Oilers Sign Jesse Puljujarvi

The Edmonton Oilers have signed their first pick from the 2016 NHL Draft, forward Jesse Puljujarvi, to his standard three-year entry level contract.

The #Oilers have signed 2016 fourth-overall #NHLDraft pick Jesse Puljujärvi to a three-year entry-level contract. pic.twitter.com/Bu0Tvy9K2d

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) July 13, 2016

In terms of cap implications, this contract will add yet another bonus laden deal to Edmonton’s books. The team already has the contracts of Griffin Reinhart, Darnell Nurse, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl to worry about. In terms of monetary impact, Puljujarvi’s deal will be slightly less than that of McDavid, but on par with the others.

Jesse Puljujarvi signs ELC. Same AAV as Pierre Luc-Dubois 3.425M

— Bob Stauffer (@Bob_Stauffer) July 13, 2016

Puljujarvi, as per our pal Lowetide, is also one of three slide rule contracts that Edmonton has on it’s 50-man list, joining Ethan Bear and Caleb Jones. Both Bear and Jones can (and most likely will) return to juniors next year, while Puljujarvi has the option of playing next season in his native Finland.

What Comes Next?:

Jesse Puljujarvi is like Patrick Laine and Auston Matthews in the sense that he is likely ready to make the jump to North American pro hockey this season. Unlike those two, however, Puljujarvi was unable to participate in rookie camps this past month due to a knee surgery he had following the IIHF U-18 tournament.

There is a real question as to whether it’s too much to expect the young Finn to both adapt to the NHL game and recover from an injury. That’s a fair question to have, it’s asking a lot of the youngster. There is a way to ease him in, however, and that’s to assign him to the AHL at the start of the season.

Because Puljujarvi played in Finland last year, he’s eligible to play in the AHL and may be better off by starting on the top line in the best developmental league in the world. It’s not the most likely option, but it’s a possible course for Edmonton.

That said, Puljujarvi plays a strong game, has speed and possesses a ton of skill. Considering the hole on right wing after Eberle, it’s fair to assume that Edmonton plans for the Finn to start in the show.

The Impact:

I expect Puljujarvi to get a long look in training camp on a skilled line. It’s possible that when things are set on October 12th that he is skating on a line with Benoit Pouliot and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. It makes sense as Puljujarvi play a 200-foot game and there is an apparent hole on that line at RW.

I’d also expect, thanks to his right shot, that Puljujarvi sees time on the powerplay this coming season. Is it possible that he holds down the same role Eberle does, but on the second unit? I wouldn’t rule it out.

I’m all for easing the young Finn in, Peter Chiarelli has done this before in Boston, but I suspect we see him on opening night.

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