Edmonton Oilers Talk: Why Has Tippett Been Running his Top Three Lines Together So Much?

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Sportsnet

Jesse Puljujarvi looks poised to make big impact for Oilers

This is the story of an NHL player who, off the ice, hasn’t figured out that he’s famous. On the ice, he is only beginning to show signs of a player who realizes how lethal the sum of his skills could be.
Installed permanently on McDavid’s right wing, Puljujarvi is poised for a massive breakout. He has four goals and six points in four pre-season games, and could be the kind of story that hockey execs dream of.

“The sky’s the limit for that guy,” said Kailer Yamamoto

That Puljujarvi is still an Oiler is a minor miracle, considering how the team mishandled the player through his first NHL stint.
…he spent a couple of shorter stints on McDavid’s wing, as a 19-year-old, but it was clear then that the young Oilers captain wasn’t interested in running a daycare.
Had any of the 31 other GMs offered Ken Holland a first-round draft pick in return, perhaps the Oilers GM would have traded Puljujarvi during his Finnish flight.
Today, Puljujarvi has learned how to use his big frame to create space and win battles. He has confidence to use a superior shot, and affixed with the best player in the game, scoring opportunities will be endless.
He could score 25 or 30 goals this season, and perhaps 50 down the road.

“His attitude has allowed him to make it work. He stayed positive,” said Oilers centre Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.

BLH’s Thoughts: There are going to be some media personalities who say nobody could’ve known that Jesse would’ve turned out the way he has and to them I call bullshit. Remember all the Twitter GMs and “experts” online watching Puljujarvi score goals for Karpat and replying, “He’ll never do that in the NHL!”? Now we’re watching him do the exact same thing for the Oilers…

World Junior MVPs rarely spit the bit and Puljujarvi wasn’t about to either. He had too many of the right attributes to become a dominant NHL player and he was mislead by people he thought cared for him. In addition to that, he had players drafted ahead of him lighting up the league in Matthews, Laine, and Dubois. So that didn’t help any.

Folks who blame him not having the best English have only themselves to blame. Puljujarvi spent tons of time with the older Finns on the club in those early years, there was a lot of opportunity to communicate with him.

All Pulju needed was time (and a little respect, to be honest), you could see the elite talent when he was the youngest player in the AHL and Jay Woodcroft was just telling him to go out and play his game. Every time the Oilers sent him down, he tore up that league.

So if you’re surprised by how he’s developed, there’s really not much I can tell you, I saw it coming and you should’ve as well. He was always going to pop, the question was, for which NHL team?

Lucky for the Oilers, he’s got a soft heart and chose to come back.

The Score

Grading Oilers’ forwards ahead of 2021-22 season

Edmonton possesses the league’s most lethal one-two punch and has a chance in any game as long as McDavid and Draisaitl are healthy.
Hyman is a tremendous fit for the Oilers and could post new career highs through the first couple of seasons of his seven-year contract.
With Hyman joining Puljujarvi, Yamamoto, and Nugent-Hopkins, the Oilers’ top six is formidable, to say the least.
Foegele is a useful addition to a bottom six that’s long lacked the capabilities to supplement the Oilers’ top dogs.
Ryan was a quiet offseason acquisition, but his defensive acumen will be a tremendous asset when Edmonton is on the penalty kill or protecting a lead.
Veterans like Kassian and Turris must contribute far more consistently if they’re to make a difference for the team and maintain everyday roles.
Grade: A-

BLH’s Thoughts: Well to say that’s better than what they scored Edmonton’s defense (D) and their goaltending (C) is a bit of an understatement.

I will say this, I’m concerned for Killer. He’s having a hard time staying healthy thanks to his style of play and frankly, his size. I hope he regains his scoring touch soon…

If preseason performances are somewhat of an indicator as to what might be in store for Oilers fans, it looks like the netminding is sorted. Smith and Koskinen have done very well during training camp by my eye but I would say that the defense is a bit of a project right now.

The Daily Goal Horn

… the Rangers will be in on Jack Eichel up until Mika Zibanejad signs an extension.
Letang, 34, is entering the final season of his contract that comes with an AAV of $7.25 million… According to Pierre LeBrun, there’s a 50/50 chance he returns to the Pittsburgh Penguins next season.
- “A short-term deal is possible from the team’s perspective but all things being equal, I think Letang himself is willing to be patient here to see how the season plays out…This one could go either way.”
…the Sharks told inquiring teams in the offseason that they were still hopeful to work things out. What remains to be seen is if the Sharks will be a contender come the NHL Trade Deadline. If so, the belief is both sides will want to continue the relationship.

BLH’s Thoughts: Ya know… Cody Ceci had a pretty good year in Pittsburgh, do you think there’s a chance he’d go back if the Oilers were unhappy with his performances? Could you imagine a 2nd pairing of Letang and Keith?