Rumor: Jesse Puljujarvi Part 3: Maybe He Picked Out His Brain Through His Nose One Lick at a Time?

[FanOfSadTeam]

btw this is Edmonton, the place that reportedly nobody wants to come to that is one of the fastest growing cities;

This is Heritage Festival going on right now. An event that flirts with 500k attendees.

View attachment 248207

This is Edmonton Folk Music Festival going on next week;



This is Edmonton Fringe Festival going on the week after;




This is a weekend or daytrip away;



Yeah, what a **** place to live...

That's great and everything (and I'm from Edmonton) but every major city has music festivals and various events going on in summer (some throughout the year because weather is not a hindrance like here). I've been fortunate enough to travel to many cities around the world, as well as live abroad for nearly a decade and Edmonton is certainly nothing special in terms of "things to do".

Also, for the average Joe, the distance to certain locations may be a factor in deciding where to live. But when you can fly a private jet to anywhere (like what Maroon did a couple season's ago during the break), it doesn't matter.

Now factoring this in + 6-7 months of winter + fishbowl environment where there is no anonymity if you're an Oiler + the travel times during a season + the team being terrible for a decade, it shouldn't be difficult to see why it is so hard for this team to attract UFAs.

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

Anything to give him an out.

McDavids poor leadership. He’s a high functioning autistic. Edmonton’s poor education system. Working conditions. The CBA. Lack of English.

Now he’s got learning disabilities.

Waiting for deforestation and lack of a vegan diet to be next.

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

Like clockwork. I've said again and again that there's also fault in Puljujarvi. I admit I've gone to details only rarely and maybe too rarely, but I've done it at least a few times anyway. No-one is perfect and that applies to myself, too, but the ones who almost never see anything wrong in the organization shouldn't be the ones blaming me for seeing things from only one side.

At least I haven't tried to affect others' opinions and comments for ages, but when I write here (once in several weeks lately) I get posts that make me feel unwelcome. Puljujarvi's been called an idiot, lazy, stubborn and all kinds of things over here and some of that rage and hatred spills over posters like myself. I mean look at the name of this thread, it's even funny it's come to this. I actually came here to find out how to delete my account and thought I'd write once more.

The fact is I don't know exactly what's going on. What I know is Puljujarvi hasn't played as well as I hoped at times and when he's done I haven't always been happy with the reward or lack of it. Whether it's being immature or lack of development, but of course he could've done his part better.

But I am not suprised it's come to this as I thought McLellan did just the right things to hurt his development. I feel McLellan made Pulju a kind of a scapegoat in the team and Puljujarvi has trouble in breaking away from that even when McLellan is gone. I honestly hoped things would've gone differently, but at the same time I have my reasons to believe Puljujarvi has pretty strong reasons to ask for a change of scenary.

What a joke. McLellan went to the wall for PJ and I know that to be fact. At some point the player has to move his game forward.

Now the excuse for poor Jesse is McLellan made him a scapegoat.

 

[Panda Bear]

Anything to give him an out.

McDavids poor leadership. He’s a high functioning autistic. Edmonton’s poor education system. Working conditions. The CBA. Lack of English.

Now he’s got learning disabilities.

Waiting for deforestation and lack of a vegan diet to be next.

You're acting like an ass who thinks the Oilers shit gold.

There's fault on both sides. It is beyond mind blowing that you think all of the blame lies on the player.

 

[RandomGuy79]

That's great and everything (and I'm from Edmonton) but every major city has music festivals and various events going on in summer (some throughout the year because weather is not a hindrance like here). I've been fortunate enough to travel to many cities around the world, as well as live abroad for nearly a decade and Edmonton is certainly nothing special in terms of "things to do".

Also, for the average Joe, the distance to certain locations may be a factor in deciding where to live. But when you can fly a private jet to anywhere (like what Maroon did a couple season's ago during the break), it doesn't matter.

Now factoring this in + 6-7 months of winter + fishbowl environment where there is no anonymity if you're an Oiler + the travel times during a season + the team being terrible for a decade, it shouldn't be difficult to see why it is so hard for this team to attract UFAs.

