BREAKING: 1st-Round Pick Demoted, Goaltender Waived, Forward Recalled

The Edmonton Oilers have made very interesting moves moments ago, as they have just sent Jesse Puljujarvi down to their American Hockey League affiliate the Bakersfield Condors.

#OIlers send Jeese Puljujarvi to AHL, waive backup goalie Jonas Gustavsson
— Mark Spector (@SportsnetSpec) January 9, 2017

The 18-year-old right wing was selected with the fourth overall draft pick by the Oilers during the 2016 NHL Entry Draft and, as expected, cracked the lineup right out of training camp.

The hulking forward, who is listed as 6' 4" and 203 lbs, has seen his underwhelming performances catch up to him as his one goal and eight points in 28 games have done little to earn himself a full-time position for the remainder of the 2016-2017 regular season.

Mark Spector of Sportsnet added that he believes this move was long overdue:

Sending Puljujarvi to AHL is loong overdue.
— Mark Spector (@SportsnetSpec) January 9, 2017

Moreover, the Oilers have proceeded to recall forward Anton Slepyshev from the Condors, and have placed backup goaltender Jonas Gustavsson on waivers:

#OIlers send Jeese Puljujarvi to AHL, waive backup goalie Jonas Gustavsson
— Mark Spector (@SportsnetSpec) January 9, 2017

Finally, Spector believes that Gustavsson's waiving implies that the Oilers will pick up the Columbus Blue Jackets' recent goalie waiving of their own:

#Oilers also recall Slepyshev.
Would not be at all surprised to see a waiver claim on CBJ's waived goalie Curtis McElhinney.
— Mark Spector (@SportsnetSpec) January 9, 2017