Josh Samaski<\/a> is projected to slot as the team\u2019s third-line centre. <\/p>\nBoth Oilers are also expected to play powerplay minutes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The top unit will feature the major NHL talent on the squad, with Tim St\u00fctzle at centre, Lukas Reichel on the left, Moritz Seider at the left point, and JJ Peterka at the right point.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Draisaitl is expected to play the right flank, as he does on the Edmonton powerplay to exploit his wicked one-timer, which has led to 175 career powerplay goals.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Samaski is expected to centre the second powerplay unit with Kahun, Frederik Tiffels, Lukas Kalble, and Leon Gawanke.\u00a0<\/p>\n
How much the second powerplay will play, given the wide discrepancy of talent between the two units, remains to be seen. That will be a decision for head coach Harold Kreis.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAs he should be,\u201d said Moritz Seider.<\/p>\n
With a team mixed between NHL players and European league players, Germany\u2019s success rests heavily on the shoulders of netminder Philipp Grubauer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The 34-year-old Rosenheim native has revitalized his career after questions of whether he\u2019d ever be an NHL starter again.\u00a0With the Seattle Kraken in 2025-26, Grubauer has posted a 2.43 goals against average and .916 save percentage, going 11-6-3.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Team Germany kicks off their Olympic schedule on Thursday afternoon, facing Denmark at 1:10 pm MT.<\/p>\n
Projected lines<\/p>\n
Lukas Reichel-Leon Draisaitl-Dominik Kahun\u00a0<\/p>\n
JJ Peterka-Tim St\u00fctzle-Wojciech Stachowiak\u00a0<\/p>\n
Frederik Tiffels-Josh Samaski-Parker Tuomie\u00a0<\/p>\n
Alexander Ehl-Nico Sturm-Tobias Rieder<\/p>\n
Fabio Wagner-Moritz Seider\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jonas M\u00fcller-Kai Wissmann\u00a0<\/p>\n
Leon Gawanke-Lukas Kalble<\/p>\n
Phillip Grubauer\u00a0<\/p>\n
Michael Menzies is an Oilersnation columnist and has been the play-by-play voice of the Bonnyville Pontiacs in the AJHL since 2019. With seven years news experience as the Editor-at-Large of Lakeland Connect in Bonnyville, he also collects vinyl, books, and stomach issues.<\/p>\n
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