Edmonton Oilers: Jesse Puljujarvi vs Kailer Yamamoto
Jesse Puljujarvi has started the season off hot, playing alongside McDavid has only helped the young Finnish star in the making make a name for himself. He’s put up 9 points in 7 games, while adding 4 penalty minutes, with a plus minus of +2.
The Oilers took Puljujarvi 4th overall in the 2016 NHL Entry draft, after playing in Finland for Karpat in the top professional hockey league in Finland(Liiga). in 143 games for Karpat, Puljujarvi averaged 0.73PPG, and totaled 104 points. Scouts were impressed that a big winger like Puljujarvi could skate as fast as he was able too, while maintaining a quick shot release and impressive defensive minded play.
Puljujarvi bounced between the NHL and AHL for a few seasons before finally becoming a mainstay in the NHL, but it wasn’t always perfect. The young forward became disgruntled, and before signing a two year deal with the Oilers, reports began coming out that a trade was imminent, and that there was no way of resolving the internal issues.
But, since the rumors were put to rest, he has continued to impress everyone around the league, while looking like an all star. It’s very likely Puljujarvi is in for a nice pay raise if he keeps up the pace he’s on all season.
Summary
If both respective players continue the pace they’re on, it’s obvious who the team is going to keep around, but I fully believe Yamamoto will bounce back and snap out of the scoring drought he’s started off with, everyone has bad skids and that’s all this is. Now I’m not saying at all the Oilers will HAVE to choose between these two forwards in the future, but hypothetically speaking if there is no other possible scenario, Puljujarvi is likely the player the team keeps around for the long run.
With guys like Dylan Holloway, Carter Savoie and Xavier Bourgault tearing up their leagues wherever they play, they will be fighting for roster spots sooner then people expect, and the Oilers top 9 will be even more dangerous then it is now, but what does this mean for Yamamoto if he is the one left out?
If by the trade deadline, Yamamoto has still yet to produce and he’s underperforming with any dips in the strong parts of his game, I truly believe he’ll be traded. A young guy like him when the Oilers are in win now mode, could bring the piece, or pieces the Oilers are lacking to help them win a Stanley Cup. I would not at all be shocked if Yamamoto is apart of a package deal to acquire a star goaltender or a top 4 D man, depending on what looks weak around deadline time.