 10 more hits than anyone else on the roster. His willingness to get into dirty areas and win crucial boardroom battles is a valuable asset. Additionally, Podkolzin generates more chances than against, recording 14 high-danger chances while only allowing eight high-danger chances against. This is the type of forward that Draisaitl has traditionally had success with.

Podkolzin in the top six could be an experiment for the tankers

It will be intriguing to see how long the Oilers stick with these line combinations. Podkolzin has struggled to reach his full potential in the past and without points the leash might not be long. With just one full NHL season under his belt, where he recorded 26 points in 79 games during the 2021-22 season, he has yet to prove himself a top-six contender.

Nonetheless, Podkolzin has played a solid game since joining the Oilers, which has not gone unnoticed. He gets the nod from Knoblauch to play on the coveted second line with Draisaitl, a special opportunity for Podkolzin to prove he is an elite talent. He hopes to get his first point as an Oiler in Friday’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.