How Long Does Jesse Puljujarvi Get To Stay With Connor McDavid?

The Edmonton Oilers finally have options on players that get to wing with Connor McDavid and Evander Kane. Right now it is Jesse Puljujarvi, but for how long?

The Edmonton Oilers start their regular season tonight and right now it has been reported that the first line will be Evander Kane and Connor McDavid with Jesse Puljujarvi. The spot that Puljujarvi holds is a very coveted spot.

The winger on that line this season is likely going to be a rotating door, because there is so many players that can play in that role.  To start the job goes to Jesse Puljujarvi, but there is also the likes of Kailer Yamamoto, Dylan Holloway and Warren Foegele that could also play there.

I think it will simply come down to who is playing the best at the time. To start the season I think Jay Woodcroft went with something he knew from last season, but owing forward I think things will change.

Personally I would be extremely surprised if Jesse Puljujarvi even made it through tonight’s game without being changed out of that spot. If Puljujarvi doesn’t produce or create and chances in the first period I could see Yamamoto given a chance on that line.

This is what happened most of last season. Puljujarvi and Yamamoto basically just switched between first and second line. The reason this happened is there was no other competition for those two spots.

This year coming out of training camp there is two other players that are trying to end up in a top 6 role than last year in Holloway and Foegele. Holloway is in his first full NHL season whereas Foegele is looking to have a bounce back season.

Both of them played better than Yamamoto and Jesse Puljujarvi in the preseason till the last game where Puljujarvi stood out. This is why Puljujarvi in on the first line and the rest are behind him.

Jesse Puljujarvi Won’t Be There Forever

Even is Puljujarvi plays a solid 60 minutes tonight and makes it through the night playing on the first line, he will eventually be move around. The Edmonton Oilers as well as every team rarely keep their lines together for a whole season.

Things become stagnant if nothing changes. I expect at time this year, even if the Oilers are doing well, you are going to see Leon Draisaitl up on that first line. Top players want to play with top players, so it is nice to reward them by loading it up every now and then.

 It Starts Tonight

This is one thing that I will be paying close attention to tonight as the Edmonton Oilers play the Vancouver Canucks. How does Woodcroft adjust the lineup depending on success or failure? Does Puljujarvi stay first line winger all night? I don’t think he will, but if he does that means good things for the Oilers.