TSN insider Frank Seravalli was on Lowetide’s show Tuesday morning and this is what he had to say on the topic of Jesse Puljujarvi,
There just seems to be a disconnect between the Oilers and Puljujarvi that obviously was in place a while ago but seems to have been heightened a bit in terms of where Puljujarvi believes he might be able to play and what the fit might look like.
I don’t think that he’s demonstrated, even with his play in Europe, that he warrants much more than a 3rd line opportunity. You’d have to be ready to grind and ready to play in order to get more than that and he hasn’t demonstrated that.
So if the hold-up in getting him back over here is promising him a 1st or 2nd line spot, maybe it’s just better off if these two sides part ways. (source)
https://twitter.com/AdamsOnHockey/status/1303557211122098176
What in Sam’s Hell is with these hockey guys and their obsession with grinding and earning? So being one of Europe’s top players isn’t enough of a demonstration? I guess that was all handed to Puljujarvi? How many Karpat games do you think Frank Seravalli watched last year? I’m going to guess that it’s less than none. Man, Kiril Kaprizov is in for a rude awakening when he finally makes it to Minnesota. I hope he’s ready to grind and earn his spot…
I get that it can be hard to get to where you want to go in life without getting your hands dirty. Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard… Hockey is rife with people who are where they are because they’re related to someone important or they have friends in high places and most of those people get a choice with regards to where they want to work, something Jesse Puljujarvi didn’t have when he was drafted. Not that he was unhappy about going to Edmonton, let’s establish that. He couldn’t have been happier as he relished the chance to play with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
With that in mind, what is it that they say about not meeting your heroes…
Jesse wasn’t happy with his treatment from the club and he went home to rehab not only his body and his mind (most importantly). That was and still is his right and you cannot blame him one iota for looking out for himself because his employers sure weren’t. He put a lot on the line and was more or less betrayed by his teammates, Edmonton’s medical staff, and his old coaches and GM. Why would he return to that?
Some of you unsurprisingly are going to bring up the new GM and coach and how do his teammates feel about him “walking away” from them?
Look, these are professional hockey players, They get it. Not everybody is happy on the club they play for and want out. Considering the list of players who made quiet trade requests in Edmonton (Lucic, Kassian, Talbot, etc), Oilers fans should know this. So if a guy leaves and comes back, it’s on the leadership of the team to welcome him back. After that, it’s on the player to show he belongs.
The GM’s job is to bring in players that will improve the club. Full stop. The coach’s job is to direct the players that he’s provided in a way that leads to success. Only amateurs would let their feelings get in the way of achieving their goals.
Now just getting back to this notion that Puljujarvi isn’t ready to “grind” and “earn” his place in the Oilers squad, can anybody find me a recent quote that has him saying this? Has a member of the media that covers the Oilers been able to publish some proof that Jesse is only coming back if he has a spot in Edmonton’s top-6?
Markus Lehto reveals that the parties have had long constructive discussions and that the Oilers have interests in bringing him back. He also clarifies that Puljujarvi never asked for top 6 minutes. Like Ken Holland he says "we'll see where this leads." #LetsGoOilers https://t.co/qFgAxevZ75
— x – Oilers Access (@oilersaccess) July 28, 2020
NO! They haven’t. They continue to stretch perceived truths and chip away at his character whilst at the same time dogging him for choosing to play in the SM-Liiga for what, in their opinions, amounts to chump change when compared to the NHL. Equating the top league in Finland to a Senior Men’s league in Canada also… I mean, c’mon man. That’s some petty shit.
In fact, Puljujarvi has been the one on record saying, “never say never” about a return to Edmonton and that he’s grown and sees things differently now.
It’s a shame, it really is. But there are some folks who are just stuck in their ways I guess.
My hope is that Oilers GM Ken Holland sees Jesse for the player that he is, not the one that the “Grind ‘N Earn It” crew sees him as, and gets Jesse over and gives him a shot to shut some mouths.
What I think will eventually happen though (if that scenario plays out) is that Holland will trade him. Maybe it’ll be right before the regular season starts like when Nail Yakupov was moved so that clubs get a good look at the kid during camp or maybe it’ll be a trade deadline move. The Seattle expansion draft is going to play a big hand in all of it anyhow.
Until that deal is made there are more chapters to this story on their way.
