NHL trade rumors: Canadiens and Coyotes interested in Jesse Puljujarvi
According to the latest NHL trade rumors, the Montreal Canadiens and Arizona Coyotes have both expressed interest in Edmonton Oilers forward Jesse Puljujarvi.
Both the Montreal Canadiens and Arizona Coyotes are fighting for a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. However, they are both seeking to upgrade their scoring depth and both teams have the cap space and assets to pull something off. According to the latest NHL trade rumors, the Habs and the Coyotes are interested in Edmonton Oilers forward Jesse Puljujarvi. This report comes from The Fourth Period.
Reportedly, the New York Rangers have expressed interest as well, but that’s nothing new. The Oilers are exploring their options with Puljujarvi, as he’s currently playing overseas in Finland. It’s become clear he doesn’t want to say with the team. And given how Puljujarvi has been mishandled by the Oilers, it’s hard to blame him.
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He’s done a lot to build up his trade value in Liiga. While the league isn’t as competitive as the NHL, it’s easily one of the toughest leagues in the world. Through 18 games, Puljujarvi has 11 goals and 20 points. Among all players, he ranks third in goals and fifth in points. However, Puljujarvi ranks third in points and second in goals among players who are 23 years old or younger, as of Nov. 12.
It’s hard to remember this, but he’s merely 21 years old. Puljujarvi was very highly thought of as a prospect as recently as three years ago when the Oilers selected him with the fourth overall pick in the 2016 NHL Draft. He still has a lot of potential and could still develop into a very solid NHL forward.
However, the Oilers are going to have a hard time getting much for him. They have virtually no leverage. Puljujarvi doesn’t want to play for the Oilers and is reportedly comfortable staying in Finland if needed. It’s worth noting he must sign with an NHL team by Dec. 1 if he wants to play in the NHL during the 2019-20 season.
Canadiens
The Habs interest in Puljujarvi is interesting. On paper, it doesn’t look like they need much scoring help, as they currently rank fifth in goals per game. However, a deeper dive suggests the Canadiens could use some scoring depth at forward.
Stu Cowan of The Montreal Gazette points out the Habs have 13 goals from their defensemen, the most in the NHL. Obviously, that’s a good thing. But it also means they’re not getting much from their forwards. Let’s take a look at the top five teams in goals per game and what they’re getting from their forwards.
- Washington Capitals – 63
- Nashville Predators – 52
- Colorado Avalanche – 53
- Florida Panthers – 53
- Montreal Canadiens – 47
So it’s not surprising to me that they’re interested in Puljujarvi. The Habs have to get more out of their forwards. Puljujarvi would be a good guy for them to take a chance on. It could pay off for them both in the short-term and the long-term. He’d be relatively cheap compared to other options like Taylor Hall, Tyler Toffoli, and Chris Kreider.
Coyotes
The Coyotes would make a lot of sense for Puljujarvi. Unlike the Canadiens, you don’t even need to take a deep dive to see their scoring problems. They rank 20th in goals per game. Also, general manager John Chayka loves trades. Trades have pretty much defined his tenure with the Coyotes.
Next. 3 Teams Who Should Trade For Puljujarvi. dark
People are likely sick of hearing about Puljujarvi, but there is some good news. We’ll know much more about his immediate future as Dec. 1 draws near. Teams are definitely interested in Puljujarvi. It will be interesting to see who blinks first – the Oilers, another team, or Puljujarvi.