These players also don't live here alone, they have families. So on top of all of what you said imagine having a discussion with your wife and kids over what city to play in. What do you think they would like more Edmonton, New York or California?

 

[Panda Bear]

Hockey ability transcends all in the end ... Jesse just doesn't have "it".

There's no aspect of his game that leaps off the screen and makes you think "elite".

Ovechkin can come off as dim witted in interviews too ... he has the talent to back up his hype though.

Jesse's basically a lot like Magnus Paajarvi, except PVR had a better skating stride, whereas Puljujarvi has a harder shot release, but still not good enough to give NHL tier goalies a headache. Throw in a dash of Yakupov.

Ovechkin had two major things going for him: 1) he is an overwhelming talent; and 2) he has an incredible mentality where his confidence never falters.

Puljujarvi is a player who is neither an overwhelming talent nor does he have an incredible mentality. If he had the latter, he would have been putting up 50 points or more last season with a solid defensive game because he can do everything at an 8/10 or better if he is confident and feeling it. It's stupid to completely dismiss him as a player without talent because he's been playing without confidence, but that view does fit in with your posting history of being completely incapable of understanding how sports work.

 

[GameChanger]

What a joke. McLellan went to the wall for PJ and I know that to be fact. At some point the player has to move his game forward.

Now the excuse for poor Jesse is McLellan made him a scapegoat.

Blaming McLellan doesn't mean Jesse didn't have responsibility, too. As you've noticed there's plenty of posters who put all the blame to Jesse so I'd think there's room for someone to think both parties are to blame.

It's a fact at the time dozens of long-time Oilers fans thought McLellan was hurting Puljujarvi's development. No-one knows exactly how big of a part that played, but I believe it had a great effect as there were times when Puljujarvi's game was clearly developing, but one mistake made him change his playing style quite drastically. I have no problem with you seeing it in a different way, but I shouldn't have to apologize for my own thoughts.

 

[ThePhoenixx]

You've cherry picked images from the 2 months of the year Edmonton is livable (which coincides with the time of year most players move back to their home town).

Now contrast those with images from the drive from YEG to the arena district in the middle of January (or even worse, Northlands back in the day), which is what most players see when they come to Edmonton, and you can see why it's not exactly a popular destination.

What bullshit.

Edmonton has great springs and falls.

Lots of sunshine and long days.

The 'good' weather starts in May and goes till the end of October.

That's five to six months of a great outdoors. November is skiing weather and then the big freeze sets in for December, January and February. Then it breaks up in March.

Edmonton even get the odd Calgary Chinook that brings the temp above zero in those three bad months.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Your first paragraph is entirely irrelevant to everything I've ever said about the player. He's always been an obvious project to me and I've always wanted him to percolate in the minors or Europe for longer. It's not at all damned if you do and damned if you don't. I have been clear on this player: don't draft him as the Oilers, if you do so, don't rush him. If you insist on keeping him in the NHL, keep him with offensive talent in the hopes he can find chemistry. The Oilers have failed on all three counts.

You're simply making up some imagined stance of mine that I've never advocated, which is disappointing. I've always had the same position - I didn't want the Oilers to draft Puljujarvi, but since we did we should have handled his development completely different than we have.

He dominated lower levels and Finland continues to produce top level draft picks, that you're somehow turning this into yet another thread on NHL scouts 'overrating' European talents ignores the countless Canadians also drafted too high relative to the performance of picks drafted after them.

The disconnect occurred in a past thread where you were voicing that Finnish top picks in Pulju's draft year was substantiation of your view that Finland was now a clear elite hockey nation. I stated in that thread, several times, and would today that one of those players is bonafide, and even that player is struggling, the other is a complete bust, and third is as yet unknown.

