Waived: [PIT] F Jesse Puljujarvi waived by the Penguins (cleared)

[CycloneSweep]

That's certainly possible, but we'll never know.

Jesse should've been in the AHL for more than 39 games. He probably should've been down there for a few seasons building his confidence and understanding of English and the North American game. If you're going to expend top draft capital on a player it follows you should invest time and effort developing that player. Edmonton has done this with other players. They failed to do this in the cases of Puljujarvi and Yakupov.

It was reported at the time that Puljujavi and his agent were being a bit difficult. The Oilers wanted him in NA learning the NA game but apparently him and his agent basically said the only way that was happening is if he was playing a ton of NHL games.
The Oilers are a ton to blame for it but so was him and his agent.

 

[Slats432]

It was reported at the time that Puljujavi and his agent were being a bit difficult. The Oilers wanted him in NA learning the NA game but apparently him and his agent basically said the only way that was happening is if he was playing a ton of NHL games.
The Oilers are a ton to blame for it but so was him and his agent.

This is accurate. They wanted guarantees. They didn't want a minors assignment. It hurt his development. At least he got a cool nickname though.

 

[Rcknrollkillnmachine]

Blame Edmonton for what?

Both coach and GM said his communication was a problem. They also gave him specific instructions to work on. He did none of them. He refused to work on his English or his skills. The coach even called him stubborn
Jesse was picked up by a fan walking home with all his gear and sticks. Does that sound like someone with friends on the team or someone who communicates?

In the AHL his coach said his protection needed work, again, he did nothing

Team Finland even dropped him early. Why you think that is?

Anyway, it's not even debatable if Edm is to blame. JP and his agent came out and admitted he was at fault the way he handled his development . His 2nd camp back he was asked if he worked on his English. He replied no

I stated this was on Jesse and his agent and perhaps I should have better clarified that this wasn't a even mess between them and the Oilers rather the player and poor advice are more to blame.

 

[Davo Ikinzom]

lol is he he refusing to play in the ahl again?

 

[bobbythebrain]

That's certainly possible, but we'll never know.

Jesse should've been in the AHL for more than 39 games. He probably should've been down there for a few seasons building his confidence and understanding of English and the North American game. If you're going to expend top draft capital on a player it follows you should invest time and effort developing that player. Edmonton has done this with other players. They failed to do this in the cases of Puljujarvi and Yakupov.

This is just pure bs and nonsense. You act as if the org is allowed to torture, drug and put a gun to players heads.

Bouchard confirmed he and the org talked alot during his development...and off seasons.
Maroon confirmed he was givin guidelines to meet during training that would keep him with McDavid

Now suddenly some horseshit narrative is that the org neglected JP?

Dude please. We know his agent demanded he play in the NHL. We know JP refused to work on English. We know his crew prioritized Fortnite over team bonding. We know the coach called him stubborn.

Acting as if the Oilers made big mistakes here is pure nonsense

 

[TFHockey]

This is just pure bs and nonsense. You act as if the org is allowed to torture, drug and put a gun to players heads.

Bouchard confirmed he and the org talked alot during his development...and off seasons.
Maroon confirmed he was givin guidelines to meet during training that would keep him with McDavid

Now suddenly some horseshit narrative is that the org neglected JP?

Dude please. We know his agent demanded he play in the NHL. We know JP refused to work on English. We know his crew prioritized Fortnite over team bonding. We know the coach called him stubborn.

Acting as if the Oilers made big mistakes here is pure nonsense

I never implied any of that. I said they didn't develop the player properly. I also said, if you get off your high horse and actually read what I wrote, that it was on JP and the Oilers. Not just the Oilers.

Also, and again this would mean you'd have to read what I wrote, I stated the Oilers did develop other players. Bouchard is a good example. I was actually thinking about Draisaitl. Remember when his skating was considered below NHL level? That this would make him a bust? I remember people saying that.

I don't know where you get your information. Refused to work on his English? WTF did you get that? First I've heard of it.

The Oilers DID make mistakes. They made a mistake drafting him - hindsight being 20/20 here, everyone said he was the next big thing - and they made a mistake playing him in the NHL before he was ready regardless of the demands of his agent or anyone else.

Edit: It's interesting we're having an argument over a player who was put on waivers and no one bothered to pick up. A controversial player if there ever was one.

 

[bobbythebrain]

I never implied any of that. I said they didn't develop the player properly. I also said, if you get off your high horse and actually read what I wrote, that it was on JP and the Oilers. Not just the Oilers.

