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

[These Are The Days]

So he allegedly blew off the English classes? Jesus....

Yak rightfully deserved all the crap he got. It's not harsh it's true. The guy wanted to be Pavel Bure without the skill to do it. Yak's only other problem is that he knew how to work hard, bust his ass and give 5000% effort and really stand out for it. The problem is he didn't know how to work smart. It doesn't look like Pulju knows how to do either. It's not hindsight to say that there really was a lot of bad luck on Yak's end but Pulju? This guy just sounds like an asshole.

I'm really starting to think that this has nothing to do with him getting his feelies hurt over AHL demotions or how he was used in the anymore. I think there's a 50/50 chance McDavid told him "Pack your skates, go to Finland and get out of my locker room" because he already took an open shot saying "If you don't want to be here we don't want you"

 

[oobga]

I think that's probably damn near any coach. No one likes entitled players, especially ones that have done nothing at the pro level. Sure maybe other coaches might be able to tolerate it a bit longer, but most guys won't deal with that crap for long.

Guys that we had that would have probably dealt with it were Krueger and Nelson. Both guys seemed to be the types that did everything they could to bring players on their side. For sure though, most coaches are not going to respond well to a guy that thinks he should be getting top 6 ice time by default, and thinks he can write off and excuse himself from any bad performance in the bottom 6. What the coach does with that situation probably differs widely though.

McLellan seemed to give guys the silent treatment, we've had a number of depth guys leave here that said they had no idea what they were supposed to do to move up the lineup and that the coaches weren't talking to them. Hitch, it's probably punishment as soon as he gets a sniff of that attitude A Krueger type coach is probably talking to those kinds of guys constantly, trying to convince them to buy in and play for the team, and they are actually capable of bridging that gap in a lot of cases. Yak is a good example of that contrast. Krueger put all kinds of effort into Yak. Eakins and McLellan, he was in the doghouse almost immediately with both, and just left out on an island.

 

[These Are The Days]

TB is good at not overcomplicating talent

They also signed Tyler Johnson after he went undrafted the year he was voted Best Overage Player, Top Defensive Forward, Best Skater, and Top Faceoff Man, second in Most Valuable to Team, and third in Most Accurate Shot in the Best of the West 2011 poll.

I wish I could say that was true. We handled Jonathan Drouin like he was freaking Rubik's cube. The kid was benched en route to a SCF berth, was stapled to the 4th line his whole rookie season and was then getting benched for his 1st mistake in any game his sophomore year. Then once the guy had enough of Jon Cooper's shit and asked to be traded after being sent to the AHL (so we could keep some OTHER guy who had a fraction of Drouin's talent and got more playing time) and then everyone threw up their arms like "zomg what an entitled brat!!" and once he came back and was actually treated like a top 6 player he responded by almost singlehandedly carrying us through the Islanders series at stretches in the playoffs and was the only reliable guy we had besides Hedman and Kucherov when we came within a point of the playoffs the following season. We took head case Tony DeAngelo for absolutely no reason and banished him to the the Coyotes first chance we got once DeAngelo did what DeAngelo inevitably does. We bungled Slater Koekkoek's development for 6 years before we finally just gave him up for all but free to Chicago -where he played just fine.

If it wasn't for the fact we're finding all stars in rounds 2-4 on a yearly basis we'd have been damned to a rebuild 2 years ago.

 

[frag2]

So he allegedly blew off the English classes? Jesus....

Yak rightfully deserved all the crap he got. It's not harsh it's true. The guy wanted to be Pavel Bure without the skill to do it. Yak's only other problem is that he knew how to work hard, bust his ass and give 5000% effort and really stand out for it. The problem is he didn't know how to work smart. It doesn't look like Pulju knows how to do either. It's not hindsight to say that there really was a lot of bad luck on Yak's end but Pulju? This guy just sounds like an *******.

