Edmonton Oilers sign Ben Gleason to two-year, $775,000 deal

The Edmonton Oilers have signed depth defenseman Ben Gleason to a two-year contract worth $775,000 per season.

The 25-year-old from Ortonville, Michigan, has four NHL games to his credit, recording an assist in 2018-19. He has spent the past five years with the AHL’s Texas Stars and is coming off of a nine-goal, 33-point campaign in 68 games this past year. Gleason had a career-best 44 points in 2021-22.

Originally an unsigned free agent signing by the Stars, Gleason won the 2018 OHL championship with the Hamilton Bulldogs. He had 125 points in 236 games between London and Hamilton, establishing himself as a solid, puck-rushing defender – something that is still true today.

The Oilers have been busy with free agent signings the past few days, including forwards Connor Brown and Lane Pederson and defenseman Noel Hoefenmayer. Gleason will like return to the AHL, where he’ll look to be a big part of the Bakersfield Condors.