Edmonton Oilers Sign Another Top German Player to Play With Leon Draisaitl

While the present day Edmonton Oilers team is one that's set up to go deep in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, many have questioned their future, with very few elite level players coming through the organization.

Now, they've seemingly added one that has that potential, as it has been revealed they have inked German forward Josh Samanski to a two-year Entry Level Deal after a fantastic campaign in the DEL this past season.

The 23-year old is undrafted, and has spent time in both Canada and Germany, although he represents the German national team alongside superstar forward Leon Draisaitl.

The towering 6-foot-5 forward posted 14 goals and 40 points in 52 games played for the Straubing Tigers of the DEL, hockeys top league in Germany, showing that even with his great size and physicality, he can produce top level points as well.

Samanski's time in Canada came between 2018 and 2020 when he played for the Brantford 99ers and the Owen Sound Attack of the OJHL and the OHL, but he departed again for Germany for the following five years.

Now, he's looking to make his return to North America, and with the Oilers lacking big, physical forwards that can also score goals, his path to the top level in North America with Edmonton is clear.

With almost 200 games of experience in the DEL, Samanski is clearly ready to play at the professional level, and while he may begin life with the Oilers in the AHL, if he can develop well, this may be a fantastic pickup for the Oilers and a potential full-time forward for them moving forward.