What can Edmonton Oilers expect from 2025 European free-agent signings?

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The Edmonton Oilers have added multiple wingers this summer, giving those positions a new look. Andrew Mangiapane and Ike Howard came via free agency and trade, respectively. Trent Frederic was a deadline deal re-signed before July 1. Veteran wingers no longer with the club include Jeff Skinner, Viktor Arvidsson, Evander Kane and Corey Perry.

The rest of Edmonton’s roster — goaltending, defence and centre — was mostly unchanged over the summer. Is the activity from general manager Stan Bowman summed up by Arvidsson, Skinner, Perry and Kane out, and Mangiapane, Howard and Frederic in? If we include top prospect Matt Savoie to make it four wingers out, four wingers in, does that describe the entirety of this offseason?

Not quite. There are several players who are 2025-26 roster candidates for Oilers fans to keep in mind. It’s especially important to look at the European activity by the organization.

Bowman’s history

Last August, Mark Lazerus at The Athletic wrote about Bowman’s time with the Chicago Blackhawks and what it could mean to the Oilers organization. Quoting Lazerus, “Perhaps Bowman’s biggest strength was his ability to land coveted European free agents. Artemi Panarin, Erik Gustafsson, Michal Kempny, Jan Rutta, David Kämpf, Dominik Kahun, Dominik Kubalik and Pius Suter all came over from Europe and made instant impacts.”

We’ve seen a glimpse of what that might look like, and these names represent the hidden gems that could impact the Oilers roster this season and down the line.

The Euro contingent

It’s impossible to accurately evaluate European players who sign contracts after age 20. The league they play in, the lack of precise ice times (although the KHL and SweHL totals are widely available) and the absence of North American experience all make projections maddeningly vague. That said, Bowman found a few possible gems this spring and summer in Sweden, Finland and Germany.

David Tomasek is the most intriguing name. He led the SweHL in points, and the Oilers won the race to sign him to a one-way deal. That means he’ll be paid full freight even if he spends time with the AHL Bakersfield Condors. Tomasek’s numbers (24-33-57 in 47 regular-season games, 17:51 per game) show a player who delivered strong offence efficiently at even strength and on the power play. His 20 percent shooting percentage (24 goals in 120 shots) is unlikely to sustain in the NHL, but it represents enough quality to suggest he could have scoring success.

Atro Leppanen is a chaos defenceman (defined as high risk, high reward) with enough offensive torque to be intriguing. He went 21-42-63 in 60 Liiga (Finland’s top pro league) last season, breaking the points record for a defenceman while averaging 23:33 per game. He’s 6-foot, 183 pounds and will turn 27 about two weeks before Christmas. His time is now. Leppanen is a left-handed defenceman, so his chances of making the Oilers at any point next season are not high unless injuries hit. Edmonton currently employs veterans Mattias Ekholm, Darnell Nurse, Brett Kulak and Jake Walman on the left side. Still, the offence delivered by this player suggests it is at least possible he surprises everyone this fall and winter.

Viljami Marjala is 22 and ranks as Edmonton’s No. 13 prospect currently. Drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in 2021, he did play two seasons in the QMJHL (Quebec Remparts) and showed great passing ability. That has continued back in Finland, where his 2024-25 boxcars (8-44-52 in 54 games) are extreme for a winger. He averaged 18:26 per game. Marjala does play some centre, and may land a feature role at that position with the Condors this fall. Fans will want to see how much speed he delivers in the AHL. Scouting reports have him as a good skater, but not above average. It’s the most common issue for players as they enter the AHL-NHL from Europe.

Josh Samanski played in Germany’s top league (DEL) one year ago and averaged 18:22 per game. He scored 14-26-40 for the Straubing Tigers, the top point total on the team. Samanski is 6-foot-5 and 190 pounds, and should stand out in the crowd in Bakersfield this season. Samanski played in a solid pro league, but it lags behind the SweHL and Liiga in terms of quality. He should fill a middle-six role for the Condors in 2025-26, and at 23, he has room to grow.

The money

A good way to handicap each player’s spot on the pro depth chart, and chances of making the NHL this coming season, is by looking at the AHL-NHL contracts.

Tomasek has a clear shot at making the Oilers this fall. The contract Bowman signed with the player tells us that much. It means he will get a long look in training camp, but it doesn’t guarantee a spot on the opening night roster. Tomasek is 29, which is an advanced age for a player to make the jump from a top European league to the NHL. In his Chicago days, Bowman signed younger players. Panarin and Gustafsson were 23 as NHL rookies, Kubalik and Suter 24, Kempny 25, Rutta 27.

A cynical Oilers fan might point to the legend of Jiri Dopita, who arrived via trade from the Philadelphia Flyers after his NHL debut season, age 32, in 2001-02. He was a disappointment the following season as an Oilers player, and since then, the fan base has been wary of any skater dubbed “the best player outside the NHL.”

Bottom line

Training camp will be here soon, and that will decide the immediate future for all four European free-agent signings. Late September and early October is the period where NHL hopes meet harsh reality.

Bowman’s European players may not make a dent on the NHL roster, but they are definitely worth the risk. In a time when young Condors should be pushing for NHL time, there is only one forward (Savoie) with a strong chance to make the team.

Bowman could sign a bunch of aging NHL free agents in August to value deals, and that may yet come. In the meantime, the four signings from spring will have their say at training camp.

The smart betting has Tomasek playing in 40-plus NHL games, Leppanen getting 1-10 games and Marjala and Samanski building their pro resumes in Bakersfield.

(Photo of David Tomasek: Daniela Porcelli / Getty Images)

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