Podkolzin focused on task at hand, not the NHL Draft

ÖRNSKÖLDSVIK, SWEDEN — Vasili Podkolzin saw the play develop and seemed to know exactly what to do. Even if no one else did.

The 17-year old Russian winger is not known to be a player that likes to hesitate for long, usually acting on instict while letting his natual abilities take over. His assist against USA – the 2019 draft-eligible wingers first point of the U18 Worlds – was a prime example.

With a somewhat surprising 1-0 lead already in the books, Podkolzin and his linemates from Team Russia charged up the ice on an odd-man rush. Goaltender Spencer Knight made the save on the initial play but Podkolzin had already sniffed out a scoring chance and wasn’t about to let it go. The puck stopped to the right of the goal, below the goal line. Podkolzin used both speed and power to jostle for