The Edmonton Oilers bottom six has long been a black hole of forgotten men.
With two of the best players in the world commanding so much of the stage, leaned on so heavily in all of the important situations, the remaining cast usually fades into oblivion.
To put it in Star Trek terms, the Oilers forward unit is traditionally Kirk, Spock and McCoy, then a bunch of disposable guys in red shirts who get vaporized within seconds of landing on an uncharted planet.
Some of that is expected to change with Mike Babcock taking over the coaching duties this year. He made it clear at his introductory media conference that the plan is to give the bottom six a bigger role and a stronger identity.
This, of course, has been the plan of pretty much every Oilers coach, a plan that’s abandoned quickly when they realize how big the gulf between Kirk and the red shirts really is.
Down by two goals with 15 minutes to go in the third period? “Hmm, should I double shift McDavid/Draisaitl or run Jeff Skinner/Mattias Janmark a few times?”
As much as they’ve all wanted to spread the ice, the best laid plans never seem to survive the first Oilers slump.
Nevertheless, he we are again. Babcock says he’s committed to this project and will be looking for fast and hungry players who are willing and able to fill that role. Beyond Jason Dickinson and Kasperi Kapanen on the third line, the remaining bottom six spots are up for grabs.
Janmark, Trent Frederic, Mathieu Joseph, Colton Dach, Max Jones, Eduards Tralmaks, Alex Formenton and Josh Samanski are all in the hunt for those spots.
Edmonton Oilers forward Josh Samanski during preseason NHL action against the Seattle Kraken at Rogers Place on Sept. 24, 2025.
Odds-on favourite?
If there is a player who went from dark horse last year to odds on favourite this year, it’s Samanski. First of all, he’s the only true centre on the list, playing all of his 24 Oilers games last season at that position.
Secondly, he’s the kind of player coaches love to sculpt — eager, hard-working, defensively responsible and willing to do whatever it takes to make the team, and to make the team better.
“I talked to him (Babcock) in the summer,” the 24-year-old said on the first day of Oilers rookie camp. “He has a pretty clear way of saying what I need to do and I have a clear view on what I need to do as well. It was a good conversation. I know what I have to do.”
Which is …
“Play my game. I know I’m a reliable two-way forward. That’s what got me up here last year in the first place. Compete is a big thing, too. Just play my game, compete and do everything possible.”
With limited competition for fourth-line centre, the six-foot-two, 195-pounder has the obvious inside track on an opening-night roster position. So it’s kind of his job to lose, even though Samanski isn’t taking anything for granted and would rather look at it from the other perspective.
“I think it’s always a job to win, especially as a younger guy. You are always competing for a spot. That’s what I’m going to do. That’s all I can do. Same as last year — try to prove myself and try to make the team.”
Samanski is kind of the opposite of most young players trying to establish themselves in the NHL. Instead of the usual mould — an offensive player who has to learn how to play a 200-foot game at the NHL level, he’s a defensive guy who needs to cultivate the offence.
In 24 games with the Oilers last year he had two goals and two assists. Even Trent Frederic thought that was a little low.
But an undrafted Samanski started slowly with his German league team, too, generating 14 points in 42 games. Three years later he had 40 points in 52 games. And last year in Bakersfield he had 31 points in 45 games.
There is an offensive gene in there somewhere. If Samanski can bring that more to the forefront while maintaining his defensive reliability and work ethic, Babcock might just have himself a bottom six cornerstone.
Samanski knows the blueprint. His time in the NHL last year gave him a good look at what he needs to do and who he needs to be to carve out a niche in Edmonton.
“Now that I know what’s ahead of me I kind of know what I have to do. Last year was new for me and I didn’t know what was coming. This year I know what’s coming and I’m not thinking about it too much, just preparing for what’s ahead. It gives me a better feeling heading into it.”
And having a mentor like Draisaitl doesn’t hurt, either.
“He’s a person that most, if not all, young German players look up to. I was lucky enough to learn from him, but also just have him there and be able to talk to him about anything, not just hockey-related stuff. It was really good for me.
‘It’s also nice to have something there that reminds you of home, even if it’s just speaking German every once in a while. It’s great to be able to speak in your own language and have that little feeling of home.”
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rtychkowski@postmedia.com
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