I'm really starting to think that this has nothing to do with him getting his feelies hurt over AHL demotions or how he was used in the anymore. I think there's a 50/50 chance McDavid told him "Pack your skates, go to Finland and get out of my locker room" because he already took an open shot saying "If you don't want to be here we don't want you"

Yep. I've said before - Yak got instructions but didn't know what to do with them; JP got instructions but didn't care to listen at all

 

[bobbythebrain]

I wish I could say that was true. We handled Jonathan Drouin like he was freaking Rubik's cube. The kid was benched en route to a SCF berth, was stapled to the 4th line his whole rookie season and was then getting benched for his 1st mistake in any game his sophomore year. Then once the guy had enough of Jon Cooper's **** and asked to be traded after being sent to the AHL (so we could keep some OTHER guy who had a fraction of Drouin's talent and got more playing time) and then everyone threw up their arms like "zomg what an entitled brat!!" and once he came back and was actually treated like a top 6 player he responded by almost singlehandedly carrying us through the Islanders series at stretches in the playoffs and was the only reliable guy we had besides Hedman and Kucherov when we came within a point of the playoffs the following season. We took head case Tony DeAngelo for absolutely no reason and banished him to the the Coyotes first chance we got once DeAngelo did what DeAngelo inevitably does. We bungled Slater Koekkoek's development for 6 years before we finally just gave him up for all but free to Chicago -where he played just fine.

If it wasn't for the fact we're finding all stars in rounds 2-4 on a yearly basis we'd have been damned to a rebuild 2 years ago.

This argument doesn't make sense to me. TB has a fantastic record of developing players, especially late round picks...but they screwed up Drouin?

Isn't it more likely Drouin got the treatment he did b/c he wasn't following instructions like everyone else?

If a team has a good system of developing players, I don't buy the notion that the coach or gm simply became clueless w/ a player.

And I agree you guys find great players in late rounds...buy you also develop them

 

[FlameChampion]

Leavins writes in his 9 Thoughts that PJ blew off his language classes that the Oilers arranged from Day 1 (contrary to popular belief that the Oilers didn’t arrange English lessons for him).

I’ve come to the conclusion JP is a ****ing entitled idiot.

I find it hard to believe that the Oilers werent trying to help him out with his english from the beginning, so this isnt really a surprise. Maybe its not really the case, and maybe someones told Leavins to report it, but I doubt it. I cant really recall a Finnish player having so many problems with the language so I think theres definitely more fault on the player than the Team when it comes to the language thing.

The more and more that comes out, the more it reflects poorly on JP.

I do find it a bit hard to believe because JP has never really come across as an entitled kid (to me). I think overall hes probably a good kid, but I always just get the impression that he doesnt have a strong foundation of family/friends to fall back on and give him good advice. Like another poster has said, I dont think hes really approached being a hockey player as a profession or a career. I dont think his agent, himself or his family have made very good decisions in regards to his career. Not sure that anyone from his circle has been looking at the long term picture for him.

He also probably isnt that well liked in the locker room and why hes now demanded a trade(as it is more obvious a player personnel issue than a management/coaching issue. I think he was one of the players that McDavid called out about players not wanting to be here.

 

[Drivesaitl]

I wish I could say that was true. We handled Jonathan Drouin like he was freaking Rubik's cube. The kid was benched en route to a SCF berth, was stapled to the 4th line his whole rookie season and was then getting benched for his 1st mistake in any game his sophomore year. Then once the guy had enough of Jon Cooper's **** and asked to be traded after being sent to the AHL (so we could keep some OTHER guy who had a fraction of Drouin's talent and got more playing time) and then everyone threw up their arms like "zomg what an entitled brat!!" and once he came back and was actually treated like a top 6 player he responded by almost singlehandedly carrying us through the Islanders series at stretches in the playoffs and was the only reliable guy we had besides Hedman and Kucherov when we came within a point of the playoffs the following season. We took head case Tony DeAngelo for absolutely no reason and banished him to the the Coyotes first chance we got once DeAngelo did what DeAngelo inevitably does. We bungled Slater Koekkoek's development for 6 years before we finally just gave him up for all but free to Chicago -where he played just fine.

If it wasn't for the fact we're finding all stars in rounds 2-4 on a yearly basis we'd have been damned to a rebuild 2 years ago.

Good post. I've argued many times here as well that Tampa, particularly Cooper, got Drouin wrong. It happens and even to the best people in the best orgs.

Tampa is as you mention good at finding players through the draft rounds.

Development being imperfect, and not science, and humans being subject to bias all kinds of things happen on the path to prospect fulfillment.

No team in Pro sports is infallible at this.

