Joshua Samanski (born March 22, 2002) is a German professional ice hockey player who is a forward for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He has previously played in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) with the Straubing Tigers.
Samanski was born on March 22, 2002 in Erding, Germany. He also holds Canadian citizenship through his father, John, who himself is a former professional hockey player. He has six siblings, all of whom are involved in sports.
Growing up, Samanski played with Jungadler Mannheim, a team in the Schüler-BL. His best season with them saw him record 106 points in 36 games. He spent one season in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), playing with the Owen Sound Attack.
Samanski joined the Straubing Tigers of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) in the 2021âÂÂ22 season. He was named alternate captain of the club for the 2024âÂÂ25 season.
On April 2, 2025, Samanski was signed by the Edmonton Oilers to a two-year, $1,950,000 contract.
He played his first game in the NHL on January 26, 2026. Samanski recorded his first NHL point, an assist, in his third game, a 7âÂÂ3 loss to the Minnesota Wild. After five games with the Oilers, in which Samanski recorded two assists, he was sent down to the Bakersfield Condors, the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the Oilers. After the Olympic break, Samanski would be called back up to the Oilers. He was credited with his first NHL goal during a March 21 game against the Tampa Bay Lightning after a pass from Oliver Bjorkstrand to Emil Lilleberg deflected past Andrei Vasilevskiy.
Samanski has represented Germany internationally. He played for the German junior team in the World Junior Championships in 2021 and 2022, serving as an alternate captain in the latter tournament.
Samanski played for Germany at the 2025 IIHF World Championships. He was also named to the national roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics.