After reports just days ago that new Edmonton Oilers GM Ken Holland was unlikely to give in to the trade demands of Jesse Puljujarvi, the young forward has fired back. Puljujarvi took part in a charity game in his hometown of Oulu, Finland today and spoke with the media during the event. Finnish sports reporter Jouni Nieminen translated his comments as follows:
I want a new start with some other team. Playing in North America is still my goal. I will stay in Oulu until I have a contract. I will find a place to play somewhere.
This echoes what Puljujarvi has been saying all summer long and he is well within his right to remain in Europe if he chooses. While technically still a member of the Oilers, the 21-year-old is an unsigned restricted free agent under no obligation to return to Edmonton if he doesn’t want to. However, he is not free to sign with another NHL team and will require a trade to continue his goal of playing in the NHL. While the Oilers have been listening to offers from other clubs, they have reportedly been underwhelmed and are not willing to trade Puljujarvi away at rock bottom price. By no means has the 2016 fourth-overall pick showed that he is worthy of a great return; in three pro seasons he has split time between the NHL and the AHL, recording just 37 points in 139 NHL games and another 37 points in 53 games in the minors. However, the young winger still has the size and skill to be a special player if he can put it all together and Holland is not ready to give up on that potential, especially so early into his tenure as Oiler’s GM.
However, will that mindset change if Puljujarvi really does hold true to his promise to play in Europe? It’s a very reasonable option for the Finnish forward, as he won’t have to go very far. Oulu is home to the Liiga’s Karpat, the team whose system Puljujarvi grew up in and a club that he played in 71 games with before moving to North America. The league’s defending regular season champs and a perennial contender, Karpat is a team that Puljujarvi could play a major role for and could continue his development with, while also being fairly compensated. And at 21, there’s no reason to think he couldn’t spend multiple seasons with Karpat if things are going well and the Oilers are unwilling to change the status quo. So is Edmonton really willing to ride that potential career arc out on principal? Or will the team simply cut ties with a player who has only brought disappointment and frustration to the club thus far? There is still far more to the trade demand saga between player and team this summer and possibly longer.
So, I’m not 100% up on NHL personnel rules…
If Puljujarvi plays in Europe for a year or two, does Edmonton continue to hold his rights? Or is there a shelf life on his “restricted” status?
Hold his rights
Holland has he would not give into Puljujarvi’s trade demands and Puljujarvi said he will remain in Finland til gets a contract and play somewhere til then , so Holland and orginization needs to move on with him for now , in hopes he may have a change of heart.
Hyva Hei Nyt Mychemmin, Good Bye for now maybe later.
If a player is drafted from Europe say, the team owns their rights for 4 years. If a player has played in North America (like Puljujarvi) and then goes back, the team owns their rights for 2 years.
then just do it then. no other way to make yourself worth tendering a contract going forward.
gerald I disagree. the likelihood is they wouldnt get a 3rd round pick right now. let him play in Europe. if he does well a team may trade for his rights.
The Penguins still have to trim a few million off the cap. It was reported that Holland offered Puljujarvi for Rust at the draft. That would save the Pens about $2.5 million. I think Rutherford is keeping that offer in his back pocket and it could still happen if they don’t find another way to trim cap space.
Only problem is that he’s be no lock to play in the top 6 and his situation would be the same as it was in EDM and it was for Daniel Sprong in PGH.
Josh, thou haven’t found a good site that lists cap space available nor do I understand contracts involving salary , and not knowing Edmonton’s salary cap numbers remaining , wouldn’t that put Edmonton over cap space, would be good move for Edmonton if getting Rust , but as mentioned no information on salary cap space , maybe you can help me out on good site for salary cap numbers? Thanks, Go Black Hawks!!!!!!!!!
Rangers send Namestnikov (2nd-3rd line wing), Rykov (top 5 defense prospect) and Boo Nieves (4th like big center) for Puljujarvi and a second round pick in next years draft?
Holland: “okay. Have fun. Let’s hope you rebuild your value. If not, we still have you for [Breakfast Club Teacher gesture] 2 years when you decide to come back”
I believe it would put EDM over but not by much. If they dump a guy like Brodziak, they could fit Rust.
Also, Google CapFriendly. The best NHL cap site left.
Thanks josh just hard to figure figures out as I use CapFriendly alot just haven’t figured out all those different segment in salaries , I do appreciate it, sportac.com has by team as they list by team cap remaining but can’t get it to load correctly as you try to read it , site has mind of it’s on , maybe if Edmonton throws in a lower round pick trade would work for Rust. Rangers/Oilers just doesn’t sound right to me, maybe throw in Brodziak can always use him in another move late for draft pick or prospect.
To my best knowledge, rejecting a qualifying offer allows an RFA to negotiate offer sheets with other teams; if an offer is made, their current team can either sign the player for one year at the agreed-upon terms or be compensated in draft picks. An offer between ~$1.4M and ~$2.1M would yield the Oilers a 3rd-round pick; an offer between ~$2.1M and ~$4.2M would get them a 2nd-rounder. An offer under ~$1.4M would not entitle the Oilers to any compensation.
The lack of offer sheets on JP therefore raises three possibilities:
1) he has a lazy and/or incompetent agent;
2) no NHL team thinks he is worth the pick it would cost to offer him more than $1.4M per year; or,
3) he is unwilling to play for under $1.4 M per year.
I hope he enjoys the next two years in Finland. Hopefully, he will shine there, gathering NHL interest and allowing the Oilers to gain from his eventual return. Then again, maybe he can fight Yakupov for a spot in St. Petersburg.
Oh well, hasn’t proved anything, who cares. Go back to Europe
link to spotrac.com
Josh here is the other site I mentioned ,thou misspelled it when sent the info, it lists teams in order by most salary cap space for all teams. Take Care,
I don’t think Puj can be sent an offer sheet. He’s coming off his entry level and I believe there’s an age rule or something
You may be right, but I’m not certain (not a lawyer, so interpreting the CBA is not my strong suit). I based my comment on CapFriendly and NHL.com, both of which say a player who signed his ELC at age 18 and has three years NHL experience (i.e., played at least 10 NHL games in each of three seasons) becomes a Group 2 RFA when his ELC expires. By that standard, JP is a Group 2 RFA and can receive offer sheets.
Hopefully, someone will tell me if I’m wrong.