Vasily Podkolzin signed a two-year contract with the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday. Financial terms were not disclosed.
"I'm really happy to be here for two more years," Podkolzin said. "We've been talking about [a contract] maybe a week, and we did it. And actually, it's good for me to make this deal before the playoffs and just right now, just focus in on the team."
The 22-year-old forward has two assists in 18 regular-season games with the Canucks this season; he has played in 18 of their past 19 games after beginning the season with Abbotsford of the American Hockey League, where he had 28 points (15 goals, 13 assists) in 44 games.
"We are happy with how hard Vasily has worked on his game to try and become a more consistent player," Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin said. "While there is still room for him to grow, starting the year in Abbotsford and working his way back up to Vancouver shows the type of commitment and dedication we want in all our players. Our group looks to forward to helping Vasily continue to improve and get better."
The No. 10 pick by Vancouver in the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft, Podkolzin has 35 points (18 goals, 17 assists) in 136 regular-season games.
Vancouver (50-22-9), which will finish first in the Pacific Division and play the Nashville Predators in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, plays its final regular-season game at the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday (8 p.m. ET; TVAS, SNP, TSN3).
"Just a young guy that's… he's a big body (6-foot-1, 190 pounds), goes to the net, he can hit," Canucks coach Rick Tocchet said. "I mean, it's kind of like the people we want in the organization so it's a good signing for us. He's a [heck] of a kid. The guy works his [butt] off. Good kid. Great kid."
NHL.com independent correspondent Darrin Bauming contributed to this report
