Oilers May Have Opportunity to Claim Former First Round Draft Pick on Waivers

Jesse Puljujarvi is having a great training camp with the Pittsburgh Penguins, but their forward group may be too deep to offer him an NHL roster spot to begin the year. If Puljujarvi doesn't make the Penguins roster, he'll have to go through waivers to be assigned to the NHL. In the final days of preseason, he's still battling for the 13th forward position.

Now 26 years old, Puljujarvi was selected 4th overall by the Oilers back in 2016. He was a fan favourite in Edmonton and an incredible person, but wasn't able to bring consistency to his level of play and scoring. He never lived up the expectations of such a high draft pick, and the Oilers traded him to Carolina in 2023.

Puljujarvi has since been through an extremely difficult time just getting into the lineup. The Penguins signed him in February of 2024 after he underwent double hip surgery, and he had to work his way up from the AHL last season. He only scored 4 points in 23 games with the Penguins last year, but now he's looked like he's finally recovered fully. Penguins Coach Mike Sullivan has noted that Puljujarvi is looking stronger and more explosive than before.

After scoring 5 goals in the first two preseason games, Puljujarvi can't do much more to make a case for himself to be back in the NHL, but still, he may not make the team. The Penguins bottom six is full of talent, and they may decide to waive him. Some Oilers fans have already noted that he may be a better fit on this year's Oilers team without the expectations to produce offensively. The Oilers could use another good bottom six forward too.

It seems very unlikely for the Oilers to bring back Puljujarvi, but it would certainly be a great story and the opportunity may be there. We'll have to see in the next week or so where Puljujarvi ends up playing next in the NHL.