Edmonton Oilers sign European defenceman in free agency
The Edmonton Oilers have added some more depth to the organization with another European signing.
The Oilers announced on Friday morning that they have signed defenceman Tomas Cibulka to a two-year, entry-level deal. The deal will begin at the start of the 2026-27 season.
Czech out our new defenceman đź‘€
The #Oilers have signed blueliner Tomas Cibulka to a two-year entry-level contract beginning in the 2026-27 season. https://t.co/gKhaVgZACN
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) March 27, 2026
Cibulka, 21, has spent the past two seasons with HC Motor Ceske Budejovice in Czechia’s top league. The 2025-26 campaign saw him register seven goals and 22 points in 47 games, while also recording three points in four playoff outings.
Despite being back overseas the past couple of seasons, Cibulka has spent time playing in Canada.
The 6-foot, 176-pound blueliner spent three seasons in the QMJHL, both with the Val d’Or Foreurs and Cape Breton Eagles. His final season, split between the Foreurs and Eagles, saw him register 10 goals and 49 points in 55 games.
Tomáš Cibulka with a three point night against Charlottetown, including this beauty of a goal.
He leads all QMJHL defensemen in scoring with 18 points (5G, 13A) in 16 games. pic.twitter.com/zyRNilFtRX
— Czech Prospects (@CZprospects) November 4, 2023
Oilers fans may recognize Cibulka’s name from the 2024 World Junior Championship. He suited up for seven games in the tournament with Czechia, scoring two goals, one of which came against Canada in the quarter-final.
CZECHIA LEADS 2-0!
Tomáš Cibulka's point shot gets past Rousseau as Canada trails by 2.#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/REcCZSr7QA
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 2, 2024
These types of signings are important for an Oilers organization that hasn’t had many draft picks as of late. Given their contending status, management has often chosen to part ways with draft picks in order to add more to the current roster, resulting in a rather weak prospect pool.
The most successful example of this in recent memory is 24-year-old Josh Samanski, whom the Oilers signed to a two-year deal in the offseason. The undrafted centreman has recorded 31 points in 45 games with the Bakersfield Condors, while chipping in with a goal and two helpers through 16 games with the Oilers.
The Oilers also did the same thing last offseason with 27-year-old defenceman Atro Leppanen, who agreed to a one-year deal. In 42 games with the Condors, he’s racked up nine goals and 31 points.
- You might also like:
- Bouchard did something not seen by an Edmonton Oilers defenceman in 17 years