Jesse Puljujärvi sounds off on fresh start with Hurricanes
Things didn't work out in Edmonton for him.
HockeyFeed
The Jesse Puljujärvi era in Edmonton is officially over, as general manager Ken Holland dealt him to the Carolina Hurricanes at last week's National Hockey League Trade Deadline in exchange for Patrik Puistola.
After scoring five goals and 14 points in 58 games with the Oilers this season, he's certainly excited for a much-needed change of scenery.
“[It’s a] fresh start, for sure,” Puljujarvi explained after his first skate with his new teammates. “A new start. It’s fun to be one of the guys here. It’s a good team here to be a part of. Bring some really good things here. I’m looking forward.”
“It’s a hard league,” Puljujarvi admitted. “Day after day you have to be really good. I have good days and sometimes not that good. It was a really good six years, growing up every day.”
The time in Edmonton ultimately didn't work out that either side thought it would when the team made him their 4th overall selection in the 2016 NHL Draft. However, the Hurricanes expect him to fit in well with their system and will also be aided by the fellow Finnish players on the roster that include Teuvo Teravainen, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, and Sebastian Aho.
“Jesse possesses a great blend of size and skill, and he will add to the depth of our forward group,” Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell said shortly after the deal. “He has familiarity with some of our other Finnish players, and we see him as a great fit for our team and locker room.”
“For sure it’s a little bit easier to come to a new team that way,” Puljujarvi said.
In 317 career NHL games, all with Edmonton, he's tallied 112 points (51 goals, 61 assists).
