Kailer Yamamoto Or Jesse Puljujärvi

If the Edmonton Oilers think that Puljujärvi has maxed out his potential then I think they will keep Yamamoto and trade him. Puljujärvi having the higher potential ceiling means they should get a fairly high market value on the player.

Yamamoto has fit well on the wing when he plays with either Connor McDavid or Leon Drasiastl. He has excellent puck retrival skills and is excellent at finding the open spots when playing with those players.

The problem is when he isn’t playing with those players he doesn’t fit the role of a bottom 6 forward. He isn’t big enough or tough enough to play a tougher styled game. His is much more suited for a skilled role.

Being suite for a skilled role is fine for Yamamoto because that is where he will be playing. Yes Puljujärvi has the ability to play bottom six, but you don’t want him there. You want either of these players to be in your top 6.

Yamamoto has the skills and the ability to never been demoted in the line-up. Puljujärvi has had stretches where he played poor enough to be bumped down. Yamamoto has proven also be able to be used on the penalty kill. This is an added bonus for Kailer.

Wait And See

There is still the chance that Ken Holland can move other pieces around and keep both these players. There is also the chance that Puljujärvi has struggled in Edmonton enough and doesn’t even want to come back as an Oiler.

All that we know for certain is when the puck drops on opening day next season the line-up will be much different than it was on June 5th. Who will stay and who will go will be known only then.