Edmonton Oilers ink star Finnish defenceman, expected to sign standout NCAA player
The Edmonton Oilers have signed yet another impressive overseas player and they may not be done there.
26-year-old Finnish defenceman Atro Leppänen has signed a one-year entry-level contract with the Oilers that is set to start next year. He spent last season playing for Sport Vaasa in Finland’s SM-Liiga where he scored a league-record 63 points in 60 games from the blueline.
He is expected to join the organization in time for next season’s training camp in September.
The #Oilers have signed defenceman Atro Leppänen to a one-year entry-level contract for the 2025-26 season. The 26-year-old led Finland's Liiga in scoring this year, setting a record for points by a blueliner with 63.
Learn more about Leppänen ⤵️ https://t.co/fd9d3oIDK6
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) April 13, 2025
This is Edmonton’s third overseas signing over the past few weeks after signing Czech forward David Tomášek out of the Swedish Hockey League and German up-and-comer Josh Samanski.Â
As mentioned, the Finnish defender now holds the SM-Liiga all-time single-season record for points by a defenceman with 63. Not only did that set a record, but he cleared the previous mark by 10 points, surpassing both Pekka Rautakallio and Brian Rafalski’s 53 points set in 1978-79 and 1998-99 respectively.
Leppänen will be battling it out for a spot in Edmonton’s defensive group next season. His offensive play seems to follow a trend of acquisitions made by Oilers GM Stan Bowman that puts a focus on puck-moving defencemen rather than the traditional stay-at-home types.
This is not the only move coming down the pipe as the Oilers are also expected to sign NCAA standout Quinn Hutson. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported on Saturday night that the eldest brother of Montreal Canadiens star rookie Lane Hutson will ink a deal with Edmonton.
As soon as tomorrow:
Zeev Buium to sign with Minnesota…could play Tuesday vs ANA (Declan Chisholm hurt tonight, too)
Quinn Hutson to sign with Edmonton
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) April 13, 2025
The undrafted Hutson notched 23 goals and 50 points in 38 games with Boston University last season before losing in the NCAA National Championship to Western Michigan. The 23-year-old forward will reportedly burn a year of his ELC with Edmonton this season and could potentially make his NHL debut with the Oilers before the regular season ends.
He will not be eligible to suit up in the playoffs for the Oilers. This will be Edmonton’s second NCAA signing after adding Ohio State University defenceman Damien Carfagna to the organization last month.
This is a unique strategy by Bowman to help restock Edmonton’s talent reserves. The organization has traded away a lot of their draft capital in recent years and is in desperate need of younger talent.
Adding both Leppänen and Hutson, alongside the other recent signings, will help this Oilers team shed the title of being the oldest team in the NHL and they could all potentially make an impact as early as next season.
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