Even with the Oilers a Manager like Sather found gold in players like Joe Murphy, Adam Graves, Marty Gelinas as recently as 1990 and then a few years later was picking Steve Kelly instead of Shane Doan at an Edmonton hosted NHL draft and was trading Miroslav Satan for a bag of hockey pucks..and saying Miro wasn't talented enough.

Humans, even the best, tend to be bad at objective and consistent assessment.

 

[Drivesaitl]

This argument doesn't make sense to me. TB has a fantastic record of developing players, especially late round picks...but they screwed up Drouin?

Isn't it more likely Drouin got the treatment he did b/c he wasn't following instructions like everyone else?

If a team has a good system of developing players, I don't buy the notion that the coach or gm simply became clueless w/ a player.

And I agree you guys find great players in late rounds...buy you also develop them

Drouin could do nothing right in Tampa. Cooper was known to go with his guys. Its long established if Cooper doesn't like you it doesn't change much. Drouin came along at the wrong time in a team development scenario. At a time where the lineup was pretty filled out. But he was given few favors in Tampa, and commensurate with the talent he is. It was a case of Tampa being rich with players and feeling that Drouin had limitations.

This was no more sentient than the Bruins under Chiarelli figuring they didn't need Seguin. Its just bias, and it impacts all orgs to lesser or greater degrees. Drouin was a ready to unpack player. He was going to land somewhere and do fine. That wasn't going to be in Tampa.

 

[Drivesaitl]

I find it hard to believe that the Oilers werent trying to help him out with his english from the beginning, so this isnt really a surprise. Maybe its not really the case, and maybe someones told Leavins to report it, but I doubt it. I cant really recall a Finnish player having so many problems with the language so I think theres definitely more fault on the player than the Team when it comes to the language thing.

The more and more that comes out, the more it reflects poorly on JP.

I do find it a bit hard to believe because JP has never really come across as an entitled kid (to me). I think overall hes probably a good kid, but I always just get the impression that he doesnt have a strong foundation of family/friends to fall back on and give him good advice. Like another poster has said, I dont think hes really approached being a hockey player as a profession or a career. I dont think his agent, himself or his family have made very good decisions in regards to his career. Not sure that anyone from his circle has been looking at the long term picture for him.

He also probably isnt that well liked in the locker room and why hes now demanded a trade(as it is more obvious a player personnel issue than a management/coaching issue. I think he was one of the players that McDavid called out about players not wanting to be here.

Jesse was speaking at the draft that he liked being picked by the Oilers because he would be playing on a line with McDavid. He was saying that before a minute played here. As if it was assumed.

What does entitled look like? Its subject to a lot of interpretation bias, and we all pick different things. But Pulju quite clearly expected to be a star here and that it was just roll along regardless of what he did. Puljujarvi is a textbook case of assuming before doing. That was a problem from the start.

Agree with the rest of your post and important to note that players like McD, Drai, Nuge, Nurse etc are poster children for being kind to others. These are not jerks, any of them, and they are easy people to get along with I suspect. Provided you do your job. Even when you don't, whether it be Lucic, Pulju, Rieder etc the acceptance is still very patient.

This was not a hard to crack team mentality, not hard to gain trust here as it was afforded unconditionally, and was a dead easy lineup to crack as a winger.

McD was even prepared to accept the D who physically assaulted him and laughed about it. These are not people that hold grudges, or harbor any hostility to any team mate.

 

[TheNumber4]

LOL Jesse blew off his English lessons. What a f***in tard.

 

[joestevens29]

I find it hard to believe that the Oilers werent trying to help him out with his english from the beginning, so this isnt really a surprise. Maybe its not really the case, and maybe someones told Leavins to report it, but I doubt it. I cant really recall a Finnish player having so many problems with the language so I think theres definitely more fault on the player than the Team when it comes to the language thing.

The more and more that comes out, the more it reflects poorly on JP.

I do find it a bit hard to believe because JP has never really come across as an entitled kid (to me). I think overall hes probably a good kid, but I always just get the impression that he doesnt have a strong foundation of family/friends to fall back on and give him good advice. Like another poster has said, I dont think hes really approached being a hockey player as a profession or a career. I dont think his agent, himself or his family have made very good decisions in regards to his career. Not sure that anyone from his circle has been looking at the long term picture for him.

