First of all, I think EDM did a real number on Pulju’s development. So, I think the “missed” scouting on him prior to the draft get very magnified. In general I think we underrate the impact of the organization has on a prospect after the draft, and well EDM is probably the worst of the worst.
Pulju was still very raw when drafted. He has a great reach, offensive instincts etc. but that coordination wasn’t in place yet.
Oh come on... how lazy.
Pulju got nearly the same treatment as Draisaitl did, splitting time between the NHL and AHL (WHL in Drai's case). Obviously what works for one, doesn't work for all... but I'm sorry... you also have to put some of that on the player himself.
The biggest "error" in Edmonton's development of Pulju was losing waiver ineligibility, which limited our ability to put him in the AHL where he belongs. But that was 1) an issue more for the team than for the player and 2) wasn't even a factor until this year... and it is clear from THE PLAYER, that he was not going to be onside with playing in the AHL anyway.
Look, I have higher hopes for Pulju than most... but even I can see that this player is immature and not properly supported by his agent and others around him. He's been given ample time in Edmonton to COMPETE for a good roster spot on a crappy roster... heck, he's spent time with THREE different gifted top-three draftee centers, each of whom could be (at worst) a #2 center on most teams in the league.
He's looked wildly inconsistent and confused at times on the ice... and there are rumors that there is a language issue and he refused to take English lessons that the team organized for him.
When does this become the player's issue?
Ten years of Oiler picks:
2007: Gagner 7th - 8 years in Edmonton at 0.60 (or 49 points) pace as a 2C. Hardly a bust.
2008: Eberle 22nd - 7 years in Edmonton at 0.75 (or 61 points) as a 1st line winger. Lady Byng runner up. Star player.
2009: MPS 10th - 3 years in Edmonton. He's a bust, but notably, STL got even less out of him than we did (0.36 vs 0.21)
2010: Hall 1st - 6 seasons in Edmonton, including two finishes in the top-10 scoring. MVP the first year he had supporting cast.
2011: Nuge 1st - 8 years in Edmonton doing heavy lifting against opponents top line. 69 points this past year. Not a prototypical #1 OA, but a great player, heavily underrated due to EDM, and in no ways a bust.
2012: Yakupov 1st - a bust. A bust in Edmonton, a bust in Col, a bust in StL.
2013: Nurse 7th - 24 years old, 41 points, 24 mins a night of physically intimidating play? Not a bust.
2014: Draisaitl 3rd - 50 goals, 105 points... nuff said
2015: McDavid 1st - nuff said
2016: Pulju 4th - he's looking busty right now, but I still have hope once he stops pouting and man's up
10 picks: 1 HOF likely, 2 top 10 in the league, 1 top pairing D, 3 top-six/tweener first line players, 3 busts
If you want to criticize our 2nd round drafting and below, have at it... but it's unfair to say players cannot develop in Edmonton.
Go look at Buffalo, Colorado or any other team with a tonne of high picks over the last decade and you'll find busts in every one.