Puljujarvi trade talks pick up, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reports on frontrunner

The Edmonton Oilers are off to their best start in decades, going 10-4-2 in the first month of the 2019-20 season. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have picked up right where they left off last season with an incredible 24 points and 27 points respective in just 16 games. Even newcomer James Neal has 11 goals in his first 16 games. But… you know who’s missing from the team’s top-six forward group. Jesse Puljujarvi… remember him?

The former 4th overall pick demanded a trade from Oilers GM Ken Holland this past offseason and is plying his trade in the Finnish SM-liiga with Karpat until a trade materializes. Interestingly enough, Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston reported earlier this month that Puljujarvi is happy to spend the rest of the season with Karpat. 

Check it out:

“I’m hearing he’s comfortable staying all year in Finland. Obviously the Oilers might have a decision to make for what’s best for them, as they get closer to the Dec. 1 deadline where he has to be traded and signed if he’s gonna play in the NHL this year.”

“I get the feeling that’s a comfortable situation for the player. He’s trying to get his confidence back, trying to get his game back and he might be the best player right now in the Finnish Elite League.”

Now, Johnston’s Sportsnet colleague Elliotte Friedman is reporting that Oilers GM Ken Holland will travel to Finland to watch Puljujarvi play in the upcoming Karjala Cup. But here’s the thing… Puljujarvi has no interest in returning to the Oilers, no matter how hard Holland tries to work to convince him.

Check out this bit of reporting from Friedman’s most recent 31 Thoughts column for Sportsnet:

 Edmonton GM Ken Holland is going, and last weekend, I asked Puljuajrvi’s rep, Markus Lehto, via text if the winger would consider returning to the Oilers now that things seem calmer. Lehto was very polite, complimenting Edmonton’s early-season success, but said a new address remains the preferred option.

“Jesse’s unwillingness to return has nothing to do with current coaches, management, the team, fans or the city,” Lehto wrote. “Like I have said multiple times, Jesse has just asked for a change of scenery and to get a fresh start somewhere else. Nothing wrong with that considering the past three seasons. It is very difficult for me to see that he would return there all of a sudden now…. If things don’t work out now with the right team and best possible fit, there is nothing wrong (with playing) the whole season in Europe.”

Lehto’s words echo Johnston’s report from last month, but interestingly enough it was also Johnston who reported this past weekend that the New York Rangers have apparent interest in Puljujarvi. 

Again, from 31 Thoughts:

Chris Johnston reported last weekend that the Rangers are interested. It makes sense to consider pairing him with Kaapo Kakko. 

Interesting. No doubt that Puljujarvi would be given a chance with the offensively-starved Rangers, but there’s also a sense that Puljujarvi is hoping to stay out of the spotlight. With Kakko, Artemi Panarin, Henrik Lunqvist and others hogging the spotlight in NYC, is Puljujarvi a fit?