The Edmonton Oilers are reportedly signing German free agent forward Josh Samanski to a contract, according to Oilersnation DE, citing local news sources.
German daily newspaper BILD reported that Samanski, 23, will enact an NHL exit clause in a recently signed four-year contract with the Deutsche Eishockey Lig’s Eisbären Berlin to join the Oilers organization.
The 6’2″, 178 lb., a left-shot centre/left-wing, Samanski appeared in 52 games this season for the DEL’s Straubing Tigers, scoring 14 goals and 40 points in the regular season, taking 112 shots on goal and averaging just over 18 minutes per night, totalling 945 on the year. He played on both of the Tigers’ special teams units, totalling 115 minutes on the power play and 66 minutes shorthanded. and adding two goals and four points in six playoff games.
His goal total was tied for 14th in the league, while his point totals ranked 13th. This year marked his fourth in the DEL, making his debut in 2021-22, scoring 40 goals and 93 points in 193 games played.
The Tigers were just eliminated in the playoffs by Eisbären Berlin, indicating he could join the Oilers organization soon. BILD, meanwhile, reported via Google Translate that during the season NHL scouts were at “almost every Tigers home game and marvelled at the striker’s outstanding performances.”
A native of Erding, Germany, Samanski’s father, John, is a native of Oshawa, Ontario, a province in which Josh got some hockey experience. He spent two seasons in the OHL, scoring 13 goals and 25 points in 54 games in 2018-19 with the Brantford 99ers and four goals and 20 points in 54 games the following year with the Owen Sound Attack.
Samanski would also have some experience with the City of Edmonton, playing for the German World Junior team in 2020. He attended the Arizona Coyotes’ development camp in July 2023.
McKeen’s Hockey highlighted Samanski as a European free agent who could make the jump to North America.
Former OHLer and 2-time WJC contestant Samanski is a player we continue to keep our sites on and this season, it hasn’t been hard to do as he’s been pure eye candy for his Straubing Tigers. We already thought he’d be a player the NHL would take into consideration last summer after he arrived as a bonafide middle-six forward at the ripe age of 21. Now he’s taken things to a whole new level. A very big boy who uses his size well to gain, protect, and battle for pucks, Samanski has done nothing but show continual bursts of speed, silky mitts, and a keen sense of creating and finishing all season long. Yes, he’s got a contract with DEL powerhouse Berlin next season, but if he continues on this pace, he’ll be putting up numbers we haven’t really seen from a youngster his age since Dominik Kahun earned himself an NHL contract. And Kahun was older and smaller when he did. Wearing an A on his jersey, Samanski already has a career high 40 points in 52 games as his team holds the prime spot for the upcoming wild card round. At this rate, you shouldn’t be surprised to see him suiting up for Team Germany at the upcoming Worlds either.
Zach Laing is Oilersnation’s associate editor, senior columnist, and The Nation Network’s news director. He also makes up one-half of the DFO DFS Report. He can be followed on Twitter, currently known as X, at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach.laing@bettercollective.com.
