Oilers 2025-26 Report Cards: Josh Samanski – The Hockey Writers – Edmonton Oilers

As the offseason rolls on, so do the Edmonton Oilers’ player grades. The last report card graded Ty Emberson, and now we turn our attention to Josh Samanski. This was his first season in North America.

The Oilers signed Samanski out of Europe to a two-year entry-level contract in April, 2025. He wasn’t expected to play games in the NHL this season, but he seemingly came out of nowhere. With limited draft capital, the organization must get creative in trying to get younger and find quality talent. They’ve gone the European free agent route, and they may have found a hidden gem with Samanski. Let’s take a closer look at his successful campaign.

2025-26 Performance

Samanski started the season with the Bakersfield Condors in the American Hockey League (AHL), registering eight goals and 31 points in 45 games. He eventually got called up and made his NHL debut on Jan. 26 against the Anaheim Ducks. He played 24 games with the Oilers, registering two goals and four points with a plus-2 rating, averaging 10:34 per game. The 6-foot-2, 195-pounder registered one goal and two points with a plus-1 rating, averaging 8:59 of ice time in five playoff games.

He arguably scored the weirdest first NHL goal in league history. In a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning on March 21, Lightning forward Oliver Bjorkstrand threw the puck towards his net, and it trickled past his own netminder. Since Samanski was the last Oiler to touch the puck, he got credited with the goal.

The young German quickly gained the coaching staff’s trust. He was used on the penalty kill, spending 11:07 shorthanded, and had a positive impact. The Oilers had a struggling penalty kill, but Samanski still wasn’t on the ice for a goal against in his small sample size. Unfortunately, the playoffs were a different story. The Oilers’ penalty kill was putrid in their first-round series against the Ducks. In 4:34 of shorthanded ice time, he was on the ice for two goals against. Everyone was atrocious on the penalty kill, and Samanski was a part of that.

Oilers Found Their Fourth-Line Centre

Samanski established himself as the fourth-line centre down the stretch, and he should remain there full-time heading into next season. He has all the skills to thrive in that role. He’s a defensively responsible, shutdown centre with high hockey IQ. He makes smart plays and is usually in the right areas. If he can develop his offensive game, he will be a force in the bottom six.

The undrafted centre developed chemistry with Colton Dach and Trent Frederic. That trio established an identity and should be the fourth line next season. They complemented each other extremely well. Samanski is the defensively responsible centre who’s in the right areas, and the other two are physical threats who forecheck hard and retrieve loose pucks. That line has untapped potential. Hopefully, they stay together.

Samanski Represented His Country

Samanski had an exciting season. A few weeks after making his NHL debut, he represented Germany at the Olympics alongside teammate Leon Draisaitl. He got top-line minutes at the event, which was a great experience for him. He finished the tournament with one goal and two points in five games, averaging 17:34 per game. He played a huge role for that team. Germany lost to Slovakia in the quarterfinals.

Then, in May, he represented his country at the World Hockey Championship in Switzerland. He recorded two goals and seven points, registering 12 shots with a plus-1 rating in seven games. Unfortunately, he didn’t advance to the quarterfinals. Despite that, this was a memorable few months for the 24-year-old.

Overall Grade

Samanski had a successful first season in North America. He’s learning on the fly while gaining valuable experience. He killed penalties and established a role on the fourth line. He’s not a flashy player, but he proved that he can compete at the highest level.

Therefore, he deserves a B- for his solid campaign. He quickly fit in with this group and immediately found a role. It has taken all season for some players to fit in on this team, but Samanski has transitioned seamlessly. He’s just scratching the surface, so it’s exciting to see what he will do in 2026-27.

Do you agree with his grade? Keep following The Hockey Writers as we continue the Oilers’ player report cards throughout the offseason.

Advanced stats courtesy of Natural Stat Trick.