Oilers move on from Puljujarvi, now prepare to go shopping in trade market

EDMONTON — Bye, son. 

Everything about Jesse (The Bison King) Puljujarvi has been extraordinary. Every Instagram post or pizza-pounding cameo another morsel on which Oilers fans grazed, taking whatever sustenance they could while waiting for the real meat that never quite arrived: 

The goals, assists and points. 

From his 1,000-watt smile, to his cult-like following, to the 2016 World Junior tournament where he was named MVP of a star-studded field, Puljujarvi’s entry into the Edmonton market was spectacular. He fell inexplicably to No. 4 in the draft when Columbus’ Finnish GM Jarmo Kekalainen — the only GM who could truly speak with Puljujarvi at that time — decided to pass on his young countryman. 

“He was a Top 5 pick — Top 3, Top 4 — I don’t care who was picking,” Oilers GM Ken Holland said of that draft, having finally closed the lid on a trade that has been cooking for most of two years. 

“It’s a disappointing day on one hand, because he’s the fourth overall pick and you’re hoping that that pick is going to have some significant impact on your team. I like to think that Jesse has done everything that he could do to be the best player that he could be.”

He tried his best. But no matter what the analytics told us, when they dropped the puck it just wasn’t there. 

Not often enough, anyhow. 

“It’s sad,” said Connor McDavid. “Jesse is someone I’ve played with for a long time.  

“He’s at his best when he’s having fun. Those are the best memories of Jesse.”

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From the Instagram post of Puljujarvi taking that ride home with a random Oilers fan, to he and his loveable Golden Retriever Jaffa posing with buffalo at nearby Elk Island Park, The Bison King became arguably the second most popular Oiler behind McDavid, at the peak of his ascent. 

That ascent ended long ago, however. 

Puljujarvi was dealt to Carolina on Tuesday for an unknown named Patrik Puistola. The 22-year-Finn has never played a game of North American pro hockey and possibly never will, but he was the best Ken Holland could find in a trade. 

“I guess so,” Holland shrugged, preferring brevity over the alternate reality that has so followed this player throughout his career. 

History will show that Puljujarvi was the most divisive Oilers player in years — unintentionally so — as some fans (and some media) were buffaloed into thinking the big right-winger was a superstar who simply needed the proper chance to shine. 

Others noted that, over his six seasons in Edmonton, the one centreman with whom Puljujarvi played the most was McDavid. “Is that not opportunity enough?” they asked. 

That fan love played a small role in Holland’s decision to sign Puljujarvi to one last deal last summer, which he would regret as a $3 million player sputtered along with five goals in 58 games this season, becoming almost unmovable. 

In his final game as an Oiler, Puljujarvi logged 6:04 in ice time in a 3-2 loss to Boston. The next day he was the solution to Edmonton’s quest for cap space, a fourth-overall pick traded for a guy who may never wear an Oilers jersey. 

“There (was) good times and a little bit of hard times,” Puljujarvi said on a call with Carolina media. “Everyone has different kinds of careers. (There) has been pressure to be… an NHL player. Now I’m getting a new opportunity and I’m excited.”

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Holland had offered Puljujarvi a contract extension at likely 40 per cent of the $3 million qualifying offer Puljujarvi is due, because, as the GM said, “I’m looking for cheap players.”

Wisely, Puljujarvi declined, choosing to move on for a second chance elsewhere. What better place than Carolina, a better team than Edmonton and home to his old World Junior linemate Sebastien Aho. 

Former Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli had gone to that 2016 draft with a plan to draft defenceman Mikhail Sergachev, then called an audible when Puljujarvi was available at No. 4. At the time, nobody questioned the selection. 

Ironically, Puljujarvi went 12 picks ahead of defenceman Jakob Chychrun. Seven years later, his newly available cap space will be used to target the Arizona defenceman, one of several blue-liners that Holland is bidding on as Friday’s deadline nears. 

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He confirmed that acquiring a defenceman is his top priority. “I would say so, yes.” 

Would Holland trade his first-round pick for a pure rental? 

“I’m open to it,” he said. 

Puljujarvi now heads East, where he’ll try to impress the Hurricanes enough to earn a new contract. 

It’s a very good team, with a hard, expectant coach in Rod Brind’Amour. But Puljujarvi wore his trademark, ear-to-ear smile on Tuesday, as he explained to the hockey media in Raleigh how to pronounce his name, among other things. 

And he looked ahead, rather than back. 

“I hope this is gonna be good for me.”

More from Sportsnet

What the Oilers and Hurricanes get in cap-clearing Jesse Puljujarvi trade

Oilers clear cap space by trading Puljujarvi to Hurricanes for Puistola

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