Puljujarvi faces lengthy recovery and enters free agency after double hip surgery

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Hunter Bowman
June 29, 2023 (11:42 PM)

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In a disheartening turn of events, Jesse Puljujarvi, the fourth-overall pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, has recently undergone double hip surgery and is now faced with a lengthy recovery period.

Chris Johnston of NorthStar Bets broke the news, further revealing that the Carolina Hurricanes will not issue Puljujarvi a qualifying offer, making him an unrestricted free agent in just a few days.

This injury setback comes shortly after the announcement of another young winger's injury, with Buffalo Sabres' Jack Quinn sidelined due to an Achilles injury.

While Quinn remains a part of the Sabres' future plans, Puljujarvi will be seeking a new opportunity in the open market.

During his time with the Carolina Hurricanes last season, Puljujarvi struggled to make a significant impact, tallying only two points in 17 regular-season games and one point in seven playoff games under head coach Rod Brind'Amour.

However, the 25-year-old forward has shown flashes of promise during his tenure with the Edmonton Oilers, including a 36-point performance in 65 games during the 2021-22 season.

Due to the undisclosed recovery timeline of Puljujarvi's injury, the level of interest he will generate in the free agency market remains uncertain.

Given the severity of the injury, it may be quite some time before Puljujarvi returns to NHL ice. As fans and teams await further updates, the young winger's future hangs in the balance.