Oilers sign Josh Samanski to two-year, entry-level contract

The Edmonton Oilers announced Wednesday the signing of forward Josh Samanski to a two-year, entry-level contract that begins in 2025-26.

The 23-year-old center, a native of Erding, Germany, scored 14 goals and 26 assists for 40 points in 52 games with the Straubing Tigers Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) in 2024-25. In four DEL seasons, Samanski scored 40 goals and 53 assists for 93 points in 193 career games, all with the Tigers.

Samanski, who also has Canadian citizenship, spent one season with the Ontario Hockey League’s (OHL) Owen Sound Attack in 2019-20, scoring four goals and 16 assists for 20 points in 54 games.

The 6-foot-5 forward represented Germany twice at the World Junior Championships, as well as representing Straubing at the 2024 Spengler Cup.

The Oilers are 42-26-5 with 89 points, third in the NHL’s Pacific Division. Edmonton is 5-4-1 in their last 10 games, and have struggled at times through February and March. As it stands, the Oilers are on pace to face the Los Angeles Kings in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The two teams have faced each other in the first round in three consecutive seasons, with the Oilers winning all of them.

Forward Leon Draisaitl leads the team in goals and points with 52 and 105, respectively. Connor McDavid, who has missed 11 games due to injury, leads the team in assists with 64, complimenting his 26 goals and 90 points.

Meanwhile, defenseman Evan Bouchard is third on the team in points with 60 by way of 13 goals and 47 assists. He also leads the team in average ice time with 23:23.