Two skilled European centres signed by the Oilers took different paths

Article content

If you’re the Edmonton Oilers and are in serious singles with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl and trade draft picks to help immediately, that’s one of the few ways to compensate for the pipeline through the European Free Travel Agency.

Article content

Article content

So we bring you Josh Samanski and David Tomasek.

Two skilled centers took different paths.

The 23-year-old German-born Samanski, who scored 40 points in 52 matches last season, has signed an oilman entry-level deal, while Czech-born Tomasek (29) won the Swedish League scoring match at Farjestads, won a boarding race by the Oilers and a $1.2 million Cap Cap Hit (NHL or Ahl) (NHL or Ahl) in a Oilers organization.

Article content

Some scout reports:

“Thomasek is a good signing for them, I think it’s a very skilled player and I think he’s more like a No. 6 player than a third-tier center. Good speed, above average speed, shooting, seeing the ice good,” Sweden’s long-term Vaxjo Broadcaster said on Sweden’s long-term Vaxjo broadcast, he watched the whole Shl shl shl shl shl shl shl keenly shl keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly keenly

And another view from Samanski, a long-time German top league observer:

“He is not the super talent of (Ottawa Center Tim) Stützle, but he has improved from season to season,” said Gunter Klein, who covered the Best German League on May 20 at Draisaitl and published a German biography on May 20.

“In a TV interview early this season, Samanski made it clear that he wanted to go abroad. I think he would be a valuable bottom six (in the NHL). This was his initial role in Straubing, on a team from some older players in North America, but he developed into the best player in the club,” Klein said. ”

Article content

Article content

Growing up in Germany but playing in Canada for two years (Brantford, then in Ohl Sound of Irving), left shot Samanski just finished his fourth year with the Straubing Tigers. Josh’s Canadian-born father John received a hockey education in Europe after his college career at Bowling Green University in Ohio. John later coached in Germany, and he was a big offense for the 1984 NCAA champion team, including three future NHLERS – DAVE ELLETT, GARRY GALLEY and GINO CAVALLINI.

Klein certainly remembers Josh’s father, John, arrived in Germany in the mid-1980s.

“In my second season as a hockey reporter (1985/86), then a team in the second division, signed John. The young Canadian sniper started eight goals in three games, and then he suffered a shoulder injury. No one expected this Sonny Boy John Samanski, club officials said he was willing to play a whole family under his helmet, and now he had a life of human life. A guy with curly hair like dad.

Article content

Yes, the word is the benefit of Draisaitl acting as an oilman salesman, who has just transformed into the NHL team of 23-year-old Samanski in a conversation with the young center. Samanski plays hockey in Mannheim like he was 29 years old.

Tomasek, who is 6-foot-1 and 187 pounds, played in Belleville for two years before returning to the Czech Republic, Russia, Finland, and over the past two seasons, the Farjestads. He scored 57 points in 47 games last season, beating Filip Hallander for the SEL points championship. Notably: Derek Ryan also won Orebro’s SEL Scoring Championship in 2014-2015 before signing with Carolina to start his NHL journey. Tomasek scored 102 points in 99 games in Prague-born two Farjestads seasons. Another note: Tomasek joined the 2016 Czech World Youth Team with David Pastrnak of Boston.

Tomasek signed along the oilers to sign an older euro forward. They did this with Switzerland-born center Gaetan Haas, who returned to Europe after 92 games in two seasons, mainly in the fourth inning. He is from Bern and has a lot of speed and defensive skills, but he returns to Biel in his homeland.

Article content

They also brought Swedish forward Joakim Nygaard but only played 42 games because he suffered a lot of injuries. He returned to Fajistatz on a long-term contract. They also exchanged 13 NHL appearances for Joel Persson in 2019-2020. Persson returns to his club Vaxjo, who is currently a teammate of Keegan, the son of Kevin Lowe.

Tomasek and Samanski will compete with Farmhand Noah Philp for possible central work next season. Since Tomasek is older and has a one-way NHL deal for one year, he has a better chance of making oilers on paper. Plus, he is a right-shooting center like Philp, and Ryan, 38, may retire after this season.

How does Tomasek appreciate some short NHL talent compared to nygard?

“Tomasek is definitely more skilled than Nygard,” Zanier said.

While Tomasek’s NHL worked immediately due to his age, Samanski played in the 2024 Christmas Spengler Cup in Davos, Switzerland, due to his age and his figure are obviously more interesting signatures. But Samanthi might have to start at Bakersfield.

Article content

This is: Two Ohio State European free agent signings follow the signing of two-year Ohio State defensive player Damien Carfagna, who is conducting amateur trials with Bakerfield but is currently injured like most farm squads. While he is a small blue line of six feet and 185 pounds, Carfagna’s book is that he is a smart, competitive defender. He was also equipped with the left gun of a right-wing organization. Defence lawyer Travis Dermott, who has some personal issues, should be ready to play for Bako this weekend. He hasn’t played the game since the Oilers took Minnesota back from Minnesota on February 26.

Article content