Analyst suggests Jesse Puljujarvi could be traded to Canadian team

Analyst Kevin Papetti with the Athletic suggested Jesse Puljujarvi being traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs could be a possibility, with defenceman Connor Timmins going in return.

The suggestion likely comes from the fact that the Penguins are in need of a depth defenceman, but have a bit of a log-jam at the forward position. At the moment, Puljujarvi likely would be a healthy scratch or a fourth liner. In addition, Penguins GM Kyle Dubas has a long history with Connor Timmins and clearly believes in the player.

The Leafs have plenty of room to add a bottom six winger, and GM Brad Treliving has surely seen plenty of Puljujarvi through the years. If he believes Puljujarvi could be an asset in the Leafs bottom six, it wouldn't cost more than a depth defenceman Treliving inherited from the previous regime.

Puljujarvi has started the preseason off with a bang, scoring a hat trick in his first game and following it up with a two goal performance. He's trying to come back from an extremely difficult double hip surgery last offseason that limited him to only 22 games with the Penguins last year.

The Edmonton Oilers selected Jesse Puljujarvi fourth overall in the 2016 Draft. He had a few mildly successful years with the Oilers, but struggled with consistency in scoring and his overall play. The Oilers traded Puljujarvi to the Carolina Hurricanes in 2023, but wherever he goes in his NHL career, plenty of Oilers fans will be rooting for him. It may be tough if he was on the Leafs, though.

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