Not on an NHL roster · Center · Shoots L

Josh Samanski

Age 24 · 6'2" · 198 lb · Born in Erding, DEU

Cap hit

$975K

0.9% of $104M cap

Term

1 yr

Through 2026-27, then RFA

Clause

None

Surplus value

—

arrives with the trade tools

Contract details from our records; public announcement not yet matched

2026-27 regular season

Goals

Assists

0 primary

Points

0.00 per game

TOI/GP

8:41

PP 0:00 · PK 0:00

xGF%

63.8

5v5, +12.1 vs. last yr

Game Score

-0.00

per game, goals above average

Faceoff %

—

2 W · 2 L

Plus/minus

Blocks 0 · Hits 0

Game log

Last 5 games · NHL API

Game	A	HIT	TOI	PP	PK	FO	OZS%	GV	TK	+/-	GS
Oct 1 @ VAN · W 9-7	0	0	8:41	0:00	0:00	2-2	100	1	0	0	-0.00
Apr 30 @ ANA · L 5-2	1	0	5:14	0:00	0:31	1-0	0	1	0	+1	+0.47
Apr 28 vs ANA · W 4-1	0	0	9:15	0:16	0:00	4-2	100	0	0	0	-0.24
Apr 26 @ ANA · OTL 4-3	0	1	7:31	0:00	1:15	1-4	100	0	1	-1	-0.07
Apr 24 @ ANA · L 7-4	0	2	11:42	0:00	0:32	3-5	100	1	1	0	-0.13

GS = our Game Score, goals above average. FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.

Advanced metrics

5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 240 min · percentile vs. NHL forwards

xGF%51.7%

69th percentile

Relative xGF%-1.0

43rd percentile

HDCF%54.5%

77th percentile

CF%49.9%

58th percentile

Relative CF%-1.8

32nd percentile

FF%50.8%

63rd percentile

GF%55.0%

75th percentile

CF/6047.8

9th percentile

CA/6048.0

96th percentile

ixG/600.29

0th percentile

Goals above expected+0.8

70th percentile

IPP36.4%

4th percentile

PDO101.8

74th percentile

OZS%55.1%

57th percentile

xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.

Play styleDefensive anchor center

Trait percentiles vs. NHL centers · 2025-26

Samanski is a stay-at-home defensive specialist who excels at limiting opposing chances and controlling the puck in tight situations. He rarely shoots and struggles to generate offensive pressure, making him a reliable depth piece rather than a scoring contributor.

defensive walllow-event playerpuck security

Shooting volume: 1
Playmaking: 12
Zone entries(est.): 19
Forechecking: 66
Physicality: 71
Defensive impact: 98
Puck management: 88
Speed: 34

Where he shoots from

Slot 55% · Mid-range 30% · Perimeter 15%(20 unblocked shots)

Strengths

Elite defensive impact in the 98th percentile limits opponent chances
Top-tier puck management in the 88th percentile keeps possession clean
Strong physicality in the 71st percentile establishes presence in battles

Watch-outs

Shooting volume in the 1st percentile, almost never taking chances
Playmaking in the 12th percentile shows limited offensive creativity
Speed in the 34th percentile may limit transition opportunities

Similar style: David Kampf, Nico Sturm (MIN)

Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.

Where his Game Score comes from

2025-26 · 24 GP · goals above average

Season total -0.4 goals, or -0.02 per game.

Even strength offense: -0.5
Even strength defense: +0.6
Penalty kill: +0.1
Finishing: +0.9
Playmaking: -1.0
Penalties: -0.4

Game Score adds up a player's impact in goals compared with an average player given the same ice time: his share of expected goals for and against at even strength, on the power play, and on the penalty kill, plus finishing (goals minus expected goals), primary assists, penalties drawn and taken, and faceoffs. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.

By season

Regular season

Season	Team	GP	G	A	P	+/-	SOG	TOI/GP	FO%	GS/GP
2026-27	EDM	1	0	0	0	0	0	8:41	—	-0.00
2025-26	EDM	24	2	2	4	+2	9	10:34	48.2%	-0.02

Sentiment & chatter

Fans

—

Beat writers

—

Media

—

Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.

Age curve

How players at his position age, and where his contract falls on that curve, arrives with the trade tools.

Skating · NHL EDGE

2025-26, as of Oct 2

Top speed: 21.8 mph; 28th pct
20+ mph bursts: 27
Hardest shot: 74.7 mph; 9th pct
Distance: 41.5 mi
OZ time: 38.7%; 12th pct
DZ time: 42.7%