Finnish Source Suggests Jesse Puljujarvi May "Disappear" From Penguins Roster

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Liam McCormick
December 1, 2024 (3:03 PM)

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Former Oiler Jesse Puljujarvi is struggling to stay in the Pittsburgh Penguins lineup, and now a Finnish source is suggesting that a move off the roster may be imminent.

Finnish writer Miikka Lahtinen wrote a piece this morning titled «Finns Have Disappeared From the Pittsburgh Penguins - Does Jesse Puljujarvi Feel the Same» and suggested that the former Oiler could be on waivers soon.

Without Puljujarvi in the lineup, the Penguins have put together their first three game win streak of the season, which Lahtinen believes is a bad sign for Puljujarvi.

»The Penguins are now on a three-game winning streak, which does not bode well for Puljujärvi, because the winning line-up is rarely changed.»
- Miika Lahtinen

Lahtinen pointed towards the fact that Jesse Puljujarvi has been held out of the lineup since the Penguins acquired Philip Tomasino from the Nashville Predators. In 3 games, Tomasino has impressed quickly with 2 goals.

Valtterri Puustinen also hit the waiver wire as the Penguins were looking to re-tool their bottom six, and Joel Blomqvist was also sent to the AHL after a strong stint with the Penguins. Both players are Fins, and Lahtinen believes Puljujarvi could be next to hit waivers.

What makes the consistent scratches for Puljujarvi puzzling is the fact that he's actually been playing well this season, and this time not just with advanced analytics.

Puljujarvi has 3 points and 8 points in 20 games, which is a decent pace of 33 points in the season - and his advanced stats are still good.

Coach Mike Sullivan gave a strange explanation for benching Puljujarvi yesterday, but now it seems the organization has just made up their mind on him.

Puljujarvi playing and producing well this season, a full year after he underwent an infamously difficult double hip replacement surgery. He's now healthier than he's been in years, and should be playing his best.

Oilers fans know Puljujarvi well from drafting him 4th overall back in the 2016 NHL draft. Puljujarvi played 6 seasons with the Oilers and became a fan favourite of many, despite never living up to the offensive expectations of his draft position.

If Puljujarvi is placed on waivers, another team would be smart to claim him at only an $800K salary for this season. He's still a good player that's got plenty of NHL hockey left in him.