Also, and again this would mean you'd have to read what I wrote, I stated the Oilers did develop other players. Bouchard is a good example. I was actually thinking about Draisaitl. Remember when his skating was considered below NHL level? That this would make him a bust? I remember people saying that.

I don't know where you get your information. Refused to work on his English? WTF did you get that? First I've heard of it.

The Oilers DID make mistakes. They made a mistake drafting him - hindsight being 20/20 here, everyone said he was the next big thing - and they made a mistake playing him in the NHL before he was ready regardless of the demands of his agent or anyone else.

Edit: It's interesting we're having an argument over a player who was put on waivers and no one bothered to pick up. A controversial player if there ever was one.

In JPs second camp. A reporter asked if he worked on English, he replied a point blank no.

Also, funny how after such a dominant WJC and being a 6'4 beast...the Finnish GM passed on him
Also, his very next international tournament, Team Finland dropped him after prelims. I watched those games. He kept losing the puck on the boards and just kept doing the same thing

Also, both Chia and Tmac cited his communication was a very big problem. At the time, including myself, I took that to mean understanding language. The following year Tmac said he understands English, he's just stubborn

Anyway, I'd say the only thing you got right was that the Oil never should of drafted him.
But saying the Oil screwed up for giving him 20+ NHL games. That's bs. He had several years to work on things and refused to.
Even his AHL coach admitted that if JP thinks his protection skills will cut it in the NHL,, he's kidding himself. Low and behold, JP never got better. Wonder why?

 

[TFHockey]

In JPs second camp. A reporter asked if he worked on English, he replied a point blank no.

Also, funny how after such a dominant WJC and being a 6'4 beast...the Finnish GM passed on him
Also, his very next international tournament, Team Finland dropped him after prelims. I watched those games. He kept losing the puck on the boards and just kept doing the same thing

Also, both Chia and Tmac cited his communication was a very big problem. At the time, including myself, I took that to mean understanding language. The following year Tmac said he understands English, he's just stubborn

Anyway, I'd say the only thing you got right was that the Oil never should of drafted him.
But saying the Oil screwed up for giving him 20+ NHL games. That's bs. He had several years to work on things and refused to.
Even his AHL coach admitted that if JP thinks his protection skills will cut it in the NHL,, he's kidding himself. Low and behold, JP never got better. Wonder why?

We can agree to disagree, I don't think you have a full grasp on what JP was going through. I also think a 17 year old kid can be badly advised by people and adversely affect his career.

The Oilers made huge mistakes with him. Huge.

What they should've done, with the benefit of hindsight, is to tell his agent and the player JP is going to the AHL. He is going to stay there until he's ready. The team will support him. Get a Finnish assistant coach, maybe a Finnish vet to help him adjust. Whatever. Don't like it? Feel free to play in the KHL.

Then the Oilers could've traded him for more than Patrik Puistola.

 

[bobbythebrain]

We can agree to disagree, I don't think you have a full grasp on what JP was going through. I also think a 17 year old kid can be badly advised by people and adversely affect his career.

The Oilers made huge mistakes with him. Huge.

What they should've done, with the benefit of hindsight, is to tell his agent and the player JP is going to the AHL. He is going to stay there until he's ready. The team will support him. Get a Finnish assistant coach, maybe a Finnish vet to help him adjust. Whatever. Don't like it? Feel free to play in the KHL.

Then the Oilers could've traded him for more than Patrik Puistola.

Ha ha. The Oilers should have hired a team of Fins to accommodate him. That was their huge mistake lolol.

You know who was Kaprizov go between? Zuccarello

Anyway, like another poster said. If you think that 20 NHL games ruined his career you're way off base
That's like saying the Oilers tried to ruin Draj cuz they played him in a handful of NHL games.

The reason Drai and Bouchard are successful is b/ c of what they did AFTER their first year's. Like tons of other players

JP had more than enough time to develop. He was also given instructions by the team.
He chose to do his own thing

Like I said originally your take very much seems like the Oilers should have had someone w him 24/7. That's not how it works. The Oilers are not responsible to send someone oversees to train him and force him to work on stuff they asked

You' definitely have a fantasy about what development is

 

[Sidgeni Malkby]

Ha ha. The Oilers should have hired a team of Fins to accommodate him. That was their huge mistake lolol.

You know who was Kaprizov go between? Zuccarello

Anyway, like another poster said. If you think that 20 NHL games ruined his career you're way off base
That's like saying the Oilers tried to ruin Draj cuz they played him in a handful of NHL games.

