The Edmonton Oilers have put defenceman Atro Leppänen on waivers, the team announced Saturday.
Leppänen, 27, was hurt in the preseason while playing for Edmonton and has not yet appeared in a game this season. Because of that, the Oilers did not need to make a move involving him in order to get cap-compliant to open the year.
If he clears waivers, Leppänen will report to the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors, a club that could use the help. He played 53 games for Bakersfield last season and produced 11 goals and 38 points.
Edmonton first signed Leppänen to a one-year deal in April 2025 after he put up 21 goals and 63 points in 60 games with Vaasan Sport in the Finnish Elite League. The Oilers then signed him to another one-year contract this past summer.
Last season, DFO Edmonton prospect writer Spencer Pomoty offered this assessment of Leppänen’s game:
A bit of progression has been made this year with Atro’s shot selection. Earlier in the year the Condors defenceman was shooting everything and anything, it didn’t matter the angle or place. However Leppänen is now thinking about it before he releases a heavy wrister…
Leppänen is such a crafty player from the blueline, however the foot speed is still troubling and he is due to get beat every once in a while on defence. The NHL would be a massive jump for him at this point in his career, but he has adjusted to the North American ice and Leppänen continues to shine offensively.
Bakersfield enters play at the bottom of the AHL’s Pacific Division with a 4-5-1 record, having scored 26 goals and allowed 30 through 10 games.
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