Player Discussion Jesse Puljujarvi Part 11: Solid Return Season Completed, How Does Next Season Go For the Big Finn?

[Nostradumbass]

Or how about the concept of Bouchard and JP logging big minutes on the PP and making the playoffs. If you're so scared about money, might as well put Devon Shore as top C and McDavid on the 4th line so Katz can increase his net worth while McDavid misses all his bonuses. It's not your money, and it's not anyone's concern to worry about the cap. You ice the best players with the best chance to win on any given day.

Imagine if this kind of talk happens in the NFL, when Russell Wilson's contract was up, the Seahawks should have sat him out all season and make him suck so he would get a league minimum salary the following year.

McDavid doesn't get performance bonuses.

 

[Broberg Speed]

They didn't bring in Hyman at top dollar not to play him to his strengths. Zach Hyman is the best net front presence the Oilers have had since Ryan Smyth. That is the one position that needs filling on the power play. Zach Hyman will not falter on the power play. Puljujarvi will get power play minutes but he is the second option.

 

[K1984]

Some are acting as if we are parking Puljujarvi in favor of Chaisson again. Hyman is better net front right now anyways, it would make absolutely no sense from any perspective to play Puljujarvi over him on the PP.

Same goes for Bouchard, it isn’t like he’s playing behind Lagesson on the PP, it’s the highest scoring d man in the NHL last year.

Context people. It isn’t a difficult concept.

 

[CupofOil]

I get what you're saying, but if JP puts up 60 points this year, how do we afford him? What moves do we make to free up space? What literal moves?

As much as I like Pulju, I don't see him costing much more than $5M/yr tops without tons of top unit PP time.

With that said, they'll have around $12m in cap space with the 1m cap rise and assuming that Klef is LTIR'd again so they'll be able to pay Pulju even if he breaks out and find a decent enough goalie. The problem is if Yamamoto also breaks out then they'll have to move out salary which is why I hate that 1 year deal but that's another story for another thread.

 

[Broberg Speed]

A little off topic but that new cross-checking standard is going to give us a lot more power play opportunities. A strong cycle game for all 4 lines is a must now because that and battles in front of the net will bring about more power plays.

You know what individual player might benefit the most in the league with an NHL cross-checking crackdown? Elias Pettersson.

You'll need defenseman with quick feet and not so much the heavy lumber.

You know what defenceman might be hurt the most by this NHL cross-checking crackdown? Adam Larsson. Darnell Nurse as well but he has very fast feet. You get one chance to check legally then you have to use your feet. Reposition and check again. It will be a new standard for defencemen.

 

[Geardedandbearded]

Injuries and dings happen, pulju will see pp1 at some point this season most likely. Marchand made a good point about this earlier in the week and whether people want to accept it or not, contract status greatly affects deployment and injuries are key for young guys to get the opportunity(pp1 here).

 

[BarDownBobo]

I hope Jaffa is a Stargate reference.

Jaffa is a Finnish soft drink(and a pretty good one if my memory serves me well) so I’m assuming that’s where it comes from. Basically the equivalent of naming a puppy Pepsi here which is super cute imo.

 

[HockeyHistorian]

Jaffa is a Finnish soft drink(and a pretty good one if my memory serves me well) so I’m assuming that’s where it comes from. Basically the equivalent of naming a puppy Pepsi here which is super cute imo.

You are correct. It's one of the most iconic soft drinks sold in Finland. Orange flavored of course.

 

[Whyme]

You know me, I wouldn't mind seeing Jesse play the whole two minutes of the PP every game, it would be a dream come true for me.

Yeah I do and you know me, I couldn't resist the opportunity to say my thoughts I agree, but do think there are different kind of cases. Like it was stupid to put Kassian with McDavid just before the extension as you know his talent is limited.

If they have an as good option and if they keep Pulju happy enough to not search for PP time elsewhere that approach may make sense. I know there are different kinds of contracts, but if they go that route they could've kept Barries usage lower last year, Yamamoto in the 3rd line (if Foegele offers about the same as him) etc. The risk is they both might've gone elsewhere.

