December 11, 2022 by Ryan Lotsberg

Jesse Puljujarvi’s comments in a Finnish media outlet capped off a rough calendar year for the bi. Finn. Puljujarvi started the 2021-22 season off on a tear, scoring 23 points in his first 28 games of the season. That portion of the season concluded with a three point night against the Columbus Blue Jackets on December 16, 2021.

The former first-round pick scored two more points during the remainder of Dave Tippett’s tenure behind the bench in Edmonton, both of which came in the same game against the Ottawa Senators on January 15. That was two points in a two month span, although he only played 14 games in that span due to his getting COVID and there being a COVID related break for the team. 

Puljujarvi opened the Jay Woodcroft era by scoring a goal against the New York Islanders in Woodcroft’s first game as head coach. He got three points in Woodcroft’s first four games with the Oilers before he got hurt and missed a month of action. Upon returning, he added six more points in his next ten games, which brought his total to nine points in Woodcroft’s first 14 games behind the Oilers bench.

However, only one of those six points was a goal, and that came in his tenth game back. He only got one more goal in the final nine games of the season, which meant that he only scored two goals in the last 19 games of the regular season.

Woodcroft cut his ice time significantly in the playoffs. Puljujarvi received under ten minutes of ice time in seven of the sixteen playoff games, and he only surpassed thirteen minutes in two games. He got points in games two and three of the first round series against the LA Kings, but then didn’t get another point until game five of the Battle of Alberta. Then he didn’t get a point in the Western Conference Finals against the Colorado Avalanche.

Puljujarvi had shoulder surgery to fix an injury sustained at some point in the playoffs. It supposedly happened against Colorado, but I can’t be certain it didn’t happen earlier because I haven’t seen video of the injury. Regardless, it was his second major injury of the season.

It was a disappointing end to a season that had a promising start. It was also a contract year for the big Finn. Reports that he wanted to be traded surfaced once the season had concluded, and there was a long contract negotiation this past summer. Puljujarvi eventually signed a one-year, $3 million contract.

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This season hasn’t been any better for Puljujarvi. He has one goal in 28 games. If you go back to last regular season, he only has five goals in his last 63 games including the playoffs. Puljujarvi’s comments about his play this season made to Finnish reporter Tommi Seppala were concerning. He called his production “sad” and voiced doubt about his place in the Edmonton Oilers lineup and about his ability to be a top line scorer in the NHL. Whether he’s right or not, the comments show that he’s not in a positive headspace.

All of this has re-ignited the conversation about whether the team should trade Puljujarvi or not. If Ken Holland didn’t like Puljujarvi’s trade value in the summer, I can’t imagine him liking it right now. There’s no rush to trade him since he has low value and the Oilers won’t be in cap trouble until Evander Kane returns. The Oilers have multiple injuries to forwards, and the right side is weak even when the team is at full health.

It looks like Holland gave himself a contingency plan for Puljujarvi’s potential struggles by trading for Klim Kostin before the season started. The Russian winger is a former first round pick that had trouble finding a spot on the St. Louis Blues roster. He seems to be carving out a spot for himself here in Edmonton with his play of late. Kostin has four points in twelve games since being recalled, all of which have come in the six games since his line with Derek Ryan and Devin Shore was united. He’s physical, he’s unafraid to use his big shot, and he showed off his dangles on Friday night.

I don’t think Holland was fully expecting Kostin to earn a lineup spot, but I also think he knew it was a possibility. He’s about adding depth to ensure that his players have to compete for roster spots and ice time. Kostin has thrown his hat into the ring emphatically

Kostin is playing well. Derek Ryan is on a hot streak. Dylan Holloway is starting to gain confidence. Kailer Yamamoto has three points in the three games he’s played since returning from injury. Warren Foegele and Ryan McLeod will be back at some point soon. Stacking Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl on a line means that Draisaitl plays Puljujarvi’s position. Zach Hyman can play on the right side as well. Meanwhile, Puljujarvi is contemplating his abilities as a NHLer in the media.

Things are likely going to get worse for Puljujarvi before they get better. There are too many other forwards that are bringing more than what Puljujarvi is bringing. He leads the team in hits and he continues to do a lot of little things well; but eventually, he needs to do the big thing well, which is scoring goals. If he doesn’t snap his slump soon, then he could find himself on the outside looking in awfully quick.

Things will get ugly if he gets healthy scratched. The trade rumours will really start to go nuts then. Puljujarvi nor his agent would be happy with him being healthy scratched. Holland will likely still choose to be patient in trying to get fair value for Puljujarvi in a trade no matter what happens. This could easily turn into a situation where the player ends up with an extended stay in the press box.

Don’t get me wrong here, I love Puljujarvi. I’ve defended him often and have been expecting an offensive breakout from him. There’s still a chance of that happening. It would make my heart happy to see him succeed in Edmonton. However, he’s 24 and in a dire scoring slump. He’s already at or near the age where most players peak offensively. If this is peak Puljujarvi, then that’s a problem. Things are looking grim for Puljujarvi in Edmonton. I’m cheering for the kid, I really am. My optimism surrounding him and his situation has dimmed though.