Puljujärvi, the fourth general decide of the 2016 draft by the Oilers, lands on waivers for the primary time in his eight-year NHL profession. The 26-year-old has performed simply as soon as since Nov. 23, final suiting up on Dec. 7 towards the Maple Leafs and serving as a wholesome scratch in 14 of the Pens’ final 15 video games.
That run of scratches has much less to do with Puljujarvi’s efficiency than with the Penguins’ unwillingness to mess with factor. Pittsburgh has gone 10-4-1 since Thanksgiving and has thus saved its ahead lineup intact on a nightly foundation, limiting alternatives for enjoying time for the as soon as highly-touted ahead.
In 21 video games with the Penguins this season, Puljujarvi had mustered three targets and 5 assists for eight factors with a -2 ranking. He did so whereas averaging 11:37 per recreation, up from the paltry 9:11 he obtained in a 22-game run with Pittsburgh final 12 months. The 6’4″, 201-lb winger has added 30 hits and performed an especially efficient recreation defensively. Regardless of beginning 58.3% of his shifts at 5-on-5 within the defensive zone, the Pens nonetheless managed 50.6% of shot makes an attempt with Puljujarvi on the ice in comparison with 49.5% with out him.
These latter numbers make it a tad shocking to see him turn into obtainable to the remainder of the league without cost, though it’s turn into clear there isn’t a lot of a task for him in Pittsburgh anymore. He’s within the again half of a two-year, $1.6M contract he signed with the Pens in February 2024 after a prolonged stint on the free-agent market following double hip surgical procedure.
It’s turn into clear that Puljujarvi probably gained’t recapture the shape that noticed him produce a career-high 0.55 factors per recreation with Edmonton in 2021-22, however he stays a legitimately helpful piece for a bottom-six shutdown unit. With a cap hit of $800K and no dedication previous this season, it gained’t be shocking if he finally ends up touchdown with one other NHL membership.