He also probably isnt that well liked in the locker room and why hes now demanded a trade(as it is more obvious a player personnel issue than a management/coaching issue. I think he was one of the players that McDavid called out about players not wanting to be here.

Things would've been so much better if he would've left it at "I'd like an opportunity to play if the Oilers aren't going to give it to me then trade me".

It's what I somewhat assumed he meant a couple months back when the rumors started, but he seems to have gone out of his way to make sure we clearly know he wants nothing to do with us.

The fact that every week or every other week he or his agent are speaking are making things much worse. Not only for us here, but how many guys are just looking at other options at this point. What team really is going to commit top 6 time to him?

 

[bobbythebrain]

Drouin could do nothing right in Tampa. Cooper was known to go with his guys. Its long established if Cooper doesn't like you it doesn't change much. Drouin came along at the wrong time in a team development scenario. At a time where the lineup was pretty filled out. But he was given few favors in Tampa, and commensurate with the talent he is. It was a case of Tampa being rich with players and feeling that Drouin had limitations.

This was no more sentient than the Bruins under Chiarelli figuring they didn't need Seguin. Its just bias, and it impacts all orgs to lesser or greater degrees. Drouin was a ready to unpack player. He was going to land somewhere and do fine. That wasn't going to be in Tampa.

Had nothing to do w/ depth in either case. Drouin was not putting in effort on his 2way game. He also had lazy tendencies, inconsistency and was entitled. It's currently following him in MTL ATM.

Point, Gourde, Cirelli all got top 6. They even acquired Miller. Depth and timing was not the issue.

Seguin was traded for his womanizing and it cost Bos resigning Horton. Again, it was a player issue, not a depth/opportunity one

 

[BoldNewLettuce]

Its roo bad hes dumber than a sack of hammers because i bet hed be a good 3c with a bit of work and the roght mindset.

 

[Took a pill in Sbisa]

I wish I could say that was true. We handled Jonathan Drouin like he was freaking Rubik's cube. The kid was benched en route to a SCF berth, was stapled to the 4th line his whole rookie season and was then getting benched for his 1st mistake in any game his sophomore year. Then once the guy had enough of Jon Cooper's **** and asked to be traded after being sent to the AHL (so we could keep some OTHER guy who had a fraction of Drouin's talent and got more playing time) and then everyone threw up their arms like "zomg what an entitled brat!!" and once he came back and was actually treated like a top 6 player he responded by almost singlehandedly carrying us through the Islanders series at stretches in the playoffs and was the only reliable guy we had besides Hedman and Kucherov when we came within a point of the playoffs the following season. We took head case Tony DeAngelo for absolutely no reason and banished him to the the Coyotes first chance we got once DeAngelo did what DeAngelo inevitably does. We bungled Slater Koekkoek's development for 6 years before we finally just gave him up for all but free to Chicago -where he played just fine.

If it wasn't for the fact we're finding all stars in rounds 2-4 on a yearly basis we'd have been damned to a rebuild 2 years ago.

I wasn't referring to player development, but identifying and procuring talent.

 

[harpoon]

Jesse was speaking at the draft that he liked being picked by the Oilers because he would be playing on a line with McDavid. He was saying that before a minute played here. As if it was assumed

I feel like this is the harshest possible interpretation of what he said. Let’s remember that everyone including that idiot Chiarelli was talking like it was a done deal that JP was going straight to the NHL. Chiarelli’s comment - ‘ I think he’ll be ready to play. He could bump somebody out.’ Let’s also accept as a given that JP was asked about McDavid - like every other player who is drafted by, traded for or rumoured to be coming to Edmonton. It’s not like JP made his comment straight off the top of his head or something. And here’s what he said - ‘Connor knows everything, very good hands, very fast skater. I hope I play with him.’

Everyone talks about what it would be like to play with McDavid. Even on this board fans routinely cite the opportunity to be on the same team as Connor as a drawing card for attracting players to Edmonton. Just being on the same team is considered a privilege and an opportunity. I don’t know how anyone could fault JP for saying he hopes he plays with McDavid. Who wouldn’t? I don’t see the entitlement that you read into his comment. jmo.

But Pulju quite clearly expected to be a star here and that it was just roll along regardless of what he did. Puljujarvi is a textbook case of assuming before doing. That was a problem from the start

I think this is the more accurate take. He thought he was better than he is and he underestimated the quality of competition in the NHL. Assuming before doing is exactly right imo. I also agree with @FlameChampion above that this kid has been getting terrible guidance. I’ve posted it before, but where are the responsible adult relatives in his family and wtf are they telling him? Having awful agent representation is one thing, but I would have thought that JP’s family members - those who care about him as something other than a $ sign - would have 1) had him better prepared for life in NA, and 2) steered him away from burning bridges with the NHL club that owns his rights. Maybe they are telling him the right things and JP doesn’t listen to them either ... it’s a possibility I guess.

Found one other quote from draft day. Janne Niinimaa ... a guy who knows a thing or two about Edmonton and what it takes to have an NHL career said ‘he’s got the whole package. But he’s not mature’. Given JP’s comments and attitude over the last six months I think it’s safe to say he still isn’t. What a waste.

 

[Drivesaitl]

I feel like this is the harshest possible interpretation of what he said. Let’s remember that everyone including that idiot Chiarelli was talking like it was a done deal that JP was going straight to the NHL. Chiarelli’s comment - ‘ I think he’ll be ready to play. He could bump somebody out.’ Let’s also accept as a given that JP was asked about McDavid - like every other player who is drafted by, traded for or rumoured to be coming to Edmonton. It’s not like JP made his comment straight off the top of his head or something. And here’s what he said - ‘Connor knows everything, very good hands, very fast skater. I hope I play with him.’

Everyone talks about what it would be like to play with McDavid. Even on this board fans routinely cite the opportunity to be on the same team as Connor as a drawing card for attracting players to Edmonton. Just being on the same team is considered a privilege and an opportunity. I don’t know how anyone could fault JP for saying he hopes he plays with McDavid. Who wouldn’t? I don’t see the entitlement that you read into his comment. jmo.
I think this is the more accurate take. He thought he was better than he is and he underestimated the quality of competition in the NHL. Assuming before doing is exactly right imo. I also agree with @FlameChampion above that this kid has been getting terrible guidance. I’ve posted it before, but where are the responsible adult relatives in his family and wtf are they telling him? Having awful agent representation is one thing, but I would have thought that JP’s family members - those who care about him as something other than a $ sign - would have 1) had him better prepared for life in NA, and 2) steered him away from burning bridges with the NHL club that owns his rights. Maybe they are telling him the right things and JP doesn’t listen to them either ... it’s a possibility I guess.

Found one other quote from draft day. Janne Niinimaa ... a guy who knows a thing or two about Edmonton and what it takes to have an NHL career said ‘he’s got the whole package. But he’s not mature’. Given JP’s comments and attitude over the last six months I think it’s safe to say he still isn’t. What a waste.

My comments are in reply to a post that stated that Pulju showed no signs of entitlement. He certainly did, figured everything would be automatic, blew off English lessons, blew off on and off ice instruction and got the response to that from two or more different coaches that tried to work with him to no avail. The Craig Simpson post as well, if you recall, certainly speak of a problematic attitude and difficulty responding to direction and that the org was frustrated what to do with this kid.

Oilers insider with stern message about Jesse Puljujarvi: "Keep the chain pretty tight around the neck"

Simpson himself was frustrated in the kids apparent lack of try, lack of making the team play him. That article then, and now reads everything about the player. Pulju expecting stuff to fall in his lap without working for it at all.

In several seasons here the player responded to nothing, I don't know that he followed through on anything. If he worked in earnest on any aspect of prep, training, and practice its not evident. Suspect he took the longest possible time to get his hips looked at as well.

What a waste indeed.

 

[Soundwave]

If he's so immature they should just let him play in Finland for a year and let it sink in that he's not really done himself many favors.

 

[Kolja]

Found one other quote from draft day. Janne Niinimaa ... said ‘he’s got the whole package. But he’s not mature’.

Seems to be what it all boils down to tbh. Give him a year (or two for that matter) back home in Finland and let him ripen some.

 

[scholl]

So he allegedly blew off the English classes? Jesus....

