'He's doing lots of good stuff': Woodcroft supporting Puljujarvi through 15-game scoring slump
It's been more than a month since Jesse Puljujarvi has scored for the Edmonton Oilers.
The 24-year-old, 2016 fourth-overall draft pick, has gone 15 games since finding the back of the net Oct. 26 against the St. Louis Blues.
Still, his head coach defended the big Finnish winger Tuesday when he was asked by a reporter about how Puljujarvi "can't score a goal."
"You don't just measure yourself in terms of what your offensive output is," Jay Woodcroft said.
"We have confidence in him, we have confidence to play him with good players. He was on the ice in the last minute of play yesterday. He went hard to the net, it lead to a scoring chance for Hyman. I think he's doing lots of good stuff."
Puljujarvi has recorded four assists in those 15 games. But after scoring 14 last year and 15 the year before, he is on pace for just four goals this year.
"Well, I think you worry when you don't find yourself in scoring chances. I think you earn the right to feel confident by rehearsing different moments that you find yourself in on the ice, you do that in practice," Woodcroft said.
The Oilers could use some goals from any forward not named Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Zach Hyman or Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. On Wednesday night in Chicago, every other forward Edmonton is expected to dress has scored two or less this season.
The need for Puljujarvi goals has become even more dire with injuries to Evander Kane and fellow depth scorers Kailer Yamamoto, Warren Foegele and Ryan McLeod.
Puljujarvi said last week that he was feeling good on a third line with McLeod and Klim Kostin.
"I think we have a good line there and try to be hard to play against and, of course, try to make some plays and maybe score too," he said.
Puljujarvi was expected to play Wednesday with Nugent-Hopkins and Mattias Janmark on a second line.
He's also played some with McDavid and Draisaitl this season but has struggled to break through offensively, even when paired with two of the top scorers in the league.
"Puljujarvi is a streaky scorer, so chances are if he scores one, he'll score four…He's a complementary scorer right now who is not scoring enough," said Allan Mitchell, AKA Lowetide, from TSN 1260 and The Athletic.
Mitchell acknowledged that Puljujarvi hasn't met the scoring expectations of some after he was a high draft pick. The radio host sees him as a 12-15-goal-a-season player who is good defensively.
He also pointed out that Puljujarvi often ranks high in advanced stats. Still, he doesn't see the winger staying with the Oilers longterm.
"At the end of this year, he's making $3 million on this contract. I'm sure the expectation is that it'll be $4 or $4.5 million, and I just don't think the Oilers will go there. I think they'll trade him and people will be disappointed with the return, is my guess."
Edmonton local Tyler Benson is expected to play his first game of the year against the Blackhawks. Bantam teammates James Hamblin and Stuart Skinner were also in the lineup for the morning skate.
The Oilers (12-10) play in Chicago (6-11-4) Wednesday and the puck drops shortly after 7:30 p.m.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
Quebec judge orders bus driver to stand trial for 2023 daycare crash deaths
A judge has ordered a Quebec man to stand trial on charges of first-degree murder in the deaths of two children killed when a bus rammed into a Montreal-area daycare last year.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Humboldt Broncos bus crash survivor qualifies Canada for Paralympics in rowing event
Former Humboldt Broncos goaltender and bus crash survivor Jacob Wassermann has qualified Canada for a rowing event for the 2024 Paralympic games in Paris.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
Krispy Kreme doughnuts coming to McDonald's in U.S., but not Canada
Canadians will be missing out on a sweet new partnership between McDonald's and Krispy Kreme, which will see doughnuts available at McDonald's locations across the U.S. by the end of 2026.
Calgary officer charged after allegedly assaulting handcuffed man
A Calgary police officer has been charged after allegedly assaulting a handcuffed man two years ago.
Trudeau's latest pre-budget pledge targets millennial moms, vowing $1B in loans for more child-care spaces
The federal government is launching a new loan program to help child-care providers in Canada expand their spaces, and will be extending further student loan forgiveness and training options for early childhood educators, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday.