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Edmonton Oilers: Patience with Jesse Puljujarvi is needed

By Carson Trask |
COLOGNE, GERMANY - OCTOBER 03: Jesse Puljujarvi of Edmonton is challenged by Fabio Pfohl of Koeln during the NHL Global Series Challenge game between Edmonton Oilers and Kolner Haie at Lanxess Arena on October 3, 2018 in Cologne, Germany. (Photo by Lars Baron/NHLI via Getty Images)
COLOGNE, GERMANY - OCTOBER 03: Jesse Puljujarvi of Edmonton is challenged by Fabio Pfohl of Koeln during the NHL Global Series Challenge game between Edmonton Oilers and Kolner Haie at Lanxess Arena on October 3, 2018 in Cologne, Germany. (Photo by Lars Baron/NHLI via Getty Images)

With Jesse Puljujarvi being a healthy scratch for the Edmonton Oilers, rumors are starting to swirl about what his future with the team. Patience is needed with the young Fin.

To often in professional sports do teams run out of patience and give up on a young talent. The Edmonton Oilers need to avoid doing this themselves. Due to the early success of recent high draft picks, it has become expected that all high picks are able to step into the NHL right away and make an impact for their team.

Going into the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, the top three selections appeared to be set in stone. The Toronto Maple Leafs were to finally get their franchise center in Auston Matthews, The Winnipeg Jets, Finnish sniper Patrik Laine, and the Columbus Blue Jackets, who have a General Manager from Finland, would have the hulking Fin Jesse Puljujarvi sitting in their laps.

Columbus shocked the hockey world by selecting Canadian, Pierre-Luc Dubois. The shock of everyone in Attendance at the First Niagra Center in Buffalo quickly turned to how the Oilers were going to get the steal of the draft at number four. 6 foot 4 players with skill don’t grow on trees. It appeared to be a major get for the Oilers, who the season before snagged one of the best prospects ever in Connor McDavid.

To this point, Puljujarvi has been developing at a snail’s pace, and not all of the blame should be placed on him. The Oilers rushed him into the Lineup as an 18-year old, while also playing down the lineup with players that don’t compliment his game. He needs to get consistent minutes in the top 6 to show what he can do.

So, what is the best course of action in Puljujarvi’s development?

American Hockey League

To this point, Puljujarvi has played a total of 49 games for the Bakersfield Condors, registering 33 points. those are pretty solid numbers for a player of his age in the AHL. It is a tough league that even the top prospects around hockey struggle to put up big numbers.

If the Oilers are going to continue healthy scratching Puljujarvi, and refusing to keep him up in the lineup playing with Leon Draisaitl ( who he should be playing with), then the team needs to do the right thing and send him down. Let him play significant minutes in all types of situations. He is only 20 years old. It would not be the end of the world if he needed the extra time in the minors.

Head coach Todd McLellan holds Kailer Yamamoto in higher regards at this point, deciding to have him play on the second line over Puljujarvi. There is more of a trust with Yamamoto, so having Puljujarvi become a better 200-foot player in Bakersfield, would do wonders for his development.

Trade

The nuclear action would be for the Oilers to move on and trade Puljujarvi. This would be a terrible decision by the team. The Oilers have already been hosed on the two deals they have made trading skilled wingers. Taylor Hall won the Hart trophy last year and Jordan Eberle is a flat out better player than Ryan Strome.

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Not saying Puljujarvi will ever even come close to winning a Hart trophy or put up the numbers Eberle did in Edmonton, but he has too much talent to give up on now. Any smart executive knows to never sell low on a player. Puljujarvi’s stock isn’t high right now so getting anything of real value in return wouldn’t be likely.

The best the Oilers could hope for would be a player similar in age that also hasn’t lived up to expectations. A young player frustrating his current team. The best course of action is to be patient with Puljujarvi. Giving up on him has the potential to be a major gaffe for the Oilers in the not too distant future. The problem is, Peter Chiarelli has a history of giving up on young players.

Final Thoughts

Things have been going well for the Edmonton Oilers of late. Wins against perennial Stanley Cup contenders in impressive fashion has everyone in Oil country feeling good. However, one topic of discussion refuses to go away. What should the Oilers do with Jesse Puljujarvi?

He has clearly fallen out of favor with the head coach and while he should be given more of an opportunity to play higher in the lineup, that doesn’t appear to be happening anytime soon. The best thing the Oilers can do is send him down to the minors and let him develop properly.

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Young, skilled players develop at their own speed. They don’t always make the transition to the NHL smoothly. Patience is needed and required. Puljujarvi and the Oilers need to do their part in ensuring this relationship continues. Puljujarvi will be a big part of the Oilers future if the team handles him properly. Patience is essential. The Oilers won’t regret being patient, but they will regret giving up on him.

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