After a slow start, things haven’t gotten any better for Edmonton Oilers winger Jesse Puljujarvi this season. As his ice time continues to dwindle, currently being utilized in a fourth-line role, so does his trade value. The 2016 fourth-overall pick has just 10 points in 49 games this season after a 35-point campaign last year.
With Edmonton expected to go all-in at this year’s trade deadline, Puljujarvi will likely see his Oilers tenure end by March 3 to make room on the roster. Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli outlined some potential destinations for the Finnish winger, also reporting that general manager Ken Holland sent a note to all 31 other NHL teams two weeks ago that Puljujarvi was available for trade.
That trade could come sooner rather than later, as the Oilers need to clear salary to activate Kailer Yamamoto from long-term injured reserve. They have at least another few days, as he’s not eligible to return until February 12. Seravalli lists the Florida Panthers, St. Louis Blues, and Tampa Bay Lightning as potential fits for Puljujarvi in a hockey trade but also says to keep the possibility of a pure cap-dump move to a salary cap floor-hugging team in mind.
- In a mailbag piece released Wednesday, Scott Powers of The Athletic noted that 2022 first-round selection Kevin Korchinski could crack the Chicago Blackhawks’ NHL lineup out of training camp to start the 2023-24 season. Powers said the Blackhawks organization was impressed with his training camp before this season opened, and that “all signs” point to Korchinski being NHL-ready. Still 18, the left-shot defenseman has 40 points in 30 games with the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds this season.
- TSN’s Darren Dreger reports that current United States Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh is the current front-runner to replace Donald Fehr as the NHLPA’s Executive Director. Dreger says an NHLPA board meeting is scheduled for tomorrow, which could yield a vote on whether to instate Walsh as the league’s top player representative. The former mayor of Boston, Massachusetts, has a strong labor union background and is certainly an interesting selection.
Interesting article by Frank, but what is missed is that Puljujarvi doesn’t see himself in a bottom-six role. Because of where he was drafted, he seems to have it ingrained in his head that he is a top-six guy, and he should be treated as such. His hockey IQ is not so hot, and he would require a crap load more work just to make him serviceable in a 3rd/4th line role.
Why Hello there Jim Matheson !
Perhaps he has that in his head because they (mistakenly or not) drafted him fourth overall.
@Joe Carters walkoff – Hey! You promised NOT to tell! :)
@TravisKelce87—Can you say, “Snapshot Scouting” ? (And a lack of sufficient psych tests)
Marty Walsh would be a bad choice for the players, he was one of the main reasons the railroad workers had their contract forced on them.
Except for the part where not only the majority of railroad workers, but the majority of the railroad unions (8 of 12) wanted and voted to accept the deal.
Should a handful of NHL players be able to prevent the majority of NHL players from accepting a deal they want to accept?
If you say “yes, the minority should be able to impede the will of the majority” so be it, he might not be your guy.
Look, Josh changed his user name. How clever.
If 1/3 of the NHL team members were unhappy with their leadership, you’d have a problem on your hands. But hey, Walsh is a big liberal, so full speed ahead!
Look, that wind up toy who tosses Putin’s salad cuz Bow Tie Boy tells him to do so and who constantly pretends to and brags about having me muted is responding YET again.
To defend minority rule.
Of course.
Considering how many stupid, uninformed posts you’ve made, it’s no wonder you changed your name!
Your boy Zelensky needs more billions of dollars to keep his doomed campaign going, maybe you can take up a collection for him…..after you’ve gotten your 5th booster shot, of course.
This is truly pathetic
There’s no doubt Korchinski is gonna be a stud. He can move the puck out of his own zone even against NHL competition, He proved that in camp last year. Still he’s only 18 and they’re gonna stink for awhile so I see no need to push him, Especially since 3 of their D-men are vets on long term deals. Jones, McCabe, Murphy and have no trades of some form. I don’t see them eating money to get rid of them as soon as next year. Nice to think about but I don’t see the point.