Big things were expected for Jesse Puljujarvi when he was selected 4th overall in the 2016 draft by the Oilers.
But the player was never able to reach his full potential.
He was traded to Carolina during the 22-23 season, before coming to an agreement with the Pittsburgh Penguins… And now he finds himself on waivers.
The tall striker shone at the 2016 World Junior Championship.
He had no less than 17 points alongside Patrik Laine and Sebastian Aho in the colors of Finland and he was so good that he was being talked about as a future NHL star.
It never happened in the end.
It will be interesting to see if any team decides to give him a chance. That would surprise me… But we know that things can change quickly in the NHL.
The forward collected 12 small points (six goals) in 43 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins… A production clearly below the expectations placed on him.
He could otherwise find himself at a crossroads, even though he is only 26 years old.
Remember that Puljujarvi had all the assets to have a great career: he is big, he has good hands and he has a good throw. But he has never been consistent in his performances and that is what is most disturbing in his case.
The will is not always there, let’s put it that way…
Obviously, it is easy to qualify it as flop and that’s normal too. After all, when a 4th overall pick ends up on waivers at the age of 26, it’s because he hasn’t been able to prove himself in the NHL.
Prolongation
The Penguins have a 17-16-5 record since the start of the season and obviously, we want to change things in Pittsburgh.
Does Kyle Dubas have an idea in mind and want to make room in his lineup to make a big move?
Maybe…
