Following Sunday's matchup against the Vancouver Canucks, media spoke with Edmonton Oilers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers] head coach Kris Knoblauch about the status of forward Vasily Podkolzin. He confirmed to reporters that Podkolzin will return to Edmonton on Tuesday night. The forward, who sadly and suddenly lost his father, will get some more time to get settled upon his return, but Knoblauch plans to play him in the team’s final preseason game on Friday. Could Waivers Cost The Oilers A Defenceman They’ve Invested In? [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/latest-news/could-waivers-cost-the-oilers-a-defenceman-they-ve-invested-in] Podkolzin’s father, Alexander, passed away unexpectedly. Vasily returned to his Russia on a leave of absence to be with his family. It wasn't expected that the forward would miss any regular season action, but there was no official timeline for his return. Vasily Podkolzin expected to return to Oilers on Tuesday, could play Friday night: Photo by: © Kirby Lee Imagn Images [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/edbb9691-0f51-4878-9ca1-cde860baf44d.jpeg] Vasily Podkolzin expected to return to Oilers on Tuesday, could play Friday night: Photo by: © Kirby Lee Imagn Images The Oilers will be thrilled to have him back and on the ice with his teammates. Knoblauch talked about how respected Podkolzin is in the locker room and a very popular guy. Trending Stories: Oilers' Early 2025-26 Season Projections: The Goalies [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/latest-news/oilers-early-2025-26-season-projections-the-goalies] Oilers' Early 2025-26 Season Projections: The Forwards [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/latest-news/oilers-early-2025-26-season-projections-the-forwards] Oilers' Early 2025-26 Season Projections: The Defense [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/latest-news/oilers-early-2025-26-season-projections-the-defense] The news of his father's passing came almost immediately after one of the best days of his career -- he had just signed a three-year, $8.85 million contract extension with the Oilers. Edmonton sees him as a big part of this season and the next several years. He is hoping to take the next step in his production, following a 2024-25 campaign where he scored 24 points over 82 games. Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/] team site to never miss the latest news [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/latest-news], game-day [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/game-day] coverage, and more [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/players]. Add us to your Google News [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw/sections/CAQqEAgAKgcICjCvqtILMO7F6QMwn-DfCA?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA%3Aen] favourites, and never miss a story.