I don't think Pulju wants to go anywhere, but without such a great place in the 1st line he'd probably think he wants to go somewhere where he gets to play on the PP.

 

[iCanada]

You can tell that Jaffa is the happiest dog in the world.

Seems like a good way to get your dog stomped to death.

 

[Snipes45]

A little off topic but that new cross-checking standard is going to give us a lot more power play opportunities. A strong cycle game for all 4 lines is a must now because that and battles in front of the net will bring about more power plays.

You know what individual player might benefit the most in the league with an NHL cross-checking crackdown? Elias Pettersson.

You'll need defenseman with quick feet and not so much the heavy lumber.

You know what defenceman might be hurt the most by this NHL cross-checking crackdown? Adam Larsson. Darnell Nurse as well but he has very fast feet. You get one chance to check legally then you have to use your feet. Reposition and check again. It will be a new standard for defencemen.

EP falls down from a finger touch. He will draw a lot of PP's this year

 

[North Cole]

P.S. We don't have bison in Finland, so he might've missed the memo that they might be aggressive. Learning about the behavior of bison is not a part of the Finnish curriculum. I'm sure Pulju would have just smiled at the charging bison and it would have stopped.

TFW the Bison charges.

He would just hug it out with the Bison and it would stop.

 

[Whyme]

A little perspective. As of today Puljujarvi is the third best player on the first line playing with McDavid and Hyman. If Puljujarvi was on the second line he would be the third best player on that line playing with RNH and Draisaitl.
Jesse Puljujarvi Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com

It's always hard to compare young players who are taking clear steps with older ones, but I guess all we can do is look back. Hyman's and Pulju's /60 stats from last year are pretty close, especially the goals/60 (Pulju 1.082, Hyman 1.081). But I do understand what you're saying, hopefully Pulju takes another step and is seen as the 2nd best player in this line after a while

As for Nuge and Pulju things get more complicated. Nuge got almost four times more PP time but their points/60 were almost similar (Nuge 1.944, Pulju 1.803) and despite the vastly lower PP usage Pulju's goals/60 was a bit higher (Pulju 1.082, Nuge 0.889). I'm pretty sure with Nuge's PP time Pulju would be pretty clearly ahead.

BUT I'm not saying who's better and who's not, I just don't think it's clear Pulju would be the 3rd best player in the 2nd line. I also expect Pulju to take more new steps during the season.

 

[Whyme]

Anyway, Pulju is in a good spot and the whole team looks very interesting. You never know how the season progresses, there may be injuries that force these changes.

But I do hope Tippett is aware of Pulju's QB+shooter history so he could give it a go in the preseason. Even if PP works well it could potentially be even better. Or they could find they want to use Pulju in that position in the 2nd PP unit or if Nuge gets injured they would know what kind of an option they would have in Pulju.

 

[5 14 6 1]

Had to share this.. An amazing highlight pack of his journey and return to NHL.. Can't help but smile when this player has success

Can't wait to see how far this kids development can go.. All the tools to become one hell of a player.. still so young and we may see a massive break out for him this season.

 

[PulYou]

Deserving the nomination of the first star of the game.

 

[PaPaDee]

I have a feeling we’re gonna have a hard time retaining him after this season. He’s gonna command a big contract.

 

[McShogun99]

I have a feeling we’re gonna have a hard time retaining him after this season. He’s gonna command a big contract.

We should be able to fit him in if he ends up getting around 6 million. We’d have to get rid of Kassian and hope for Skinner to make the Juno to the NHL. Kieth retiring if he has a bad season would also be huge for us.

 

[Gordian Knot]

Do double hip surgery for everyone.

 

[Blue Line Turnover]

He looks like he is poised to be even better this year

 

[PulYou]

Do double hip surgery for everyone.

Or send them play a season to Europe like Perlini and Pulju.

 

[urho]

 

[GOilers88]

He looks like he's always fighting off a massive smile

 

[5 14 6 1]

the bison was kind... nice bison

 

[McJadeddog]

Seriously, how can anybody not like this kid?