A former Edmonton Oiler has finally found a new home in the NHL.
Former fourth-overall pick Jesse Puljujärvi has signed a two-year contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins that carries an AAV of $800K and puts him under contract for the rest of this season and next. He was previously working with the Penguins organization, but not officially signed to a deal.
This signing came after he signed a PTO with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Pittsburgh’s AHL affiliate. After slotting into 13 games to the tune of four goals and five assists, Puljujärvi was favoured enough to earn a look back at the NHL level.
A fan favourite in Edmonton, it’s amazing to see the 25-year-old forward find a spot in the NHL after looking like he may be on the outside looking in.
What could have been with Puljujärvi
After spending the first six years of his professional career with the Oilers, Puljujärvi was unable to keep his place in the Oilers lineup consistently in the 2022–23 NHL season. He was eventually traded to the Carolina Hurricanes for Patrik Puistola and didn’t fare any better. In 17 games with the Canes, he put up two assists and added one more during the postseason.
Puljujärvi’s game can be summed up perfectly by this tweet:
His numbers always looked good, but he just could never get on the scoresheet. The talent is there but at a certain point, you have to produce.
Puljujärvi doesn’t look to be a player in the Oilers’ future, but you have to at least wonder what he would have looked like under Kris Knoblauch and this version of the Oilers. Maybe down the road, we can see what that is like, but for now it’s just nice to see Puljujärvi back in the NHL.
Photo by Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire
