What could be better than having one German left-shot centre on the Edmonton Oilers?

Why, having two of them in the system, of course.

Though drawing comparisons between Leon Draisaitl and … well, just about anyone else in the NHL, now that we think about it, is probably a tad off-side. Especially when the other one is brand new to the pro level — in North America, at least.

But that doesn’t mean fellow Deutschlander Josh Samanski doesn’t come with plenty of untapped potential of his own.

The first thing you will notice is a 6-foot-5 frame that is impossible to miss. The 23-year-old led the Straubing Tigers with 40 points in 52 games last year in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga, before setting his sights on a return to North America, where he suited up for two years of junior in Ontario.

But that was then, and this is now. And you can bet the pro level here isn’t quite the same as playing over there.

He arrived for training camp and spent time between highly touted prospects Isaac Howard — of Hobey Baker award fame, as the top collegiate player down south — and Matt Savoie, a first-round draft pick of the Buffalo Sabres in 2022, before being assigned to the Bakersfield Condors of the American Hockey League.

“It is very different,” said Condors head coach Colin Chaulk. “They play a little bit more of a possession game, they bring it back and kind of re-counterattack. Not every team, obviously, but it’s a different game.

“In my experience, with players coming back and forth from the ECHL (formerly the East Coast Hockey League) or from Europe, and I’ve also played in Europe, it’s four-to-six weeks before you figure it out and we’re getting close to that mark.”

Up to this point, Samanski has come out of the gates with seven points (two goals, five assists) in the first 14 games.

“He’s got a little bit better each game,” Chaulk said. “It’s funny, you do video and clips with him, and I said before last game, ‘Hey, Josh. I think that was your best game.’ And he said, ‘You say that every game.’

“I said, ‘Well, I think you’re getting a little bit better each game.’ We kind of had a little chuckle and I thought he’s been getting a little more physical. He wasn’t at first, and he’s brought some physicality into his game. But then he wasn’t skating with the puck, he wasn’t touching the puck, he was just getting rid of it. So, the last three or four games, he’s started carrying the puck more, and that’s the biggest thing I’ve noticed, the physicality, the confidence with the puck. Those areas are in a positive space right now.”

As is his adjustment to the sunny west coast, both on and off the ice.

“The ice surface (size), culturally, socially fitting in, they’re all tough challenges for a player,” Chaulk said.

Fortunately, Samanski is following in the footsteps of a fellow countryman who blazed a trail all the way to the top, which played a role in him choosing to join the Oilers as his pick from the litter. Not that it was his sole motivation.

“I’m sure there’s something to do with Leon being an Oiler and what he means to the organization, and a young German player would probably be drawn by the possibility of being in the Oilers organization,” Chaulk said. “Probably also the fact there’s not a lot of first-round draft picks, there’s not a lot of Vinny Desharnaises, Ryan McLeods, (Philip) Brobergs, (Dylan) Holloways and (Matt) Savoies — these players making an NHL team and having to trade some picks away to acquire players like Mattias Ekholm, and the (Reid) Schaefer deal.

“The Oilers had to do what they had to do to improve their team, and what it does it make it really intriguing for a Josh Samanski, with a legitimate and real chance as a free agent, to become a National Hockey League player. Probably two really big factors.”

Not to mention the job that was done of selling Bakersfield to the young prospect, which will be the springboard he can use to reach the next level and one day unlock his potential.

“I think the ceiling will be an NHL player, power-forward type of bottom six is what would need to happen because of his size and because he skates pretty well, and the position he plays,” Chaulk said. “I don’t see that happening anytime soon. Use Dylan Holloway: He’s a first-round pick and it took three years for him to become a regular. Matt Savoie’s another example, it took him a full season in the American league.”

After all, on this Oilers roster and for the foreseeable future, playing centre isn’t going to happen on the top two lines.

“So, where is Josh going to be?” Chaulk said. “He needs to make sure he continues to do the things that he sees and keep working with the coaching staff, his linemates and the strength and conditioning. And also just working on those hard skills, puck protection, physicality, holding onto the puck.

“Our penalty killing has been excellent as of late, and he’s a big part of that.”

E-mail: gmoddejonge@postmedia.com

On Twitter: @GerryModdejonge

Related

Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Don’t miss the news you need to know — add EdmontonJournal.com and EdmontonSun.com to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters.
You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post, and 13 other Canadian news sites. The Edmonton Journal | The Edmonton Sun