Its OK that we're not seeing each others view on this, its not necessary to agree on all things. Its not entirely the case I think that I am mistaking the sum of what you've said re: Puljujarvi due to you citing him as one of the indicators that Finland is an "elite hockey nation"

In fairness to me its hard to reconcile your position on Pulju as on one hand you say you don't want the Oilers picking him and on the other you've used him as an example of Finland development prowess. Can you not see where the confusion would emanate from.

In anycase cheers, no biggy.

 

[Drivesaitl]

You've cherry picked images from the 2 months of the year Edmonton is livable (which coincides with the time of year most players move back to their home town).

Now contrast those with images from the drive from YEG to the arena district in the middle of January (or even worse, Northlands back in the day), which is what most players see when they come to Edmonton, and you can see why it's not exactly a popular destination.

Edmonton is a wonderful festival City all year round. Some of my favorite times of year here are in the winter. Flying Canoe festival, Deepfreeze, Silver Skate festival, Ice on Whyte etc. How would you not be aware of these?

Helps if you are athletic and welcome and embrace winter and winter activity. It helps to be hardy here, which I am.

I love winter.

 

[Drivesaitl]

What bull****.

Edmonton has great springs and falls.

Lots of sunshine and long days.

The 'good' weather starts in May and goes till the end of October.

That's five to six months of a great outdoors. November is skiing weather and then the big freeze sets in for December, January and February. Then it breaks up in March.

Edmonton even get the odd Calgary Chinook that brings the temp above zero in those three bad months.

This for the win.

As well something as simple as building a backyard sunroom enclosure attached, or detached, with even a modicum of insulation turns Edmonton into a 9mth outside climate.

I go right out of the hot tub into the sun room and air dry there in the sun room any day the sun is shining and can do that in October, November, March some days during Chinooks in the 3 harder winter months as well, which if we're being honest are not so hard as the climate changes, and gets warmer. Our winters now get far more weather breaks than used to be the case.

 

[Drivesaitl]

That's great and everything (and I'm from Edmonton) but every major city has music festivals and various events going on in summer (some throughout the year because weather is not a hindrance like here). I've been fortunate enough to travel to many cities around the world, as well as live abroad for nearly a decade and Edmonton is certainly nothing special in terms of "things to do".

Also, for the average Joe, the distance to certain locations may be a factor in deciding where to live. But when you can fly a private jet to anywhere (like what Maroon did a couple season's ago during the break), it doesn't matter.

Now factoring this in + 6-7 months of winter + fishbowl environment where there is no anonymity if you're an Oiler + the travel times during a season + the team being terrible for a decade, it shouldn't be difficult to see why it is so hard for this team to attract UFAs.

Nah, its due to a changing breed of pro hockey player. Within my lifetime its gone from everybody would want to play on the Montreal Canadiens to far fewer that are so inclined. The city has not changed, its gotten better in the case of Montreal.

Its the players that have changed, and I've spelled out why. What we have now is hockey players who ironically don't even like winter activity, as endless expenditure on indoor rinks has had the unintended negative consequence of not inuring kids with winter. Not conditioning them to love it. So that the first thing that free agent players want now is to play in a warmer clime, especially where nobody knows hockey, etc.

A guy like Marcel Dionne spent his entire career in a hockey backwater like LA instead of getting anywhere near a Stanley Cup. He would've loved to be a Canadien. Its what kids used to dream about here.

But in bizarre world the dream now is to play hockey in Florida. Being that I despise tacky places like Florida, I can't get that either.

 

[Cloned]

Nah, its do to a changing breed of pro hockey player. Within my lifetime its gone from everybody would want to play on the Montreal Canadiens to far fewer that are so inclined. The city has not changed, its gotten better in the case of Montreal.

Its the players that have changed, and I've spelled out why. What we have now is hockey players who ironically don't even like winter activity, as endless expenditure on indoor rinks has had the unintended negative consequence of not inuring kids with winter. Not conditioning them to love it. So that the first thing that free agent players want now is to play in a warmer clime, especially where nobody knows hockey, etc.

A guy like Marcel Dionne spent his entire career in a hockey backwater like LA instead of getting anywhere near a Stanley Cup. He would've loved to be a Canadien. Its what kids used to dream about here.