Says who? A person in a foreign country doesn't need classes, he/she needs one-to-one private lessons every day or at least three times a week. Of course the situation has been tricky because he has been with the Oilers, which meant long road trips and also with the AHL team, which meant he wasn't in Edmonton at all. However, his agent told the Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat that it wasn't about the language.
Jesse Puljujärven agentti: ”Tämän tason pelaaja saa sopimuksen tunnissa vaikka 30 joukkueeseen”
The agent Lehto says in that interview as follows:
"When a 18 years old kid went to Edmonton, it was a challenge. Should have been able to speak and understand better. Ability to communicate wasn't at the level where it could have been"
"On the other hand, the language wasn't the problem in years 2 and 3. It's unnecessary to highlight that".
According to the agent the problem was the vagabonding. That back and forth traffic between NHL and AHL messed up things.
"It's not question about bluffing. Jesse has been and still is convinced that he wants a change. He is a NHL player"
"A player who plays at this level gets a job from 30 teams in one hour if he wants to. The issue is not that he couldn't get a job in Europe. It's about other things."
"Yes for sure it needs to be a oneway contract when we talk about a player who is at this level. But the question is here that we get a fresh start, a new opportunity. Money could almost be whatever."

Btw, how trustworthy is the Edmonton media? They might be fabricating things or setting up some kind of fake news. Especially this guy who writes those "9 things" lists, seems to be a very annoying person. It's all about rumors what he writes. He doesn't even bother to interview Jesse like at least the Finnish media is doing.

 

[guymez]

Says who? A person in a foreign country doesn't need classes, he/she needs one-to-one private lessons every day or at least three times a week. Of course the situation has been tricky because he has been with the Oilers, which meant long road trips and also with the AHL team, which meant he wasn't in Edmonton at all. However, his agent told the Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat that it wasn't about the language.
Jesse Puljujärven agentti: ”Tämän tason pelaaja saa sopimuksen tunnissa vaikka 30 joukkueeseen”
The agent Lehto says in that interview as follows:
"When a 18 years old kid went to Edmonton, it was a challenge. Should have been able to speak and understand better. Ability to communicate wasn't at the level where it could have been"
"On the other hand, the language wasn't the problem in years 2 and 3. It's unnecessary to highlight that".
According to the agent the problem was the vagabonding. That back and forth traffic between NHL and AHL messed up things.
"It's not question about bluffing. Jesse has been and still is convinced that he wants a change. He is a NHL player"
"A player who plays at this level gets a job from 30 teams in one hour if he wants to. The issue is not that he couldn't get a job in Europe. It's about other things."
"Yes for sure it needs to be a oneway contract when we talk about a player who is at this level. But the question is here that we get a fresh start, a new opportunity. Money could almost be whatever."

Btw, how trustworthy is the Edmonton media? They might be fabricating things or setting up some kind of fake news. Especially this guy who writes those "9 things" lists, seems to be a very annoying person. It's all about rumors what he writes. He doesn't even bother to interview Jesse like at least the Finnish media is doing.

Will there ever be enough evidence for you and others to admit that Jesse is mostly responsible for his failure as an NHL player so far?

 

[LaGu]

Will there ever be enough evidence for you and others to admit that Jesse is mostly responsible for his failure as an NHL player so far?

I haven't been in this thread for a while, but seeing how the last pages are going I think some really should tone down a bit, and I don't really have a horse in this race. I've discussed the issues with Puljujarvi years ago in these threads in what I think was a reasonable way, and I was normally on the side criticizing him, but right now every bit of crappy translated tweet and/or misinterpreted quote from years ago is pulled out to trash this kid. When you have pages of people going lengths to trash a player then I think it becomes tough to be the grown-up and contain yourself to answering some of the more reasonable questions.

In terms of the discussion going on, I think it is obvious that he has handled this situation badly and that he has responsibility for what has happened. However, some players just don't manage to figure it out. That is a fact and something which unfortunately we know a lot about. I don't think there is a main culprit to be had really, it's not as easy as to say that it's all on him for not making it. I would argue it is most down to chance to be honest. Then there are obviously things one can do to reduce the chance of basically being a bust, and probably Puljujarvi has a lot to think about in that department, but still there is no such things as a sure thing when it comes to 17 year old prospects (except McDavid I think).

