<p data-section-id="pmtosc" data-start="146" data-end="544">The Edmonton Oilers have had a quiet free agency period, with middle-six winger Andrew Mangiapane being the most notable addition.</p>
<p data-section-id="pmtosc" data-start="146" data-end="544">The team lost a handful of contributors from last season and, ahead of training camp for the 2025-26 season, might be looking for extra competition. This organisation has been known over the years to bring players to camp on tryout contracts, with Alex Chiasson and Davin Shore among the players to earn contracts after showing well on a PTO.</p>
<p data-section-id="pmtosc" data-start="146" data-end="544">Could they do the same this fall?</p>
<p data-section-id="pmtosc" data-start="146" data-end="544"></p>
<h2 data-section-id="qyh0r3" data-start="551" data-end="568">Ilya Samsonov</h2>
<p data-start="570" data-end="878">Many Oilers fans are clamouring for a change in goal after another season falling short with Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard between the pipes. The dream of replacing Skinner was always going to be difficult due to the lack of quality options available. However, making a change in Pickard’s spot is a more realistic idea.</p>
<p data-start="880" data-end="1206"><a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/top-players-remaining-nhl-free-agency">Ilya Samsonov</a> didn’t have a spectacular season in Vegas, posting a .891 save percentage and a 2.82 goals-against average. In comparison, Pickard had a .900 save percentage and a 2.71 goals-against average, while also playing seven more games. Pickard also performed well for Edmonton in the playoffs, posting a 7-1-0 record.</p>
<p data-start="1208" data-end="1610">Where Samsonov stood above Pickard statistically was in goals saved above expected. According to moneypuck.com, the Russian netminder had 0.6 goals saved above expected, while Pickard was much lower at -9.1. He ranked higher than Skinner, too, who finished at -1.5. It was a bounce-back year for Samsonov after allowing eight goals more than expected in his final season with the Toronto Maple Leafs.</p>
<p data-start="1612" data-end="1908">One potential wrinkle: Samsonov’s agent is Donald Meehan. Meehan also represents Jeff Skinner, and Oilers fans know how that story ended in Edmonton. The two players play drastically different positions, but perhaps the relationship needs mending before Meehan sends another client to Edmonton.</p>
<p data-start="1910" data-end="2252"><a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/top-remaining-2025-nhl-free-agents-ufas-still-available?utm_source=chatgpt.com">AFP</a> projects Samsonov could get a contract worth $2 million for a season, about $200,000 more than last year. He’s not worth $2 million in the role he plays, which is why he remains unsigned. Perhaps he can come to Edmonton on a PTO and create positive competition. A fresh face between the pipes could benefit the team, too.</p>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Brett Leason #49 (Washington Capitals) first NHL goal Nov 1, 2021" width="1424" height="801" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8vKcyVunkB4?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<h2 data-section-id="ac957t" data-start="2259" data-end="2275">Brett Leason</h2>
<p data-start="2277" data-end="2642">The Anaheim Ducks opted not to qualify Brett Leason, and he remains an unrestricted free agent. The 26-year-old has 220 regular-season games under his belt with the Washington Capitals and Ducks. The offence hasn’t followed him from junior, where he scored 36 goals in his final year with Prince Albert, but he’s adapted his game to become more of a physical presence.</p>
<p data-start="2644" data-end="3292">Leason is a reliable skater, with NHL Edge ranking him in the 80th percentile for top skating speed. While he hasn’t produced much offence over his career, his top shot speed is in the 91st percentile on NHL Edge. However, he ranks below the 50th percentile in both shots on goal and shooting percentage. Edmonton is going to want offence throughout the lineup, but Leason brings extra size and physicality — an element the Oilers still lack. His hits dropped from 80 to 64 last season in Anaheim, but that total would have ranked sixth on the Oilers in 2024-25. That’s more than what Connor Brown, Mattias Janmark and Viktor Arvidsson delivered.</p>
<p data-start="3294" data-end="3729">Leason played 62 games with Anaheim, missing 20 as a healthy scratch, and scored five goals and 17 points. He’s a right shot who could compete for a fourth-line role alongside Kasperi Kapanen and David Tomasek in camp. There’s speculation Leason has received interest from the KHL. Is he willing to say goodbye to the NHL at 26? There’s always a path back, but staying in the league on a PTO is likely the better move for his career.</p>