The reason Drai and Bouchard are successful is b/ c of what they did AFTER their first year's. Like tons of other players

JP had more than enough time to develop. He was also given instructions by the team.
He chose to do his own thing

Like I said originally your take very much seems like the Oilers should have had someone w him 24/7. That's not how it works. The Oilers are not responsible to send someone oversees to train him and force him to work on stuff they asked

You' definitely have a fantasy about what development is

I don't know all the details about PuJu on the Oilers.....
There is some truth to guiding young players.

The Pens changed process after they had issues with Pierre Larouche. An 18 year old with sudden fame an fortune may have difficulty being grounded. Some have family close by....not all.

This is why Crosby used to live with Mario Lemieux.
Malkin with Sergei Gonchar.

They were all off-ice mentors.

 

[TheNumber4]

JPs failure is on JP himself. Like most prospects that don’t make it. And prospects that do make it. The players either have it, or they don’t.

I’m sorry but AHL vs NHL deployment can only count for so much. He WAS given AHL time to season. At his own request he was also given time in Finland to season. Oh and being put in the NHL, well that’s what JP and his agents wanted!

NOTHING about his early NHL time would indicate it killed his confidence or created the injuries for him cause he wasn’t physically prepared.

The dude had every single development path possibility tried. From NHL time to AHL time to time back in Finland. He’s had different coaches. And at this point, he’s had different NHL teams all try their hand at unlocking JP. But you can’t unlock what’s not there.

 

[bobbythebrain]

I don't know all the details about PuJu on the Oilers.....
There is some truth to guiding young players.

The Pens changed process after they had issues with Pierre Larouche. An 18 year old with sudden fame an fortune may have difficulty being grounded. Some have family close by....not all.

This is why Crosby used to live with Mario Lemieux.
Malkin with Sergei Gonchar.

They were all off-ice mentors.

Oh i get that. Petterson had Boeser. Kaprizov had Zuccarello. Daraisaitl got Percell.

But what didn't happen is these teams didn't run out and create extra positions to accommodate 1 player. That's what the OP suggested. Saying that the Oil made a HUGE mistake in not hiring ppl specifically for this player.

FYI, JP was picked up by a fan in the freezing cold weather walking home after exit interviews with all his gear. How's it possible that not a single teamate or trainer offered to help him.

Like his coach said. He's stubborn. That screams more of a diva problem than an Oilers failed to hire someone to wipe his ass problem

 

[Cup or Bust]

Even if a players development is not optimal, if they have the work ethic and character to get better and the skill and talent to do it, they are going to eventually become the best player they can and will make it no matter what. The idea that at age 26 his development is his problem is silly. He is a grown man. He has played enough games, under enough coaches, and with enough teammates at this point to know what the professional game is and what it takes to be a successful player, so either he doesn't have the right personality to do what it takes to excel at the NHL level or he is just not good enough. He hasn't really shown much improvement as a player since he entered the league.

 

[elmaco]

lol is he he refusing to play in the ahl again?

No, he cleared waivers but was never assigned to Wilkes, now he's apparently back in the show tonight.

 

[InsideLaine]

Pulju had good stats for his age in the Finnish league, 13+15 in 50 games (Laine had 17+16 in 46 games. But..

..what I and many others remember well was him fumbling the puck like crazy. Lots of goals with huge clappers but just lots and lots of fumbling the puck. We thought of course back then that it will pass with age and experience. Imo it never really disappeared, not enough at least if you wanna play a top 6 role in the NHL.

It is of course only one of the many issues that played a role in the demise of Pulju. One of many that he really couldnt fix. And seemingly wont be able to.

 

[Sidgeni Malkby]

Oh i get that. Petterson had Boeser. Kaprizov had Zuccarello. Daraisaitl got Percell.

But what didn't happen is these teams didn't run out and create extra positions to accommodate 1 player. That's what the OP suggested. Saying that the Oil made a HUGE mistake in not hiring ppl specifically for this player.

FYI, JP was picked up by a fan in the freezing cold weather walking home after exit interviews with all his gear. How's it possible that not a single teamate or trainer offered to help him.

Like his coach said. He's stubborn. That screams more of a diva problem than an Oilers failed to hire someone to wipe his ass problem

So they didn't have a mentor for him...

Here is the Pierre Larouche article...

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Google News Archive Search

It is subtle what happened, and it also points to a Diva mentality getting the best of him, demanding a trade.

After that, the Penguins made sure they had mentors for many of their superstars. The acquired players SPECIFICALLY as mentors. So yeah, they did create an extra position to accommodate 1 player.

