The Penguins have placed forward Jesse Puljujärvi on unconditional waivers for the purpose of terminating his contract. Essentially pulling the plug on an experiment that began nearly a year ago to the day (February 4) when the team signed the hulking winger to a two-year deal.
The move appears to have transpired with the mutual consent of player and team.
Following an outstanding training camp and fast start to the campaign (a goal and five points in six games), including a five-game points streak, Puljujärvi seemed to fall into disfavor over night. A mere four games after his streak ended he logged a team-low 4:59 of ice time during a loss to the Wild on October 29.
Having run afoul of Mike Sullivan, presumably for defensive shortcomings, Jesse never regained his footing…or a consistent spot in the lineup. Within a week of scoring goals in back-to-back games in mid-November, the hulking Finn became a consistent healthy scratch. Waived on December 31, presumably to give him an opportunity to hook on with another club, he instead passed through unclaimed.
The handwriting on the wall, “Poolparty” would play only five more games for the black and gold.
I confess, I was really pulling for Jesse to make it, especially given the way he courageously battled back from surgery on both hips. Although it became all-too-apparent he wasn’t going to fulfill the early promise that made him a fourth-overall pick of the Oilers, I was still intrigued by his blend of size (6’4” 216), skating and willingness to grind, not to mention latent offensive pedigree (roughly a 10-goal, 22-point pace spread over parts of two seasons).
Perhaps naively, I believed (and still do) that Jesse could emerge as a solid third-liner if afforded the right opportunity. An opportunity that will have to come elsewhere.
The Hits Keep Comin’
This just in…the Pens have placed right wing Bryan Rust on injured reserve ahead of tonight’s game with the Flyers. No word on the nature or severity of his injury.
Forward Vasily Ponomarev has been recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to fill his spot. The 22-year-old Muscovite has an impressive 11 goals and 27 points in 31 games for the Baby Pens. He’s appeared in three games (with no points) for the Pens as well.
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Rick,
Not going to say that Puljujarvi is an all star, not even close ,but there is far worse crap sill populating this roster. Matt Nieto may be a defensive gem but he could find the back of the net with a GPS. Worse is that no one seems to be able to generate offense when he is on the ice. His TGF/60 5-on-5 is almost non-existent, 1.03. When Tomasino is on the ice the team gives up more Goals that when Puljujarvi is on (2.42 to 2.38) and score far less (2.03 to 2.38).
Puljujarvi wouldn't be my first pick for my team but if I were limited to picking players of off a Sullivan constructed roster his stock would shoot up massively. Sullivan is incompetent; the worst problem on this team. The best recommendation for any player is that Sullivan doesn't want him.