Atro Leppanen has been waived, likely to head back to the Bakersfield Condors

The Edmonton Oilers announced on Saturday that defenseman Atro Leppanen has been placed on waivers. Leppanen started the 2026-27 calendar on Edmonton's preseason roster, but an injury prevented a prolonged stint with the club. If he successfully clears waivers without being claimed by another NHL team, he will return to the Oilers' AHL affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors.

Leppanen joined the Condors for the 2025-26 season, registering 11 goals and 27 assists across 53 games in his first North American campaign. Author Noah Guttman notes that with Edmonton's defense corps mostly set, Leppanen's chances of a regular-season NHL call-up remain slim, raising questions about whether Edmonton could eventually trade his signing rights before he reaches unrestricted free agency.