Waived: [PIT] F Valtteri Puustinen waived by the Penguins (cleared)

[MMC]

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[Lustaf]

Mike Sullivan hockey

 

[KrisLetAngry]

Dangit MMC. Was this close to posting did a quick refresh and saw this.

If I'm a team struggling for forward depth I'd take a flyer on him.

 

[EXTRAS]

In the right situation he could be a 40 point guy. NYI/Chi?

 

[Empoleon8771]

He looked like a legit 3rd line piece last year, then he was horrendous in the pre-season and continued to suck in the regular season. He played himself onto waivers.

He's sure as hell not the only guy that deserves to be waived based on their play this year, hopefully it's the start of them clearing out some of the crap though.

In the right situation he could be a 40 point guy.

That "right situation" is in the AHL.

 

[Darren McCord]

Could be a good claim on a team that needs skill and uses him right.

Boom or bust. Either duds out or scores like 40 pts with PP time.

Reminds me of Dominik Kahun. I could see a random 40pts for a year or 2 then out of the league.

 

[Ryder71]

He's worthless at the NHL level. Poulin also.

 

[Turin]

He’s nothing special

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

Tomasino in, Puustinen and a 2027 4th out.

I'll take that tradeoff.

 

[TheOrganist]

That is some stank Puustinen

 

[Empoleon8771]

To be more specific, Puustinen's problem is that he has no definable traits that suggests he should stick in the NHL. His best trait is his shot, where he can absolutely pick corners and has a lethal wrist shot when he gets it off. But the problem is that his release is so slow that NHL teams can clamp down on him before he has the ability to get off that shot. He has the space to use it in the AHL but that doesn't cut it in the NHL.

He's small, soft and not good defensively while also not being particularly fast and not having a quick enough release to be a good NHL goal scorer. What is even left there after that? He's another Emil Bemstrom type of player, good AHL producer but not a legitimate NHL guy.

 

[WarriorofTime]

I’ve always had a soft spot for this guy because if he scores you can call him “puts it in”

In the right situation he could be a 40 point guy. NYI/Chi?

Hawks would have to put someone else on waivers, which feels pretty lateral.

 

[archangel2]

more waiver fodder for the Oilers

 

[KrisLeturnover]

Gets claimed imo.

 

[BonMorrison]

Puustinen is just another Fagemo whose just another Frk whose just another...

 

[SomeDude]

more waiver fodder for the Oilers

Certainly has more potential than Kap, and that’s admitting Puustinen has taken a step back this year.

Would be interesting to see him with a fresh start. Probably just destined to be a tweener but did have flashes of real potential when he was called up last year.

 

[Merc29]

Probably to make room for ponomarov

 

[SEALBound]

It will be interesting to see if he clears. Just doesn't do enough to impact the game at the level that forces the coach to play him. That said, I can say with a reasonable level of confidence, that every single team has a Puustinen level player somewhere in the ranks.

 

[mattihp]

Lots of skill, some hustle. But so undecisive.

 

[Matti_A]

For what it's worth Puustinen has been surprisingly productive at 5 on 5 since entering the league compared to his draft class. In his first season it felt like he always found his way onto the score sheet whenever he was called up.

 

[BillyOcean]

Im not a Puustinen truther or anything, but Jesus Christ this guy was benched for the likes of Matt Nieto, Noel Acciari, Blake Lizzotte, and Kevin Hayes.

 

[Duffy13]

EDMONTON OILERS COME ON DOOOOOOOWNN!!!!!

 

[Jacob]

If I have a gripe it's that he's terrible along the boards. He does that Kessel thing where he turns his back to the boards rather than using his body to protect the puck.

Afraid of going face-into-glass I guess but it's not real effective and it probably drives Sullivan nuts.

 

[qc14]

Im not a Puustinen truther or anything, but Jesus Christ this guy was benched for the likes of Matt Nieto, Noel Acciari, Blake Lizzotte, and Kevin Hayes.

If you're getting beat out by one of those guys I'm willing to believe it could be an evaluation mistake by the coaching staff. Now if you're losing icetime to all of them ...

 

[BillyOcean]

If you're getting beat out by one of those guys I'm willing to believe it could be an evaluation mistake by the coaching staff. Now if you're losing icetime to all of them ...

He's not a North American, nor did he ever play amateur hockey in Boston. He has collectively and analytically outplayed all those guys I mentioned combined in their Penguins careers from a production standpoint.