 

[guymez]

I haven't been in this thread for a while, but seeing how the last pages are going I think some really should tone down a bit, and I don't really have a horse in this race. I've discussed the issues with Puljujarvi years ago in these threads in what I think was a reasonable way, and I was normally on the side criticizing him, but right now every bit of crappy translated tweet and/or misinterpreted quote from years ago is pulled out to trash this kid. When you have pages of people going lengths to trash a player then I think it becomes tough to be the grown-up and contain yourself to answering some of the more reasonable questions.

In terms of the discussion going on, I think it is obvious that he has handled this situation badly and that he has responsibility for what has happened. However, some players just don't manage to figure it out. That is a fact and something which unfortunately we know a lot about. I don't think there is a main culprit to be had really, it's not as easy as to say that it's all on him for not making it. I would argue it is most down to chance to be honest. Then there are obviously things one can do to reduce the chance of basically being a bust, and probably Puljujarvi has a lot to think about in that department, but still there is no such things as a sure thing when it comes to 17 year old prospects (except McDavid I think).

I am just not following you here.
By suggesting thats its just down to chance displaces any responsibility from Jesse not committing to learning English and also not committing to being a more dedicated pro.
Dedicated Pro's dont have an unearned sense of entitlement and then quit on the team.
In a lot of ways this is really about work ethic and character....not chance.

 

[Fourier]

The Oilers have paid Puljujarvi over $2M US so far. Even if things have not gone well for him he has been handsomely compensated for his efforts. There is a reason so many kids have agents at a young age. Hockey is big business and the stakes are very high for both the employee and the employer. Because of this it is crucial that even young players be aware of the business side of the equation and what is expected of them as professionals. It would seem that Jesse never had those lessons. And while his agent says "it's not about the money" when it comes down to it, it really is. Every high level professional hockey league is about money. At $1M+ per year in the NHL you are expected to do what you are asked to do even as a fourth line plug. And if you want to play in the NHL you have to be willing to accept the collectively bargained rules which say that for 7 years the team that drafts you gets to tell you what they want of you. The best advice he could get would be someone he trusts sitting him down and telling him that if he wants his dreams to come true in the NHL he needs to mend fences with the Oilers, play to the best of his ability, do what is asked of him on and off the ice and bide his time until he has earned the right to dictate where he will play and how he will be used. If that is not acceptable, then the NHL is not for him. This might be a harsh lesson for a kid to learn but we are not talking slinging burgers at McDonald's here. This is the bigtime. And for the sake of both Jesse and the team I hope that he figures this out.

 

[scholl]

Will there ever be enough evidence for you and others to admit that Jesse is mostly responsible for his failure as an NHL player so far?

Of course. He was a slow learner and he as well as his agent didn't handle the situation well but on the other hand Oilers as an organization hasn't been able to develop even other prospects (besides Draisaitl) very well and there is a new coach every year. In addition to that there are "journalists" that fabricate things and deliberately translate wrongly interviews that were published in Finland. That gives an impression that now they try to cover-up the situation. They've had top picks almost every year they never make it the play-offs. How that is possible? I don't like Jesse as a hockey player or as a person because in my opinion he is not the smartest guy out there but still if I was him, I'd go there and tell everyone FU and then I would add: learn Finnish, then we'll talk.

 

[LaGu]

I am just not following you here.
By suggesting thats its just down to chance displaces any responsibility from Jesse not committing to learning English and also not committing to being a more dedicated pro.
Dedicated Pro's dont have an unearned sense of entitlement and then quit on the team.
In a lot of ways this is really about work ethic and character....not chance.

I am saying a large part of why some players don't pan out is chance, that is a fact in my opinion. That does not excuse immature behavior, such as not committing to learning a language (even though I have said before that I think the language issue is over-blown, it was/is one of many issues he has had and not the biggest). What I am saying is that a dedicated pro, as you put it, who puts in the work reduces the chance of not making it while an immature one increases the chance of not making it. Puljujarvi probably falls into the latter category (even though I may not think it is as clear cut as some other do), but I definitely do not believe that it is as easy as saying that if only Puljujarvi would have been able to speak English and had a different attitude he would have panned out as we all hoped.

Edit: Actually what I think about Pulju's behaviour in this matter is summed up pretty good by @Fourier above.