Jiri Hrdina was acquired for Jagr.
Gonch for Malkin.

I'm not suggesting you HAVE to do that, but they clearly didn't for PuJu. It's possible the Oilers don't do that sort of thing, or they didn't value him enough to do it.

Like right now the Pens aren't going to find a Finnish babysitter for a 26 year PuJu.

 

[Slats432]

They drafted PLD, who was also a massive bust, knew what they were doing lol?

His current team doesn't consider him a bust.

 

[NotAVacuumSalesman]

So they didn't have a mentor for him...

Here is the Pierre Larouche article...

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Google News Archive Search

It is subtle what happened, and it also points to a Diva mentality getting the best of him, demanding a trade.

After that, the Penguins made sure they had mentors for many of their superstars. The acquired players SPECIFICALLY as mentors. So yeah, they did create an extra position to accommodate 1 player.

Jiri Hrdina was acquired for Jagr.
Gonch for Malkin.

I'm not suggesting you HAVE to do that, but they clearly didn't for PuJu. It's possible the Oilers don't do that sort of thing, or they didn't value him enough to do it.

Like right now the Pens aren't going to find a Finnish babysitter for a 26 year PuJu.

JP did have a mentor but everyone seems to forget it didn’t happen.

Jussi Jokinen fills depth position for Edmonton Oilers

 

[Ryder71]

lol is he he refusing to play in the ahl again?

Played tonight in PIT, was out there the final min of the game. Had a solid game IMO.

 

[bobbythebrain]

So they didn't have a mentor for him...

Here is the Pierre Larouche article...

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Google News Archive Search

It is subtle what happened, and it also points to a Diva mentality getting the best of him, demanding a trade.

After that, the Penguins made sure they had mentors for many of their superstars. The acquired players SPECIFICALLY as mentors. So yeah, they did create an extra position to accommodate 1 player.

Jiri Hrdina was acquired for Jagr.
Gonch for Malkin.

I'm not suggesting you HAVE to do that, but they clearly didn't for PuJu. It's possible the Oilers don't do that sort of thing, or they didn't value him enough to do it.

Like right now the Pens aren't going to find a Finnish babysitter for a 26 year PuJu.

Soooo. What part of JP got passed by a Fin GM did you miss? Or that he got cut by a full Fin team did you miss?

I fail to see how this was an Oilers problem?


Were the Oilers obligated to BRIBE team Finland? Or hire a team to follow JP afterwards?

I'm confused. At what point are you suggesting the Oilers needed to fire/hire more positions to babysit this player?

Last I checked when ppl get accepted to MIT on a scholarship they are expected to perform. When they don't, I've never heard of MIT forking over hundreds of thousands of dollars to ensure success.

Fans love to live in fantasy worlds when it comes to this stuff.

 

[Albatros]

Last I checked when ppl get accepted to MIT on a scholarship they are expected to perform. When they don't, I've never heard of MIT forking over hundreds of thousands of dollars to ensure success.

Then they just give the opportunity to someone else. NHL teams don't get another pick just because the previous candidate didn't perform, so it's in their self-interest to ensure that their pick has everything he needs to succeed. And it's their pick, the player didn't apply for it.

 

[Bowski]

Gonch for Malkin.

Gonch got his 5x5 contract because he was a top FA offensive defenseman, as proved by playing for the Bruins in their short PO stint.

Ovechkin/Malkin were slated to come in, but that had nothing to do with Sergei's signing at the time.

 

[Sidgeni Malkby]

Gonch got his 5x5 contract because he was a top FA offensive defenseman, as proved by playing for the Bruins in their short PO stint.

Ovechkin/Malkin were slated to come in, but that had nothing to do with Sergei's signing at the time.

Absolutely, but if they didn't they would have as they do so time and time again.

JP did have a mentor but everyone seems to forget it didn’t happen.

Jussi Jokinen fills depth position for Edmonton Oilers

Ah...there you go. That's why I asked it as a question, as I didn't know.

This just proves Oilers tried above and beyond. Maybe they saw him as a potential problem child. That doesn't bode well for PuJu IMO.

*edit*
I'm assuming JP had a solid off-ice relationship with PuJu, or maybe that was limited. Would be a factor.
*/edit*

 

[TFHockey]

Absolutely, but if they didn't they would have as they do so time and time again.


Ah...there you go. That's why I asked it as a question, as I didn't know.

This just proves Oilers tried above and beyond. Maybe they saw him as a potential problem child. That doesn't bode well for PuJu IMO.

I had completely forgotten about Jokinen!