#5 – Josh Samanski
(Voters: David Staples, Kurt Leavins, Jim Matheson, Ira Cooper).
NHL prospects come in all shapes and sizes.
But in the case of Joshua Samanski…that size is large!
The German-born forward (with Canadian citizenship) is pushing 6’5 and weighs in at 201 LB.
The left shot center was never drafted, instead signed to an ELC by the Oilers this past Spring. And it is not hard to see why. The twenty-three-year-old (he will be 24 in March) has intriguing tools on the skill side and the physical stature to project as an NHL player some day.
After a season of OHL hockey in Owen Sound (4-16-20 in 54 GP), it was off to the German Elite League and the Straubing Tigers. And Samanski has enjoyed steady improvement over his four seasons there. After 7-1-8 in 42 GP in 2021-22, he more than doubled that output in 2022-23 (9-9-18 in 48 GP). Then he really hit his stride over the next two seasons, 10-17-27 in 51 GP in 2024-24 and his best and last…14-26-40 in 52 GP last year. He added 2-1-3 in 5 Spengler Cup matches and 5 points in 7 World Championships games.
It was thought Samanski would join the club in Berlin but caught the eye of Oilers scouts who scooped him up instead. Now locked in on an ELC at a healthy $975K cap hit and waiver exempt, Samanski will attempt to make his mark on the North American game. He has already shown up at the Captain’s Skates in Edmonton.
Here is what the scouts say:
German Reporter Gunter Klein, via The Edmonton Journal’s Jim Matheson:
– “I think he’ll be a valuable bottom-sixer (in the NHL). That was his initial role in Straubing, on a team with some older players from North America, but he developed into the best player in that club.
McKeen’s Hockey:
– “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.”
Dobber Prospects:
– “A big, talented center whose offensive game is improving as he develops.”
Other pluses:
-High pace, compete level, difficult to play against. He plays in all situations, scoring seven goals at 5v5 last year, three on the PP and four on the PK.
-When you watch what limited video is available of him, it is clear he has
hands and knows where the net is.
-Primarily a Center but can play all three forward positions.
-Solid two-way performer, defensively responsible.
Where does he need work?
-He will need to adjust to the North American pro game. The German DEL is a quality, competitive pro men’s league but the AHL will be a step up.
-Has added bulk to his considerable height. Samanski will need to be sure his
feet can keep progressing just as quickly.
General observations:
-Apparently Leon Draisaitl helped a bit on the recruitment side of things.
-Wore an “A” last year, a fascinating honor for a young guy in a pro league.
-His Father John, a Canadian, went from college to Europe and then graduated into a well-thought of Head Coach.
Projection:
-Has an outside shot at winning the 4C slot out of camp in Edmonton but with Curtis Lazar, Noah Philp and other pros and prospects also in the running,
Top 6 minutes for the Bakersfield Condors seems more likely.
-Down the road, given his size and well-rounded play, he has an opportunity to turn into a Bottom-six NHL forward.
Next up…prospect #4 from my Cult of Hockey colleague David Staples.
Now on Bluesky @kurtleavins.bsky.social. Also, find me on Threads @kleavins, Twitter @KurtLeavins, Instagram at LeavinsOnHockey, and Mastodon at KurtLeavins@mstdn.social.
This article is not AI generated.
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Bruce McCurdy, 1955-2025.
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