Photo: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The Carolina Hurricanes acquired right-wing Jesse Puljujarvi from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for right-wing prospect Patrik Puistola on Tuesday. Puljujarvi, 24, carries a salary cap charge of $3 million and can become a restricted free agent on July 1.
Jesse Puljujarvi, acquired by CAR, is a forechecking bottom six winger who pushes play in the right direction but lacks the finishing touch or playmaking to produce in a top six role. #LetsGoCanes pic.twitter.com/AQCZXTouFh
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) February 28, 2023
Puljujarvi, the fourth overall pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, requested a trade out of Edmonton in 2019 and did not play during the 2019-20 season because he did not sign a contract as a restricted free agent prior to December 1 and demanded a trade that year.
Puljujarvi has tallied 14 points (5g, 9a) in 58 NHL games with Edmonton in 2022-23 (source). The 6’4″, 201-pound winger has earned 112 points (51g, 61a) in 317 career NHL games with the Oilers and added five points (3g, 2a) in 20 career playoff games. Puljujarvi also played 163 Liiga games with Karpat from 2014-20, posting 110 points (50g, 60a) in Finland’s top professional league and serving as an alternate captain in 2020-21.
Born in Alvkarleby, Sweden, Puljujarvi represents Finland internationally and has played at numerous international tournaments, including the IIHF World Junior Championship (2015, 2016) and IIHF World Championship (2017). He was named Best Forward at the 2016 World Juniors and helped Finland win a gold medal, posting a tournament-high 17 points (5g, 12a) in seven games on a line with Patrik Laine and Hurricanes forward Sebastian Aho. Puljujarvi was selected fourth overall by Edmonton in the 2016 NHL Draft.
Puistola, 22, has registered 38 points (15g, 23a) in 56 Liiga games with Jukurit this season. The 6’0″, 174-pound forward has tallied 89 points (41g, 48a) in 223 career Liiga games with Tappara, Jukurit, KooKoo and JYP. The Tampere, Finland, native was selected by Carolina in the third round, 73rd overall, of the 2019 NHL Draft.
Carolina, who ranks ninth in the NHL with an average of 3.36 goals-per-game but 23rd with a 19.4% power-play efficiency, adds depth to its forward group with this acquisition. Puljujarvi averaged 41 seconds of power-play ice-time in Edmonton this season (tied for the eighth-most among forwards).
Carolina leads the Metropolitan Division by three points over the New Jersey Devils, who acquired left-wing Timo Meier from the San Jose Sharks on Sunday, with a game in hand.
The 2023 NHL Trade Deadline is at 3 PM ET on Friday.
By Harrison Brown