Canucks Still Regret 2019 Draft Decision on Podkolzin

Six years ago, the Vancouver Canucks faced a pivotal moment in the 2019 NHL Draft when they selected Vasily Podkolzin with the 10th overall pick. At the time, the Russian winger was playing for Neva St. Petersburg and was regarded as the second-ranked International Skater. However, as the years have passed, the decision to choose Podkolzin has become a point of contention for the organization, particularly as two players drafted shortly after him have flourished in the NHL.

Matthew Boldy and Cole Caufield, both of whom have surpassed the 85-point mark this season, are prime examples of what the Canucks could have had. Boldy, drafted just two spots behind Podkolzin, has emerged as a formidable presence in the offensive zone. At 6’2″ and 201 lbs, the 25-year-old has not only become a scoring threat but has also added penalty killing to his repertoire, currently ranking third in goals and assists among his draft class.

Meanwhile, Caufield has established himself as one of the NHL’s top scoring wingers. Standing at 5’8″ and weighing 175 lbs, he is celebrating his first 50-goal season and has recently eclipsed the 300-point milestone in his career. Drafted five spots after Podkolzin, Caufield is a testament to the success of smaller players in the league, leading in goals and sitting third in points among the 2019 draft picks.

These two players are just a snapshot of the Canucks’ draft missteps over the last decade. While it’s impossible to say for certain that Boldy or Caufield would have transformed Vancouver into a contender, their presence on the roster could have significantly altered the franchise’s trajectory. With the 2026 NHL Entry Draft on the horizon and potentially five picks in the top 100, the Canucks have an opportunity to select prospects who could eventually have the kind of impact that Boldy and Caufield have had for the Minnesota Wild and Montréal Canadiens.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.