{"id":162514,"date":"2026-02-03T21:42:25","date_gmt":"2026-02-03T21:42:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/162514\/"},"modified":"2026-02-03T21:42:25","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T21:42:25","slug":"oilers-sign-defenceman-atro-leppanen-to-one-year-contract-extension","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/162514\/","title":{"rendered":"Oilers sign defenceman Atro Lepp\u00e4nen to one-year contract extension"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Edmonton Oilers<\/a> have extended a defenceman currently playing with the Bakersfield Condors.With the news that Calvin Pickard cleared waivers<\/a>, the team also announced that they\u2019ve signed left-shot defenceman Atro Lepp\u00e4nen<\/a> to a one-year extension. If he\u2019s playing in the National Hockey League, the contract carries a cap hit of $850,000.<\/p>\n

Lepp\u00e4nen is one of a handful of intriguing players who has spent his 2025-26 season with the American Hockey League\u2019s Bakersfield Condors. The 27-year-old defenceman has played 28 games with the Condors in 2025-26, scoring three goals and 20 points in 28 games. He\u2019s also spent a portion of the 2025-26 season out with an injury, playing as the Condors have played a total of 43 games this season.<\/p>\n

The left-shot Finn is coming off a 2024-25 where he led the entire SM-Liiga in points with 63, finding twine for 21 goals. It was a significant jump from his 2023-24 season, where he had 12 goals and 28 points in 55 games, but not totally unsurprising as he had 23 goals and 58 points in Finland\u2019s second-tier in 2022-23.<\/p>\n

Although he\u2019s a little old to be considered a prospect, Lepp\u00e4nen had a strong pre-season with the Oilers, including being one of the best players on the ice during the NextGen games. The left-shot defenceman is a puck-moving defenceman with strong skating, and with a full season in adjusting to North America hockey, it\u2019s not inconceivable that Lepp\u00e4nen gets a look in the National Hockey League next season.<\/p>\n

As it stands, he\u2019s a little further down the depth charts, with the Oilers already having seven defencemen on the active roster, four of which are left-shot defencemen. When the Oilers have needed a player to fill in, they\u2019ve turned to Riley Stillman this season and Cam Dineen the season before.<\/p>\n

There are a handful of young players who\u2019ve helped the Condors become a playoff team in the AHL\u2019s Pacific Division. The Oilers have already got a look at Quinn Hutson, Connor Clattenburg, Ike Howard, and Josh Samanski, the latter remains with the team at the moment. However, other interesting young players are Viljami Marjala, Roby J\u00e4rventie, Damien Carfagna, Samuel Poulin, Beau Akey, and netminder Connor Ungar.<\/p>\n

Lepp\u00e4nen\u2019s contract extension is well deserved for a defenceman who\u2019s bound to get a look by the end of the 2026-27 season.<\/p>\n

Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Oilersnation, FlamesNation, and Blue Jays Nation. Follow her on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.<\/p>\n

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