Just in case it was ever in doubt, Team Germany has officially unveiled their roster for the men’s hockey event at the 2026 Winter Olympics and Edmonton Oilers superstar Leon Draisaitl headlines the team. But, he will not be the lone representative from the Oilers organization on this roster. Joshua Samanski, who has spent the entire season to this date with the Bakersfield Condors, was also named to the team.
Draisaitl is currently indisputably the best German hockey player in the world, and his spot on this team was a given. So far this season, Draisaitl has 21 goals and 60 points through 43 games.
Samanski is a rising talent for Team Germany. He is a strong, physical player who had spent most of the past four seasons developing in the DEL before signing with the Oilers last spring. He has a career high 14 goals and 40 points last season with the Straubing Tigers. So far this season with the Condors, Samanski has tallied five goals and 25 points through 32 games.
What to expect of these two Oilers at the Olympic Tournament?
Draisaitl will undoubtedly be the leader of this team, most likely wearing the C and forming a leadership group with Tim Stutzle and Moritz Seider. This will be the first time since the 2018 World Championship that he has played in a formal international tournament, and his first experience with true best-on-best hockey at the highest level. He also participated in the World Junior Championship in 2013 and 2014.
Draisaitl will be relied on to drive the offence, lead the powerplay, and likely even see penalty kill time when facing the highest ranked opponents.
Samanski is more likely to take a depth role, using his physicality to wear opponents down and grind out scoring chances. He may fill a similar role on Team Germany as Vasily Podkolzin does on the Oilers, leading to a thought that the two German-born Oilers might play on a line together.
This will be a fantastic opportunity for Oilers fans to see what Samanski can bring to the table. And could work in his favour as an audition to join the NHL soon if he performs well. For Draisaitl, he will finally get a chance to represent Germany and play in a proper best-on-best international tournament.