<p data-section-id="pmtosc" data-start="146" data-end="544">The Edmonton Oilers have had a quiet free agency period, with middle-six winger Andrew Mangiapane being the most notable addition.</p>
<p data-section-id="pmtosc" data-start="146" data-end="544">The team lost a handful of contributors from last season and, ahead of training camp for the 2025-26 season, might be looking for extra competition. This organisation has been known over the years to bring players to camp on tryout contracts, with Alex Chiasson and Davin Shore among the players to earn contracts after showing well on a PTO.</p>
<p data-section-id="pmtosc" data-start="146" data-end="544">Could they do the same this fall?</p>
<p data-section-id="pmtosc" data-start="146" data-end="544"></p>

<h2 data-section-id="qyh0r3" data-start="551" data-end="568">Ilya Samsonov</h2>
<p data-start="570" data-end="878">Many Oilers fans are clamouring for a change in goal after another season falling short with Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard between the pipes. The dream of replacing Skinner was always going to be difficult due to the lack of quality options available. However, making a change in Pickard’s spot is a more realistic idea.</p>
<p data-start="880" data-end="1206"><a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/top-players-remaining-nhl-free-agency">Ilya Samsonov</a> didn’t have a spectacular season in Vegas, posting a .891 save percentage and a 2.82 goals-against average. In comparison, Pickard had a .900 save percentage and a 2.71 goals-against average, while also playing seven more games. Pickard also performed well for Edmonton in the playoffs, posting a 7-1-0 record.</p>
<p data-start="1208" data-end="1610">Where Samsonov stood above Pickard statistically was in goals saved above expected. According to moneypuck.com, the Russian netminder had 0.6 goals saved above expected, while Pickard was much lower at -9.1. He ranked higher than Skinner, too, who finished at -1.5. It was a bounce-back year for Samsonov after allowing eight goals more than expected in his final season with the Toronto Maple Leafs.</p>
<p data-start="1612" data-end="1908">One potential wrinkle: Samsonov’s agent is Donald Meehan. Meehan also represents Jeff Skinner, and Oilers fans know how that story ended in Edmonton. The two players play drastically different positions, but perhaps the relationship needs mending before Meehan sends another client to Edmonton.</p>
<p data-start="1910" data-end="2252"><a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/top-remaining-2025-nhl-free-agents-ufas-still-available?utm_source=chatgpt.com">AFP</a> projects Samsonov could get a contract worth $2 million for a season, about $200,000 more than last year. He’s not worth $2 million in the role he plays, which is why he remains unsigned. Perhaps he can come to Edmonton on a PTO and create positive competition. A fresh face between the pipes could benefit the team, too.</p>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vKcyVunkB4
<h2 data-section-id="ac957t" data-start="2259" data-end="2275">Brett Leason</h2>
<p data-start="2277" data-end="2642">The Anaheim Ducks opted not to qualify Brett Leason, and he remains an unrestricted free agent. The 26-year-old has 220 regular-season games under his belt with the Washington Capitals and Ducks. The offence hasn’t followed him from junior, where he scored 36 goals in his final year with Prince Albert, but he’s adapted his game to become more of a physical presence.</p>
<p data-start="2644" data-end="3292">Leason is a reliable skater, with NHL Edge ranking him in the 80th percentile for top skating speed. While he hasn’t produced much offence over his career, his top shot speed is in the 91st percentile on NHL Edge. However, he ranks below the 50th percentile in both shots on goal and shooting percentage. Edmonton is going to want offence throughout the lineup, but Leason brings extra size and physicality — an element the Oilers still lack. His hits dropped from 80 to 64 last season in Anaheim, but that total would have ranked sixth on the Oilers in 2024-25. That’s more than what Connor Brown, Mattias Janmark and Viktor Arvidsson delivered.</p>
<p data-start="3294" data-end="3729">Leason played 62 games with Anaheim, missing 20 as a healthy scratch, and scored five goals and 17 points. He’s a right shot who could compete for a fourth-line role alongside Kasperi Kapanen and David Tomasek in camp. There’s speculation Leason has received interest from the KHL. Is he willing to say goodbye to the NHL at 26? There’s always a path back, but staying in the league on a PTO is likely the better move for his career.</p>

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