But in bizarre world the dream now is to play hockey in Florida. Being that I despise tacky places like Florida, I can't get that either.

In fairness, these are generally athletic, young 20-something male players with lots of disposable income.

I can think of at least two things that could get you in Florida or California that would be fairly appealing to a young 20-something male...

 

[FanOfSadTeam]

Nah, its do to a changing breed of pro hockey player. Within my lifetime its gone from everybody would want to play on the Montreal Canadiens to far fewer that are so inclined. The city has not changed, its gotten better in the case of Montreal.

Its the players that have changed, and I've spelled out why. What we have now is hockey players who ironically don't even like winter activity, as endless expenditure on indoor rinks has had the unintended negative consequence of not inuring kids with winter. Not conditioning them to love it. So that the first thing that free agent players want now is to play in a warmer clime, especially where nobody knows hockey, etc.

A guy like Marcel Dionne spent his entire career in a hockey backwater like LA instead of getting anywhere near a Stanley Cup. He would've loved to be a Canadien. Its what kids used to dream about here.

But in bizarre world the dream now is to play hockey in Florida. Being that I despise tacky places like Florida, I can't get that either.

I agree. That's because players get paid way more than in the 80s compared to the average person. With a higher income comes a different lifestyle. That's why I said the things that makes Edmonton a great place don't really matter to the rich because their priorities are different. They are looking for a luxurious, comfortable, lifestyle for themselves and their family. When they see other athletes or celebrities living that life on social media...they are kind of expected to do the same.

Reminds me of when McDavid was chirped by his teammates for using his cheap OHL bag for hockey instead of some luxury brand when he joined the team. Or I forget which player was chirped by his teammates for driving a Honda Accord.

Occasionally, you get the player who doesn't care about any of that and enjoys the simpler things (ex. Hendricks, Gryba)...but those players are few and far between and usually aren't the elite players who get paid a shit-ton

 

[Aerrol]

The disconnect occurred in a past thread where you were voicing that Finnish top picks in Pulju's draft year was substantiation of your view that Finland was now a clear elite hockey nation. I stated in that thread, several times, and would today that one of those players is bonafide, and even that player is struggling, the other is a complete bust, and third is as yet unknown.

Its OK that we're not seeing each others view on this, its not necessary to agree on all things. Its not entirely the case I think that I am mistaking the sum of what you've said re: Puljujarvi due to you citing him as one of the indicators that Finland is an "elite hockey nation"

In fairness to me its hard to reconcile your position on Pulju as on one hand you say you don't want the Oilers picking him and on the other you've used him as an example of Finland development prowess. Can you not see where the confusion would emanate from.

In anycase cheers, no biggy.

This is more selective memory from you - I cited an article which referred to Laine and Pulju in a thread where I went on to discuss the numerous other top Finnish prospects entering the league. One Puljujarvi doesn't change a clear trend of significant improvement from Finlands development program.

 

[Drivesaitl]

In fairness, these are generally athletic, young 20-something male players with lots of disposable income.

I can think of at least two things that could get you in Florida or California that would be fairly appealing to a young 20-something male...

That isn't available here?!

I checked out Heritage festival just yesterday and lets just say there were hoards of beauty around.

Youth is wasted on the young.

 

[Cloned]

That isn't available here?!

I checked out Heritage festival just yesterday and lets just say there were hoards of beauty around.

Youth is wasted on the young.

My response in lyric form:

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

You're acting like an ass who thinks the Oilers **** gold.

There's fault on both sides. It is beyond mind blowing that you think all of the blame lies on the player.

You obviously haven’t read my posts on the player. The Oilers completely dropped the ball on him.

However the posts that give him an out and absolve him of responsibility are laughable.

Your grasping at the learning disability straw.

McDavid is a poor leader
Edmonton’s education system
Learning disabilities.
The CBA
Todd Mclelland made him a scapegoat.
He is a high functioning autistic.
Lack of English.

