Oilers’ Puljujarvi Says He’s Not Sure He Belongs in the NHL

In what appears to be an interview that demonstrates how frustrated Jesse Puljujarvi is with his lack of production in the NHL this season, the Edmonton Oilers forward said to a Finnish media outlet that he’s not sure he belongs in the NHL, noting, “Of course, I’d like to be a productive top-line player.” He added, “But right now, it looks like I can’t do that in NHL. Maybe some other league.” 

Puljujarvi declined a request to expand on his comments to as translated by Finnish journalist Tommi Seppälä, but it’s clear Puljujarvi feels lost. He noted he’s only got one goal in 20 games and he’s struggling to figure out why he’s been unable to hit the back of the net or provide more for a team he clearly wants to be a part of but doesn’t feel he’s contributing to as he should. There is a lot to like about his game and he does some things well, but fans and the organization has to have been growing impatient. It now appears Puljujarvi is too.

“I’m trying to find out who I am as a player, since it looks like I don’t fit anywhere here (in Edmonton). I’ve started checking a lot and lead the team in hits. At least that’s some positive,” he said. And, that’s all he can really do if he’s not scoring. Find ways to contribute if you’re not able to convert or hit the back of the net. And, for that reason, he’s not been pulled out of the lineup, even if he has dropped from the first line, to the second and then the third.

One would think he’d be able to score playing alongside Connor McDavid, yet Puljujarvi argues that it’s not as easy as one might think. “It takes a lot to play with a superstar like him,” Puljujärvi said. “You have to win battles and make plays at the same time. It’s a high-quality game and it takes a good player. You have to be a really good player to play with him.” It’s not clear if that’s an excuse or if he’s just not sure he’s up to the task, but that’s not good news for Oilers’ fans who have been hoping something clicks in Puljujarvi’s game or he finds chemistry with the best player in the world.

As for what is going on, Puljujarvi simply doesn’t know. “It’s hard to tell why I’m not scoring,” he continued. He knows he’s scored in the past and that he’s older and smarter, but the goals aren’t coming. GM Ken Holland noted that he’s not surprised to hear that a player has lost their confidence in the NHL. But, the onus is now on trying to find a way to help him get it back. “I don’t really have a solution,” Holland said. He noted it’s a hard league.

Next Steps For Oilers and Puljujarvi

One can only imagine that Holland will try to move Puljujarvi’s salary in a trade and the player would welcome such a scenario. If he’s thinking about leaving the NHL, the issue becomes the return. Can Holland actually get anything for the player? He tried to move him in the offseason for a second-round pick and no one took him up on it. With comments like these out there now and with the Oilers and the player not sure where to go next, there’s no leverage when trying to make this trade. It’s either dump the player (maybe even add a sweetener) or wait and just hope he figures it out.

Next: Islanders Have Room and a Possible Trade Interest In Patrick Kane