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Should Oilers’ Puljujarvi be on Islanders Radar?

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Jesse Puljujarvi, New York Islanders
Edmonton Oilers forward Jesse Puljujarvi (Photo-via Edmonton Oilers Twitter)

If the New York Islanders did not add any forwards this offseason, for a team that was offensively inept for the majority of the 2021-22 season, it would be a major disadvantage for a team in a high-strung offensive division like the Metropolitan Division. 



With the brand names off the board and quite frankly too expensive, Edmonton Oilers forward, 24-year-old Jesse Puljujarvi is a player that should be on the Islanders’ radar.

Is there a Risk in Acquiring Puljujarvi?

Jesse Puljujarvi, a right-winger, who just signed a one-year deal with the Edmonton Oilers worth $3 million to avoid arbitration.

His arbitration hearing was scheduled for July 29. Just because he was signed does not mean he will play for Edmonton this upcoming season.

Since 2019, per an article by Sportsnet, Jesse Puljujarvi wanted out of Edmonton, and it sounds like Edmonton is ready to move on.

Per Elliotte Friedman, on the July 11th edition of the ‘32 Thoughts‘ podcast, stated that the Edmonton Oilers are looking to move Puljujarvi for a draft pick, but interested suitors have cap issues and want Edmonton to take a player back.

“They want to move him for a pick. It’s hard right now because the teams that are at the cap or close to the cap or interested in him, they [Edmonton] didn’t want to do that,” Friedman stated. “I think there was at least one deal out there. Edmonton was talking to a team and were told they have to take a player back who’s got salary, like a decent salary.”

“Edmonton’s like we can’t do that. I think Edmonton’s a bit stuck there.”

The whole point of the Oilers moving Piljujarvi is to make cap space.

READ MORE ON NYIHN: Is Salo Ready for Everyday Role With New York Islanders In 2022-23?

In 259 career games, Piljujarvi has 45 goals and 52 assists to his name and is coming off a season in which he set career-highs in assists (22) and points (36), as he was just one goal shy of tying his career-high in goals (15).  

Puljujarvi only played in 65 games in 2021-22 due to an injury and COVID-19, failing to find his first half game when he returned. 

While the offense was not there to the extent, Puljujarvi was smarter with the puck in 2021-22, with just 18 giveaways in 65 games. In 55 games in 2020-21, Puljujarvi gave the puck away 30 times. 

In terms of takeaways, Puljujarvi had 27, compared to just his 23 in 2020-21 

For years, the Edmonton Oilers have waited for forward Jesse Puljiarvi to develop into a player that can be a force. Even alongside Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, the 24-year-old has not lived up to expectations when he was drafted fourth overall back in 2016.

“He goes to the crease, gets the puck in deep, he defends, and works hard on the forecheck. He makes use of his size, he just doesn’t bang and snarl with it. Nor should he have to given how well he wields the tool,” Sportsnet’s Justin Bourne said in an article on Puljujarvi from July 6. “He drives play extremely well, with all those things I mentioned, pushing the puck to the right half of the rink with consistency.”

“But he’s wildly frustrating because he’s not an offensively poised guy who’s had success finishing or setting up goals, even when he plays with great players.”

The Islanders need someone who is going to finish chances.

What would it take to acquire Jesse Puljujarvi?

Despite his play in the second half of the season, Kieffer Bellows still does not seem to have a future with the New York Islanders. Yes, he was given a qualifying offer, as he should, but the 24-year-old forward still has a lot to prove to earn an everyday job.

The Islanders could send Kieffer Bellows and a third-round pick to Edmonton, which should be enough to acquire Jesse Puljujarvi’s RFA rights.

Then it’s about Lamoriello making his contract fit under the salary cap. 

The Islanders currently have just north of $11 million in space, and depending on what Lamoriello does with the Noah Dobson and Alexander Romanov deals (bridge or long-term), the Islanders could have roughly $3 to $4 million in space, which allows for Jesse Puljujarvi to fit into their plans. 

Could Long Island be the change, situation that allows Jesse Puljujarvi to live up to being a fourth overall pick? It will not be long before Puljujarvi is moved and if Lou Lamoriello has any interest, he will need to act swiftly.

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