Anything but poor Jesse who is so hard done by and his near $1,000,000 per year contract he had that he has to get a fresh start somewhere else.

If we are really quiet we can hear violins softly playing and doves crying for him.

I’m sorry but he’s being offered a clean slate start here and he is crying and taking his toys and going home.

 

[Drivesaitl]

This is more selective memory from you - I cited an article which referred to Laine and Pulju in a thread where I went on to discuss the numerous other top Finnish prospects entering the league. One Puljujarvi doesn't change a clear trend of significant improvement from Finlands development program.

Its not that selective because your one citation was making a PRIMARY point of Finlands 3 high picks that one draft year being indicative of Finland being "An Elite hockey nation" and you argued all of that, a lot, and really you couldn't have argued harder on that behalf.

Which is fine, we disagree. I certainly don't think Finland is an elite hockey nation and I'm not likely to change my view on results of Laine, Pulju, Juolevi etc.

That said there are some really solid young Finnish players around and I'm a huge fan of Heiskanen, that kid is special.

There needs to be more time to assess where Finnish hockey is really at as it pertains to the NHL.

Theres so much argument that this is the Finnish hockey halcyon and yet I feel that Selanne, Kurri, Tikkanen, are all amont the best ever Finnish NHLers, and all a long long time ago. I would take any of that crop over the current Finnish stars.

Anyway, moving on if you want.

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

Blaming McLellan doesn't mean Jesse didn't have responsibility, too. As you've noticed there's plenty of posters who put all the blame to Jesse so I'd think there's room for someone to think both parties are to blame.

It's a fact at the time dozens of long-time Oilers fans thought McLellan was hurting Puljujarvi's development. No-one knows exactly how big of a part that played, but I believe it had a great effect as there were times when Puljujarvi's game was clearly developing, but one mistake made him change his playing style quite drastically. I have no problem with you seeing it in a different way, but I shouldn't have to apologize for my own thoughts.

Obviously both parties (the Oilers organization and JP) are to blame however your supposition that he was made a scapegoat by McLellan is factually incorrect. They may be your thoughts but that doesn’t make them correct.

Find another excuse for why JP failed here but it’s not that one.

 

[Drivesaitl]

I agree. That's because players get paid way more than in the 80s compared to the average person. With a higher income comes a different lifestyle. That's why I said the things that makes Edmonton a great place don't really matter to the rich because their priorities are different. They are looking for a luxurious, comfortable, lifestyle for themselves and their family. When they see other athletes or celebrities living that life on social media...they are kind of expected to do the same.

Reminds me of when McDavid was chirped by his teammates for using his cheap OHL bag for hockey instead of some luxury brand when he joined the team. Or I forget which player was chirped by his teammates for driving a Honda Accord.

Occasionally, you get the player who doesn't care about any of that and enjoys the simpler things (ex. Hendricks, Gryba)...but those players are few and far between and usually aren't the elite players who get paid a ****-ton

Excellent post, thanks for the thought out reply. You aren't wrong, that's for sure.

But the best things in life don't cost a lot of money, and that will always be a relative truth, and probably always be poorly understood.

As we hear more and more about events in the USA this weekend, and the over 200 that have occurred this year I question the assessments (not yours) of where the best places to be are. I'll pick Canada anytime.

Its too bad Pulju didn't like it here, but a lot of that is on him I feel.

 

[Aerrol]

Its not that selective because your one citation was making a PRIMARY point of Finlands 3 high picks that one draft year being indicative of Finland being "An Elite hockey nation" and you argued all of that, a lot, and really you couldn't have argued harder on that behalf.

Which is fine, we disagree. I certainly don't think Finland is an elite hockey nation and I'm not likely to change my view on results of Laine, Pulju, Juolevi etc.

That said there are some really solid young Finnish players around and I'm a huge fan of Heiskanen, that kid is special.

There needs to be more time to assess where Finnish hockey is really at as it pertains to the NHL.

Theres so much argument that this is the Finnish hockey halcyon and yet I feel that Selanne, Kurri, Tikkanen, are all amont the best ever Finnish NHLers, and all a long long time ago. I would take any of that crop over the current Finnish stars.

Anyway, moving on if you want.

I'll drop it after this but I'll note that you haven't yet acknowledged that this began because you totally misrepresented my positions and instead have now moved the goal posts back to a 'Finnish development isn't that good NHL scouts are biased against Canadian boys' argument.

Kurri (1980-1998), Selanne (1992-2014) and Tikkanen (1984-1999) are at best two separate crops of players, and while I think it's quite possible that at least one of Barkov, Laine, Rantanen, Heiskanen and Kakko ends up with a career better than even Kurri, the whole point of an improved development program isn't about one offs. It's that all of these prospects are hitting the NHL year after year unlike years past where there were huge gaps between the emergence of Finnish stars.

 

[Drivesaitl]

I'll drop it after this but I'll note that you haven't yet acknowledged that this began because you totally misrepresented my positions and instead have now moved the goal posts back to a 'Finnish development isn't that good NHL scouts are biased against Canadian boys' argument.

Kurri (1980-1998), Selanne (1992-2014) and Tikkanen (1984-1999) are at best two separate crops of players, and while I think it's quite possible that at least one of Barkov, Laine, Rantanen, Heiskanen and Kakko ends up with a career better than even Kurri, the whole point of an improved development program isn't about one offs. It's that all of these prospects are hitting the NHL year after year unlike years past where there were huge gaps between the emergence of Finnish stars.

Sorry, really the notion that any has a better career than Kurri is completely odd. I can only assume you are younger and never really watched Kurri play. He was a consummate player, elite in both ends of the ice. Miles better than ANY current Finnish player.

The bolded, you should note, is probably a big reason why you touting Finland as an "elite hockey power" was such hyperbole. There have been lots of gaps in Finnish elite play and there will probably be again.

As per the bias against NA players, and increasing preference for Euro players that I stated, its immediately evident that several of the NA picks, that were picked later, are much better than any of the Finnish picks, which were picked high in 2016. Laine is a disorganized defensive joke. A reason your team doesn't ever get out of the first round. Pulju is a complete bust, obviously way overrated. Jury is out on the other high Finnish pick. Pretty clearly the draft didn't get it right in 2016. Pretty clearly Finnish prospects were for some reason drastically overrated.

Finally, why would I acknowledge a misrepresentation I didn't make. You seemingly didn't note the ambiguity of your stated position, and seemingly still don't. I've explicitly pointed out the inconsistency, you don't want to look at it, which is again fine.

 

[Panda Bear]

You obviously haven’t read my posts on the player. The Oilers completely dropped the ball on him.

However the posts that give him an out and absolve him of responsibility are laughable.

Your grasping at the learning disability straw.

McDavid is a poor leader
Edmonton’s education system
Learning disabilities.
The CBA
Todd Mclelland made him a scapegoat.
He is a high functioning autistic.
Lack of English.

Anything but poor Jesse who is so hard done by and his near $1,000,000 per year contract he had that he has to get a fresh start somewhere else.

If we are really quiet we can hear violins softly playing and doves crying for him.

I’m sorry but he’s being offered a clean slate start here and he is crying and taking his toys and going home.

I've bolded stupid reasons.

Having a learning disability wouldn't excuse him from responsibility. It just means that the cards are more heavily stacked against someone. I don't know how else to reconcile his failure to learn English and his continued immaturity. He's just not a smart dude, and he's very likely not even an average dude in terms of brain power.

I don't know how clean that slate really is given that the locker room is largely similar, some of the coaches are still here like Gulutzan, and hockey operations staff is still filled with people like Green and Howson. I get why he's so sour on the prospect of returning, but god is he ever handling it poorly.

 

[Mickelsnitz]

He’s handling it poorly because it appears he is entitled, that’s not a learning disability. Not learning English is called lazy, new languages require hard work.
Stubborn isn’t a learning disability, it’s a character flaw.
Guys looking like a hoax.