At first, there have been rumors Jesse Puljujarvi was sad with the Edmonton Oilers after a few seasons of battle. A ahead that was purported to be an enormous contributor on offense and probably trip shotgun with a famous person like Connor McDavid, the 2016 fourth general draft choose couldn’t appear to search out his footing within the NHL.
Some mismanagement mixed with the participant not selecting up the sport practically as rapidly as he doubtless ought to have, the message by Puljujarvi’s agent Markus Lehto was his shopper wished a contemporary begin some other place. A restricted free agent, phrase on the road was that Puljujarvi had requested a commerce. Moreso, even with new administration on the helm of the Oilers, Puljujarvi didn’t see a state of affairs the place he and the Oilers might get again on the identical web page. A minimum of that was the unofficial buzz.
New GM Ken Holland constantly responded that regardless of regardless of the plan can be for Puljujarvi, (did or didn’t the participant need out) as a supervisor, he wasn’t ever going to commerce Puljuarvi for a lesser worth than he believed he was value.
All of the whereas, Puljuarvi didn’t say a lot, if something.
Had been the Puljujarvi Rumors Overblown?
Up till a day in the past, the friction between the Edmonton Oilers and Puljujarvi was principally rumour by means of the messaging of his agent. After being agency and taking part in up the concept that Puljuarvi would moderately play in Europe than with the Oilers, when no practical commerce presents introduced themselves and the participant wasn’t moved, Lehto seemingly backtracked.
Jesse Puljujarvi (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)
Saying he didn’t recall ever saying Puljujarvi would by no means come again or that he’d flat out refused to play for Edmonton, the waters calmed and the thrill was that Puljuarvi may return. He might then attempt to make himself engaging on the commerce market and buying him could possibly be revisited if the participant nonetheless didn’t really feel extra comfy.
The idea was the Oilers had referred to as the agent’s bluff, the agent knew it and the fanbase began to sit back out somewhat.
Associated: NHL Rumors: Shattenkirk, Wild, Hurricanes, Extra
Puljujarvi Places the Warmth Squarely Again on Himself
Simply when issues began to appear to be a future between the participant and the staff was attainable, reviews surfaced about feedback Puljujarvi himself informed a Finnish information outlet.
Jesse Puljujarvi. Photograph courtesy Finnish Ice Hockey Federation
Puljujarvi took half in a charity recreation in his hometown of Oulu, Finland and spoke with the media there. Finnish sports activities reporter Jouni Nieminen translated his feedback and the phrases that got here because of this left little question that Lehto’s first feedback concerning his shopper weren’t an exaggeration. Now the messaging was coming straight from the horse’s mouth.
Puljujarvi stated:
I desire a new begin with another staff. Taking part in in North America continues to be my objective. I’ll keep in Oulu till I’ve a contract. I’ll discover a place to play someplace.
Puljujarvi added that his physique feels prefer it ought to after he had a hip operation and that he’s able to go. That stated, with no contract, he gained’t be returning to the NHL and he’s assured he’ll be traded earlier than coaching camp and issues will work out elsewhere.
Associated: NHL Rumors: Oilers, Maple Leafs, Wild, Extra
Now What for Puljujarvi?
Puljuarvi could also be proper however and he may be traded. That stated, at this level, it doesn’t matter. The second he stated the phrases he did, when he doubled down and people feedback turned public, Puljujarvi basically ended his profession with the Oilers group. On the very least, the sympathy he may need constructed up with administration and the followers all however vanished.
The place his sense of entitlement comes from is unclear. He could have been mishandled by the Oilers — a staff that undoubtedly rushed him — however he’s additionally not earned his spot. It’s not as if Puljujarvi is a confirmed commodity. At this level, three years into his NHL profession, he’s nonetheless only a prospect with potential. Even the consensus on that feeling has pale.
Edmonton Oilers’ Jesse Puljujarvi, and Philadelphia Flyers’ Ivan Provorov (THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Matt Slocum)
To make issues worse, Puljujarvi isn’t giving this new administration staff an opportunity to proper a flawed (assuming they really feel there’s one to proper). As an alternative, as Allan Mitchell of The Athletic writes:
You could possibly not FIND an Oilers fan who would say two unhealthy phrases about Jesse Puljujarvi 6 months in the past. The stress was on administration. Now? Vice versa. Ken Holland seems to be robust, JP seems to be entitled. I’m sure that isn’t the case, however that’s the look right now. Rattling disgrace.
This will likely nonetheless be the affect of individuals Puljujarvi is associating himself with and it might be Puljujarvi himself who feels shafted by a staff he was purported to be additional together with at this level. No matter is happening, these have been poorly timed feedback meant to be heard by a supervisor that won’t be rushed into a choice. In brief, Holland has confirmed by means of related conditions with different groups, he might care much less about leaving a participant in Europe and ready somebody out.
It doesn’t appear logical the participant and the agent are nonetheless bluffing. Ought to they be or ought to they not be, Puljujarvi higher be ready to take quite a bit much less cash and really keep in Oulu. It seems to be like which may be the place he stays for the foreseeable future.
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