Edmonton Oilers trade forward Jesse Puljujärvi to Carolina Hurricanes
Dealing embattled right-winger Jesse Puljujärvi is simply step one for the Edmonton Oilers, says general manager Ken Holland.
The team traded Puljujärvi, 24, to the Carolina Hurricanes Tuesday for Finnish forward prospect Patrik Puistola.
It's a move that frees up cap space for the Oilers (32-21-8), who are looking to improve their defence ahead of Friday's NHL trade deadline, Holland said.
“There’s a few players out there that we think would fit," the GM told reporters Tuesday. "Today, I’m hoping, was step one. We’ve got to move money. … I hope there’s other steps to come.”
Puljujärvi, 24, has four goals and nine assists in 58 games for Edmonton this season.
"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 in a statement. "He has familiarity with some of our other Finnish players, and we see him as a great fit for our team and locker room."
Picked fourth overall by the Oilers in the 2016 NHL entry draft, the six-foot-four, 201-pound forward has struggled at times, amassing 51 goals and 61 assists in 317 regular-season games.
He spent three seasons in Edmonton before returning to his native Finland to play parts of two seasons in the Finnish Elite League. Puljujärvi returned to the Oilers in October 2020 and signed a one-year contract worth US$3 million in July.
Holland said he spoke with Puljujärvi and his agent a couple of weeks ago and pitched them on having the Finn return to Edmonton on a one or two-year deal with an average annual value of about $1 million. Puljujärvi said he wanted "a fresh start instead," the GM said.
Puljujärvi has worked hard to be the best player he could possibly be in Edmonton, Holland added.
“He went back to Finland, he’s worked hard at his English, I think he’s got more physical," he said.
"And I think in the time that I’ve been here and the coaching staff, I think we’ve tried to be as patient with him, given him as much opportunity as we possibly could. But unfortunately, we’re at this day to day and we’ve got to move forward.”
Puistola, 22, has yet to make his NHL debut after being selected by Carolina in the third round of the 2019 draft.
The six-foot, 175-pound forward from Tampere, Finland has 15 goals and 23 assists in Finland's Liiga this season.
The Oilers' Finnish scout will keep an eye on Puistola, Holland said, but Tuesday's trade was more about subtracting dollars than adding a prospect.
Edmonton would like to make further moves ahead of Friday's deadline, the GM said, and is open to moving a first-round pick in order to do so.
The NHL's tight salary cap has limited the options though, he said.
“The reality is every team in the National Hockey League is dealing with the same challenges that we’re dealing with," Holland said. "It’s a level playing field.”
The Oilers are set to host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 28, 2023.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
India's 'most wanted terrorist' arrested on gun charges in Canada
One of India's most wanted terrorists has been arrested and charged in connection with a recent alleged shooting in Ontario.
12-year-old boy charged in stabbing of 11-year-old boy at Edmonton McDonald's
The boy stabbed at a north Edmonton McDonald's last Friday is 11 years old.
What makes walking so great for your health and what else you need to do
Medical experts agree that walking is an easy way to improve physical and mental health, bolster fitness and prevent disease. While it’s not the only sort of exercise people should do, it’s a great first step toward a healthy life.
U.S. Congress hosts second round of UFO hearings
The U.S. government held another UFO hearing on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, the second such hearing in 16 months. This hearing was billed as an attempt by congress to provide a better understanding of what is known about previous sightings of UFOs, also known as UAPs (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena).
Toronto teenager charged with first-degree murder in Kitchener, Ont. homicide
A Toronto teen has been charged as part of an investigation into Kitchener, Ont.’s first homicide of 2024.
Spy service officer denies threatening Montreal man who was later imprisoned in Sudan
A Canadian Security Intelligence Service official has denied threatening a Montreal man who was later imprisoned and allegedly tortured by authorities in Sudan.
Donald Trump picks Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz to serve as attorney general
President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday said he will nominate Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida to serve as his attorney general, putting a loyalist in the role of the nation's top prosecutor.
This Canadian airline will adopt Apple's new AirTag feature to help recover lost baggage. Here's how
Apple announced that a new feature, 'Share Item Location,' will help users locate and recover misplaced items by sharing an AirTag location with third parties including airlines.
Canada bracing for 'tough' talks as Trump's pick calls northern border an 'extreme vulnerability'
The Canadian government is aware it's likely in for 'tough conversations' with U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's administration, after his border czar said there is 'an extreme national security vulnerability' he intends to tackle at the Canada-U.S. border.